Lucius…a mother’s story

“It is great having someone that I feel is genuinely invested in my child’s wellbeing and progress. I don’t feel like we are just another number.” 

Ask any parent and they will tell you that that caring for a child can often be challenging. For Briearne, being Mum to 3 year-old Lucius presents even more unique challenges because he is living with a traumatic brain injury, sustained from a motor vehicle accident. 

Lucius was just 3 months old at the time of the accident. 

“Things were chaotic, I didn’t know where to begin or what to do when it came to Lucius,” Briearne said. 

NIISQ has provided support to Lucius and Briearne from the early stages of adjusting to life after injury. 

“Our Support Planner helped Lucius to access treatment, care and support related to Lucius’ accident injury. It was very valuable having her come with me to Lucius’ hospital and specialist reviews. She helped me to remember questions I had and encouraged me to ask more or ask for things to be explained in more general terms. An everyday person like me doesn’t understand the medical language but having support to debrief after these appointments has been helpful,” Briearne said. 

NIISQ Support Planners continue to work alongside Briearne to enable access to treatment, care and support services to assist with seizure activity associated with Lucius’ injury, and other supports to help with his development, including home-based physiotherapy and occupational therapy and medications. She has also received funding to attend epilepsy-related courses to understand how to effectively respond to her son during his seizure episodes. 

“Because of our NIISQ Support Planners, I feel like Lucius has some of the best therapists helping him and is surrounded by a caring and supportive team. It is great having someone that I feel is genuinely invested in my child’s wellbeing and progress. I don’t feel like we are just another number,” she said. 

We feel privileged to be a part of Lucius’ milestones. He is growing up so fast and continues to keep his Mum on her toes! 

“NIISQ provides a feeling of connectedness. Hearing stories of other experiences, knowing that you are not alone and having people that understand and are so human is so important. While trauma doesn’t leave you, you learn to cope with it better as time goes on,” Briearne said.