A cyclist who was hit by a car in a horror accident has told how she woke from a coma with no memory of her husband or children.
Emma Feesey, 48, suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck by the vehicle as she cycled home from work.
She suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage and a midline shift after her head struck the ground after a motorist hit her at Deans Roundabout in West Lothian in August 2017.
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The mum-of-two, who had been wearing a helmet, later woke in hospital with few memories and was unable to work her mobile phone or draw a picture of a giraffe.
She had been treated in Edinburgh's Western General for three days before being shifted to the Astley Ainslie Hospital which specialises in serious injuries.
But when she woke from the coma Emma, of Edinburgh, had no memory of husband Colin, 49, and their two daughters Rosa, 26, and Zora, 24.
Emma, a criminal justice social worker, said: "Someone asked where I lived. I knew the street but not the number.
"I was asked if I was married and I didn't know. I was asked if I had children and again had no idea.
"Colin was really worried, firstly to think I died and then to realise I had no memory of him and the girls.
"Then when I remembered my husband and my daughters I wanted them there all the time.
"I'd think, 'I love Colin. Colin should be here. I want to see Colin.' There is a simplicity to your thoughts when going through trauma.
"I felt physically okay and I only knew I had a brain injury because people kept telling me I had one."
A police probe was launched into the incident but the driver of the vehicle was not prosecuted.
During her recovery Emma faced challenges and was unable to sketch simple objects and failed to recognise her own mobile phone.
Emma, who has now retired on medical grounds, added: "Everything was very slow and detached.
"I remember finding a 'communication device' near my bed. I now know it was my phone but at the time it was just a thing I thought would help me document things.
"It took me ages to type anything - I just kept taking photos of my own face ` and when I did finally manage I unknowingly posted it to Facebook which caused a commotion.
"But I was most frustrated when I was asked to draw a clock and a giraffe.
"With the clock I drew the number one, put in a few other numbers and drew a shape around them and with the giraffe I drew it like a horse with a long neck but the hospital wasn't satisfied.
"It was about three weeks for everything to click into place. The constant questions and tasks are exhausting but they are obviously part of the process to get your brain working and I'm thankful to have come through things."
Emma now hosts a yoga class and has returned to cycling after overcoming flashbacks of the incident.
Emma added: "I've learned through all this, especially during the pandemic, that what matters is being happy, healthy and doing good things.
"I look after myself and focus on my yoga and other workshops and I still cycle when I can.
"The hardest part is simply adjusting to a new life. Getting to know and embrace your new trajectory is something an acquired brain injury survivor will at some point have to deal with.
"But this is me and I have a nice life. I'm generally ` and genuinely ` happy in my world.
"If I could offer any advice to anyone it's to not caveat yourself or apologise for what you've survived and experienced. Caveats might help others but not yourself.
"Brain injury survivors shouldn't need to caveat themselves so the key is to help people understand everyone is different and has different things going on in their lives."
Emma is set to speak at the Edinburgh Head Injury Information Day hosted by Digby Brown.
Chris Stewart, partner at Digby Brown and host of the Head Injury Information Day, added: "I have great respect for Emma's strength in talking about her journey.
"We help people like Emma and her family every day so we know it matters that other survivors have inspiration to draw on as they continue with their own recovery."
For more information on the Head Injury Information Day and how it helps survivors of acquired brain injuries please visit https://www.digbybrown.co.uk/head-injury-information-days
