A DETERMINED Coventry man who was left with a brain injury after a freak accident is taking on a marathon to raise money for two charities which are close to his heart.
Four years ago, life changed for former police officer Adam Bilic when a large tree branch snapped off and smashed through the windscreen of the car he was travelling in, hitting him in the head.
The 33-year-old from Wyken – who was placed in a medically induced coma for eight days after the accident – is now putting his best foot forward to take on the Adidas Manchester Marathon on Sunday (April 19), in support of brain injury charity Headway UK and mental health charity Andy’s Man Club.
Adam was travelling with his ex-partner and her brother on the evening of the accident.
He said: “I have no recollection of the accident, only leaving to start the journey. Weirdly enough, there was a patient transport ambulance behind us.”
Adam was placed in a medically induced coma for eight days after the accident.
Adam was taken to University Hospital Coventry where his ex, who worked as a major trauma nurse, was able to explain the extent of Adam’s injuries to a neurosurgeon.
“The neurosurgeon immediately took me through and sedated me for a CT scan,” he said.
“They found that I had two bleeds on the brain, a fractured eye socket and fractured jaw. From then I was put into a coma for eight days.”
Adam says he doesn’t remember much of his time in hospital recovering, and describes the whole ordeal as a ‘very surreal experience’.
He said: “Everything changed in my life. You don’t think about these things happening to you; you just go about your day-to-day life and think ‘okay, tomorrow will be the same’. But it’s just completely flipped my life upside down.
“People wouldn’t think I’ve been in a car accident and have a brain injury. I continue to live with the physical scars, as well as the cognitive, emotional, and behavioural effects it has had on me since that night.
“In many ways, I am not the same person I was before, but I’m incredibly fortunate to have recovered in the way that I have.”
Adam said he struggled to grasp what had happened and why, for the first 12 months after the accident, he went through periods of irritability, fatigue and cognitive effects.
He had to leave his career with West Midlands Police and retire from playing football semi-professionally with Atherstone Town, something that was a huge part of his life.
He said: “I then came to the realisation of; do I go another three, four, five years and stay where I was, dwelling on what I can’t change? Or do I do something positive?
“That’s why I’m running the Manchester Marathon. I’m determined to raise awareness around recovery and life with the challenges after a brain injury.
“This will be my biggest challenge and achievement since my accident, and I’ll be completing it alongside some of my close friends and raising funds for two important charities: Headway UK and Andy’s Man Club.
“These charities are very personal to me; helping others living with a brain injury and raising awareness around mental health – especially for those who may not have been as fortunate as I have.
“I’ve learned that things don’t always go to plan, and that’s okay. Sometimes you find another way, and sometimes you realise the path you imagined wasn’t the one meant for you.”
Eden Harlow, Fundraising Coordinator at Headway UK, said Adam’s fundraising efforts would make a huge difference in supporting others facing life after brain injury.
She added: “Adam has bravely shared his story to highlight the reality of living with a brain injury, as well as offer hope to fellow survivors.
“We’re so grateful to him for taking on the Manchester Marathon in aid of Headway UK.”
Visit https://tinyurl.com/5fhw2eym to sponsor Adam.
