The mother of an Aberdeen teenager who suffered severe brain injuries after being hit by a 4×4 has backed a campaign to bring vital brain damage support services to the north-east.
Fifteen-year-old Megan Thomson was knocked down on the city’s Bridge Street in January.
She was rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where doctors found serious damage and fractures to her skull.
After 24 hours in a coma, the Hazlehead Academy pupil woke up but had lost the use of her legs, suffered from memory loss and couldn’t feel the right half of her body.
But now, after months of treatment and surgeries, Megan is well on the way to recovery.
Yesterday, her mum Lesley, 34, said her daughter would not be where she is without the constant support of the Child Brain Injury Trust (CBIT), a charity which supports youngsters with brain damage all across the UK.
Miss Thomson said: “She’s finally completed all of her operations, so now it’s just learning how to walk again properly and a lot of physiotherapy.
“I had never heard of the Brain Injury Trust, but once they got involved I went from a very confused and concerned parent to totally clued in.
“Thanks to them, I feel like any questions or worries that Megan or her little sisters have I can offer them answers, and to be able to help them all understand what’s happening really makes a difference.”
To thank the organisation for all its help, the family asked the Tesco supermarket branch on the Lang Stracht to choose the CBIT as their latest charity to raise funds for.
And thanks to a sponsored bag pack the store was able to donate £620 to the charity, which will go towards establishing a permanent presence for youngsters all across the north of Scotland.
Beth Strachan, a family support coordinator for CBIT said: “We are currently based in the Central Belt, providing a skeleton support service to families further north.
“However, we are in the process of establishing a project in Grampian, and we are recruiting for a support coordinator to be based in the region.
“This donation from will help us achieve this dream, and help us support more children and young people like Megan in the region.”
To find out more visit www.childbraininjurytrust.org.uk