Brain Injury Bites

In this first episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter shares what happened the night his life changed forever after being hit by a car in Manchester.

Joined by co-host Ashwini Kamath — a solicitor and brain injury advocate — Brooke talks about the immediate aftermath of his traumatic brain injury and the early days that followed.

Together, they explore:

• The night of Brooke’s accident
• What happens during the “golden hour”...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke and Ashwini explore what it’s like to wake up in hospital after a traumatic brain injury — from intensive care through to high dependency and early rehab.

Brooke opens up about waking from a coma, experiencing vivid and confusing hallucinations, and the emotional impact of leaving the safety of the hospital routine for the outside world.

Together they discuss:

• ICU, tracheotomies, a...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath dive into one of the most persistent and misunderstood symptoms after a brain injury: fatigue.

They explore Brooke’s personal struggle with understanding the need for rest, and how pushing through tiredness actually delayed his recovery. From hospital routines to the challenge of structuring rest at home, they share honest reflections and helpful tips for mana...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath discuss how memory is impacted after a brain injury and practical ways to adapt when everyday tasks become more challenging to remember.

Together, they reflect on Brooke’s personal experiences, including forgetting where he parked, running a bath that nearly flooded the house, and forgetting basic shopping items. They also talk about the emotional impact of me...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath delve into how brain injury impacts attention, concentration, and cognitive load – and how even small tasks can become overwhelming without the right strategies.

Brooke shares how his concentration was reduced to just seconds after his injury, and how he gradually rebuilt it with help from neuropsychologists, repetition, and a lot of patience. From multitaskin...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath take a deep dive into what it means to come to terms with a brain injury — and how the process of acceptance isn’t always straightforward.

They reflect on the emotional and psychological impact of recovery, the reality check that often hits after hospital discharge, and the frustrations of an invisible injury that doesn’t follow a predictable timeline. From co...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath talk about the often overlooked challenge of socialising after a brain injury. From struggling with background noise to the emotional toll of not feeling like yourself, they explore how relationships and self identity can shift dramatically and what can help.

Brooke shares honest stories of awkward reunions, overwhelming environments, and navigating small talk...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath explore the pressure to compare yourself to others, especially on social media, and how that affects recovery after a brain injury.

Brooke shares candid experiences of scrolling through Facebook and feeling left behind, along with how fatigue, isolation and the invisible nature of brain injury fed into those feelings. Together, they talk about the importance o...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath explore how brain injury affects not just the survivor but everyone around them. From parents and siblings to lifelong friends and new acquaintances, they reflect on the emotional toll and relationship changes that follow a serious injury.

Brooke shares how his family initially treated him like royalty and how that protective bubble slowly gave way to a new re...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath delve into the connection between self-esteem, purpose, and recovery after a brain injury. From early confusion and lost identity to building confidence through public speaking and blogging, Brooke reflects on how he found new meaning after his injury.

They discuss how the pressure to return to work or feel “productive” can clash with the invisible symptoms of...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath discuss dating and relationships after brain injury, from awkward first dates to more profound questions of identity, confidence and communication.

Brooke shares personal stories from his early experiences with dating apps, speed dating and social anxiety, as well as the emotional challenges that came with memory problems, fatigue and wanting to “seem normal.”...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath talk openly about depression after a brain injury — how it shows up, why it is often misunderstood, and what can help.

They explore the emotional crash that comes after the hospital bubble, the pressure to be grateful for surviving, and the quiet burden of invisible symptoms like fatigue, low mood and memory problems. Brooke shares what helped him manage darke...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath explore the hidden challenges of living with an invisible disability, as part of Action for Brain Injury Week and its theme, “See the Hidden Me.”

They discuss what it means to live with a brain injury that may not be obvious to others, and how common assumptions about disability often ignore the reality of symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, memory problems and se...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath are joined by consultant clinical neuropsychologist Russell Sheldrick for a powerful conversation about recovery, resilience and the emotional journey after a brain injury.

Russell shares his experience working on an acute rehabilitation ward and explains how neuropsychology helps patients build awareness, develop coping strategies and regain confidence during...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath continue their insightful conversation with consultant clinical neuropsychologist Russell Sheldrick, exploring recovery, acceptance and the role of family support in brain injury rehabilitation.

They discuss how unrealistic expectations can hinder progress, and why true recovery often begins when people accept how life has changed. Russell explains how neurops...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath speak with David Hilton, a solicitor and professional deputy, about the legal and financial support available to people who are no longer able to manage their own affairs after a brain injury.

David explains what the Court of Protection does, how deputies are appointed, and why these roles are essential when someone lacks capacity to make important decisions. ...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath continue their conversation with solicitor and professional deputy David Hilton, diving deeper into how the Court of Protection works and what it really means to manage someone’s affairs after a brain injury.

David explains the oversight and responsibilities that come with being a deputy, whether professional or a family member, and shares real life examples o...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath are joined by Julie Meigan, a specialist occupational therapist who supported Brooke during his early rehabilitation. They reconnect to explore the real value of occupational therapy and the challenges of rebuilding everyday life after a brain injury.

Julie explains how occupational therapists help people regain independence by breaking down daily tasks into m...

In this episode of Brain Injury Bites, Brooke Trotter and Ashwini Kamath continue their conversation with specialist occupational therapist Julie Meigan, exploring what meaningful rehabilitation really looks like and how progress is built through collaboration, honesty and small practical steps.

Julie shares how working in a multidisciplinary team helps turn big goals into realistic plans, and why therapy should always be something...