Hi mark. Thanks so much for replying. I think my voice is due to my brain as if I talk slowly and I really concentrate on what I'm saying, my voice sounds much better. I am very fortunate that I don't have any deep scarring on my face. Most of the damage to my brain seems to have been the shearing of tissue, and the clots that formed. I had about five clots in the temporal lobe, and on the left hand side at the back and front.

When I go to South Africa next month I am going to see my neurosurgeon that treated me initially, and hope he can give me some more info on my recovery. I know I have beaten all odds as he had originally thought I would not walk for maybe three years.

The one thing I am is very determined to better myself, and I am very lucky that my thinking brain has not been injured long term. Anything I undertake has to be competitive, which is why I am going to SA to swim in the Midmar mile race. I will enter the disabled section, and although I am not very fast, I aim to finish!

I will write again when I have done the race and let you know how I do. Thanks for your support. Cheers. Debs