Oh man, I can't stop giggling over that. Beiber chuks!

Meanwhile, here's something more to think about:
Life changing
Last updated 05:00 29/09/2013


Angela Crompton

Glen Campbell's (centre with dog Kaz) brain injury has transformed life for his brother Scott Deans and mother Francie Vallance.

Glen Campbell and his family's life changed forever when an aggressive neighbour smacked him on the head with a nunchaku.

It happened 23 years ago but the 45 year old still thinks he is 21, has a five-minute maximum concentration span and needs 24-hour care.

More than 90 people a day in New Zealand have a traumatic head injury and the effects can last a lifetime. Glen was left permanently retarded after emergency surgeons were forced to remove part of his brain to clear two blood clots caused by the assault. His assailant, meanwhile, faced an 18-month jail sentence but had it halved to nine months by admitting he had caused grievous bodily harm.

Life for Glen's mother Francie Vallance and younger brother Scott Deans has permanently changed, too. Scott provides Glen with 24-hour care from Wednesdays to Saturdays; Francie from Saturdays to Mondays. Two other people work the 24-hour, Monday and Tuesday shifts.

Each day follows a similar routine, Scott says.

Glen is showered and dressed in the morning then served breakfast. Daily housework includes changing and washing the bed sheets he usually wets overnight. In the afternoon he might be taken for a drive to see a friend or go for a walk along the beach.

Back home there is washing to bring in, tea to get sorted and an evening meal to serve. Then Glen is washed, helped into his pyjamas and encouraged to wind down before bed. He cannot concentrate to read, loses interest in television after five minutes and studying the computer screen causes headaches and sometimes seizures. Those occur regularly, Francie says, describing them as "petit mal" or "out-in-space moments".

"We have learned not to try and bring him out. He has to do it himself."

Francie, 66, used to be a caterer but says she feels more like a neurosurgeon after learning how to best care for Glen.

He must be watched at all times. He no longer understands everyday dangers, like traffic on the roads or water boiling in the jug. Poor balance results in regular falls. "He's had some terrible crashes."

Brain injury victims fall outside the support networks set up for people born with intellectual disabilities or who experience a mental illness, she says. ACC, however, has provided Glen with a house to live in and, through the Florence Nightingale home support agency, pays Francie, Scott and the other two caregivers to look after him.

Glen also has a "wonderful case manager" who works hard not to let the distance between Blenheim and her Palmerston North base be a barrier.

Francie is grateful for the guidance a nurse at Wairau Hospital provided 23 years ago and the close friends who have remained loyal and supportive.

"But you lose a lot as well. They don't know how to handle it."

BRAIN INJURY FACTS

Ninety New Zealanders a day experience a traumatic brain injury, described as either mild, moderate or severe.

Mild symptoms usually disappear after one to 14 days but sometimes continue for three to six months, liaison officer for the Nelson Brain Injury Association, Diann Brett says.

Someone with a moderate to severe injury is likely to experience some physical, cognitive or behavioural disability. These can include: fatigue, mobility problems, headaches, speech articulation, swallowing difficulties, a loss of hearing, taste, smell, vision or touch, attention and memory problems, reduced problem-solving skills, language difficulties, cognitive inflexibility, emotional and behavioural problems, agitation, verbal and physical aggression and job loss/disruption.