Green Tree Court resident with Locked-In Syndrome becomes published author
A Green Tree Court resident who lives with Locked-In Syndrome, is celebrating becoming a published author as part of a project to give a voice to those with the condition.
Bram Harrison, who was diagnosed with Locked-In Syndrome (LIS) following a bicycle accident in 1998, now receives specialist care and support at Green Tree Court residential, dementia and nursing home in Exeter.
Bram used an eye-controlled computer to compose a chapter on his experiences for the book ‘Giving a Voice to those Living with Locked-In syndrome: Sharing Feelings, Experiences, Hopes and Expectations’, edited by Shannan Keen.
A book launch event was recently hosted by Green Tree Court in celebration of his achievements, attended by Bram’s family, friends and those who support his care needs on a daily basis.
Living ‘locked-in’
Bram explains what it is like to live with LIS, and how he came to be a contributor to the book:
“Locked-In Syndrome is a type of brain damage, which affects the motor functions of the brain, i.e. muscle movement. I have the condition, because of an acquired brain injury.
“My brain can’t get messages to the muscles because there’s a blockage. The part of my brain that I use to think and be ‘Bram the man’, is still there. A doctor once described my brain as a castle, with a moat around it, and a draw bridge that’s raised and stuck. The messenger is on his horse, but he’s locked in.
“Other parts of my body do move, although my eyes are the most reliable, therefore I use them to communicate.
An opportunity to share experiences
“About two years ago, I got an email from my friend Shannan Keen, who asked me to contribute a chapter to a book about sharing experiences of Locked-In Syndrome. I particularly liked the idea of combining the stories of thirteen others from around the world living ‘locked-in’, with technical information from experts.
“I’ve had LIS for most of my adult life. Throughout this time, I’ve tackled it in the dark. In the early days there was virtually no information about the condition, the internet wasn’t widely available and carried false and confused information about this rare condition.
“This book’s broad coverage of the condition is excellent – I wish this resource had been available years ago when I was diagnosed with LIS.
Technology for communication
“Although using an eye-controlled computer to write in this book may seem extraordinary to you, it’s very ordinary for me. I’ve been using eye-controlled computers daily for years.
“My 5,000-word chapter took me 10 months to write, requiring an immense amount of deep thought and multiple draft copies. The experience has been extremely therapeutic, untangling the ball of confusion that haunted me. There are still unidentified black holes in my memory, however it’s becoming less of an unmapped minefield. Writing this has helped ease my mind immensely and is another great help to me.
“I hope that my story and others will help future generations of people around the world deal with the many different issues that arise, due to Locked-In Syndrome.”
Royalties from the book, which includes Bram’s chapter entitled ‘Vicissitude’, are going to Mind Care International Foundation, a charity that provides information and support to patients and their families after brain injury.
‘Giving a Voice to those Living with Locked-In Syndrome: Sharing Feelings, Experiences, Hopes and Expectations’ is available to purchase in hardback, paperback and eBook formats.
Specialist support to meet individual needs
Contact us to find out more about the specialist residential, dementia and nursing care available at Green Tree Court in Exeter, and across the Somerset Care Group.
