Father of four Derrick Cole, was working as a builder on a flat roof, when he went through a skylight and fell 10 – 12ft down to the ground. His daughter found him lying on the floor having suffered a traumatic brain injury. Derrick was put into a medically induced coma and spent the following seven months in hospital, beset with physical challenges, including a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Derrick’s resolve to regain his independence never faltered and against the odds his rehabilitation progressed. In 2021 Derrick was admitted to Adderley Green Care Centre, a neurological rehabilitation and complex care service in Staffordshire, where he was supported by the specialist MDT through a comprehensive rehabilitation programme. This is Derrick’s story of determination and triumph over adversity.
Traumatic brain injury and right subdural haematoma
Derrick suffered a severe traumatic brain injury due to a fall from a roof onto a concrete floor from a height of 10-12 feet. He sustained a right subdural haematoma and consequently had decompressive craniectomy, where part of his skull was removed to relieve pressure exerted on the brain from the bleed.
Even though Derrick showed improvement initially his condition worsened leading to medical instability. This resulted in severe fatigue, dizziness and headaches. Derrick’s symptoms were assumed secondary to sunken brain syndrome and therefore cranioplasty was expedited. Whilst waiting for cranioplasty he deteriorated significantly with worsening action tremors in right hand, ataxia, urinary incontinence, dysphagia, dysphonia and periods of confusion. Derrick successfully had cranioplasty surgery and was started on medication for suspected Parkinson’s.
After going through many challenges Derrick gradually started showing improvement and after a period of time in a community hospital he was admitted to Adderley Green Care Centre to begin a holistic neuro-rehab programme.
“I didn’t have the strength to do much, it was very frustrating.”
Derrick can’t remember much from the time of the fall and what followed immediately after but he vividly recalls the frustration he felt during his time in hospital.
Derrick: “I can’t remember what actually happened but somehow I managed to fall through a skylight on a flat and I was found lying on the floor by my daughter. I don’t remember anything else after that and I woke up 3 months later in hospital after being in an induced coma. I spent around 12 months in that hospital and it was quite the journey. For example, I had a procedure where they removed half my skull to relieve pressure and 6 months into my stay I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. I sat down for lunch near the nurse’s station and they noticed that I was unable to pick up my knife and fork because I was shaking so much.
“I also reacted quite badly to some medication and there was a period of around 3 months where I couldn’t do anything. I could see and understand everything but my body just couldn’t do anything. And I lost a lot of muscle mass during this time, at least 6 stone, which meant that when I could participate again in rehab I didn’t have the strength to do much, it was very frustrating. I had to use a wheelchair which I hated, and I didn’t even like walking with a frame, I wanted to be pushed more and get back to normal.
Early days at Adderley Green
Derrick: “When I first arrived at Adderley Green I wanted to get straight on with things, I did find it frustrating to go through further assessments and be observed – I felt I was ready to be more independent. But the team were excellent, as soon as the assessments were completed I was enabled to move forwards with my rehab.
“Jade the Therapy Assistant and Kate the physios worked closely with me and really encouraged me in my rehab. I’m the type of person that if a situation happens then you just get on with it and there was no holding me back.”
Jade Beech, Therapy Assistant at Adderley Green shares how Derrick impressed them right from day one, and they adjusted his rehabilitation plans to support his development.
Jade: “When Derrick arrived we were under the impression he was mobilising using the frame and with the assistance of one or two therapists, but as soon as we’d completed our assessments we could see that he had progressed further with his independence. He didn’t want to use the frame and he could walk very well, he just needed support with his balance.
“So balance became our main focus in the gym, using the parallel bars standing on one leg and using the wobble board. We also worked on stair climbing, plus improving endurance using a static bike.
“Derrick was always a happy, cheerful man who always focused on his rehab. Of course we all have days when we feel a bit less positive but that didn’t ever stop him from taking part in anything that we offered. He would always do it no matter what.”
Holistic rehab – clinical and community settings
Hangsa Limbu, Occupational Therapist at Adderley Green, explains how Derrick was determined from the outset to achieve his goal of full independence and returning home.
Hangsa: When Derrick first joined us we had our goal setting meeting with all the professionals involved in his care, and right from that moment he was always clear that he wanted to be independent and return home. We organised a graded programme to enable this, and he was very determined to progress through that programme.
“For example, when he first started cooking, we would make sure there was a chair beside him, in case he needed something to perch on. Then when he was able to stand for longer periods he would set all the equipment up himself and we gradually scaled back our support until he was cooking more independently. At the same time he was completing his rehabilitation with the physios, working on his balance and he made fantastic progress.
“We also did some assessments within the community, within our local area, observing how safe he was when crossing the road and in other scenarios. We walked to the local chip shop, so that was about half a kilometre. Derrick enjoyed these visits, he was always focused on improving his independence, and of course he liked the chips! He then progressed to going shopping by himself and cooking meals fully independently.
“Derrick cooked some fantastic meals that we all got to enjoy, and even now when he comes back to visit us, he brings in some delicious dishes to share.”
“It was great to be able to get back to what I loved doing.”
Alongside supporting Derrick’s daily living skills, the MDT at Adderley Green supported Derrick with vocational rehab, so that he could realise his wish to return to his trade as a builder.
Derrick says: “One of the best parts of my rehab was that I got to use my professional experience working with the maintenance team. I’m a plasterer by trade but I’ve done lots of different building work over the years so it was great to be able to get back to what I loved doing. I asked my partner to bring some of my work clothes in, and I began helping with painting some walls and general maintenance. I think I worked a bit too quickly – it took me 5 hours to do something that was supposed to take a week! Val, the service manager at Adderley Green even offered me a job there when I was leaving!
“Now that I have left Adderley Green it feels great to be living independently again. I always knew that I would have to stay busy and return to work, there was no way that I was going to go back and just sit around all day. That is not me. Plus I needed to stay active for my kids – I have six children in total, three younger children, a teenager and two grown up children.
“I did have doubts around whether I would be able to do big project work but I have surpassed my expectations and I’ve rebuilt my business and I now have a team of 4 or 5 sub contractors working with me.
“I think one of the most emotional times since I left Adderley Green was when my daughter got married and I walked her down the aisle. I did the speech and had everybody crying. All the wedding guests knew me, and knew what had happened. They all thought I had died, and couldn’t believe how I came back.
“Even now I go into the builder’s merchants and people who I haven’t seen in a long time are really surprised to see me, and they say, I thought you died!
“If anyone reading this is going through a similar experience, I would say to them, you’ve got to be strong, be determined and work towards a goal. The kids were my goal, no matter what I had to go forwards for them and be back to normal for them. I wanted to get back to work, to make things right for my family.”
“Derrick’s rehab is a blend of sheer dedication and hard work.”
Derrick’s journey has inspired the whole MDT who are continually impressed with his rehabilitation.
Jade: “The entire team are incredibly proud of Derrick and his progress. We can see how happy he is and everything that he has achieved with his business and rebuilding his life, it is remarkable!”
Hangsa: “It’s been a privilege to support Derrick and to see him go through this journey. His rehab success has been so inspiring. He was my first patient that I worked with from referral right through to discharge so it has also been incredibly rewarding for me in a professional capacity to share his journey with him.”
Renjith Eettickal Reghu, Therapy Lead and Lead Physiotherapist at Adderley Green, sums up Derrick’s tremendous achievements.
Raj: “Derrick’s journey with his rehab was a blend of sheer dedication and hard work with input from expert Neuro Rehab Professionals. I wish him all the very best.”
“They are like a family, I’ve made a lot of friends during my time there.”
Adderley Green strives to be a home from home for the people who live and receive rehabilitation treatment there, and Derrick’s experience is testament to the success of that approach.
Derrick: “I chose Adderley Green because it was a local service for me but looking back it was a great decision, I would recommend it to everyone. They are like a family, I’ve made a lot of friends during my time there. If there’s something I need then I know they would be there.
“I left Adderley Green a good nine months ago but I still go back and visit them. I used to cook whilst I was there, lots of chillies and lasagnes, so when I go back I take the team a batch of food. We sit and have a catch up over a coffee.
“I’m enjoying life, it is nowhere near as serious as it used to be – life is too short for that. I’m really proud of everything that I have achieved over the past two years and grateful to everyone who has supported me.”
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