Joey Abela is a carpenter by trade and was employed managing cattle on a property when he sustained a motor vehicle injury in 2017. Joey sustained a traumatic brain injury and significant physical injuries when the motorbike he was riding hit a tree.
The serious nature of Joey’s injuries meant he was accepted as an interim participant of the Lifetime Support Scheme (LSS) in 2017 and a Lifetime participant in 2019.
Joey spent 6 months in hospital and 3 months at the Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre (HRC). When Joey arrived at HRC, he was experiencing impaired cognition, used single words to communicate and was unable to stand or walk. During his time at the centre, his ability to actively participate in his rehabilitation improved and after 3 months, he was discharged to live with his mother in the family home.
Through the LSS, Joey has been provided with community allied health services including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology, psychology, and behaviour support. The LSA has funded home modifications and attendant care to meet his daily support needs.
Joey’s mother, Anne, also provides informal support for many of Joey’s needs. The LSA has helped Anne in her caring role by funding psychology sessions and providing opportunities to participate in support groups.
Today, as a result of the brain injury, Joey uses a wheelchair and experiences fatigue that impacts his cognition and physical abilities. Joey continues to make gradual improvements and has increased his independence with participation in daily activities. He has progressed to walking short distances indoors using a walking frame.
Joey is increasingly seeking meaningful connections and relationships with others. This reflects the progress he has made since his motor vehicle accident. Joey has tried a few different community activities in the search to find his fit. He continues to explore community groups that he can connect with.
Joey lives semi rurally and the LSA has funded a power wheelchair to support Joey to access his property as his long-term goal is to assist with managing cattle. In the future, Joey would also like to share his lived experience with university students to increase their understanding of people living in the community following a significant brain injury.
