Seven years ago, Jamie Cardno’s family were told to prepare for the worst following a crash.
They were told that if he survived, he might never walk or talk again.
Then 22, he was seriously injured and suffered severe brain damage after his car hit black ice on the A98 Banff to Fraserburgh road in January 2016.
But fast forward to 2023, and the father-of-one has shocked doctors with his miraculous recovery – and hopes by sharing his story, he can inspire others to keep going too.
‘We didn’t really have a clue what was about to happen’
Mr Cardno, from Fraserburgh, told The P&J: “It’s been seven years since my accident, it feels like 70.
“Each day, week, month, year, I’ve came back, came back, came back.
“My memories have come back, my mobility’s come back, my speaking came back.
“I can’t even get my head round it still. I’m living it every day and I still wake up sometimes and think how is this happening to me?”
When Mr Cardno was taken to hospital after the crash, his parents were told he might not make it.
His mum, Brenda Cardno, said: “Initially we were told that Jamie might not survive and then he spent six months in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) and a further nearly two years in the Neuro Rehab Unit (NRU) at Woodend.
“It was hard to see Jamie in hospital being non-responsive for almost two and half years and then to see him coming out, it gives you a lot of hope.
“But then it’s also hard with the phycological effect as well.
“The doctors said that if Jamie survived, he would have to learn to do things again.
“At the time when the doctors were telling us things, we didn’t really understand what a brain injury is.
“We didn’t really have a clue what was about to happen.”
Standing for the first time in three and half years
Mr Cardno was left with severe mobility issues and physiological damage following the accident.
Even when he was discharged from hospital, he was unable to sit up on his own and had to use a hoist.
He has had many operations, one of which included taking out a piece of the front of his skull and putting it in his stomach for two years.
Despite the long and painful journey, the now 29-year-old and his mum said there have been some “huge breakthrough moments”.
In February 2018 he started being able to communicate again.
A year later, Mr Cardno stood up for the first time after getting a tendon transfer to help straighten his ankles after spending so long immobile.
His mum said: “That was the first time he was able to stand upright for about three and half years.
“That was something else. That was a huge moment.”
Progress left NHS staff ‘gobsmacked’
In January 2020, Mr Cardno was introduced to a specialist personal trainer who helped him come on “in leaps and bounds”.
When Mr Cardno returned to NRU for therapy, the nurses and consultants who had worked with him before were left shocked by his progress.
He said: “The nurses who knew me back then, they all say, ‘I can’t believe it’s you.’
“I actually met the ambulance driver who picked me up from the crash. He was gobsmacked. He really couldn’t believe it.
“There’s different stages of my recovery. It’s gone from not being able to seat myself, to standing, to now. It’s totally mind blowing.”
Mr Cardno, who lives with his parents, has carers to help him every day and has weekly therapy sessions.
Throughout this, he still keeps working to improve.
“I do something every day. Whether it’s standing making cups of tea, trying to make my dinner, practising walking, going to the gym,” he said.
“I’m obsessed, I have to be obsessed.
“To be told you won’t ever be the same again, it’s hard going because you think I’m working this hard but it’s never going to be the same.”
His mum said even though he has come a long way, Mr Cardno still struggles every day.
She said: “Even though he’s done really well, he struggles with infections and memory problems and fatigue and severe headaches so it’s with him all the time. It’s not just the mobility side of it. ”
Fraserburgh man hopes to inspire others
“It is really hard,” Mr Cardno added. “People think my wheelchair’s my disability but it’s not because I’ve got a brain injury as well.
“When you have a brain injury, everything is harder.
“Even getting yourself up in the morning is harder mentally. Getting yourself through that I think is a win anyway.
“I’ve got various ways to cope with it. I’ve got my daughter, Emily-Rose. I see her every week so that gives me a reason to go on and also for my family.”
To help raise awareness around the impact of brain injuries and also to thank the health services and inspire others, Mr Cardno shared a video showing his “miraculous” journey so far.
He said: “I’ve always been wanting to write something about this but I thought more people would watch a video than read a book.
“If you research the injury I had (polytrauma petechial haemorrhage and diffuse axonal injury), the survival rate is very low. Although people do survive, a lot are left in a vegetative state.
“It’s unheard for people to be as well as I am considering the injury so I thought it will inspire people.”
His mum hopes it will also give families going through similar situations a bit of hope.
“It’s hard to believe that we went through all that all those years ago when you see him now,” the 49-year-old said. “He’s like a different person.
“I think if Jamie’s story even gives families that are going through this right now a little bit of encouragement, just a little bit of hope. That it doesn’t have to be the end of the road or the end of the story.”
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