Phyllis Baker - One Step at a Time

My name is Phyllis Baker and I am fundraising for Acquired Brain Injury Ireland ABI. My son, Zac Martin, 19, suffered serious head injuries following a near-fatal assault in November 2021. At the hospital we were told to be prepared for the worst. The shock and fear on hearing words like "massive hemorrhage", "skull fracture", "no response", "ventilator", "rapid deterioration" and "immediate transfer to Beaumont" will always stay with me.

My Wish

My one prayer for Zac in the hours when he fought for his life was “please only give him back to me if he will still be Zac and if he will have a quality of life”. I think any parent would understand this wish for their child. Zac needed 3 brain surgeries in 5 months and is now going through rehabilitation with ABI. He is learning to live with his brain injury.

Home

But I often wonder if Zac hadn’t been able to come home how would we have coped? So many young people with acquired brain injuries are placed in nursing homes in this country. It is NOT the quality of life they deserve. We HAVE to offer more than this to people who survive serious brain trauma. This is why the work of ABI is life-changing. They support brain injury survivors to rebuild their lives to live as independently as possible.

One Step at a Time

I am running 26.2 miles in the Dublin Marathon 2023 to fundraise for ABI. Running reminds me of rehabilitation. You have to take it one step at a time. Nobody can do the work for you but it's the support that keeps you going.

Your Support

Rehabilitation is a powerful process. For every euro you donate you help to bring a brain injury survivor closer to living their best quality of life.

Thank you so much.

Phyllis x