Ryley's walker helps recovery

A teenager who suffered a devastating bleed on the brain is on the road to recovery after receiving a new walking frame.

Ryley Briston, of Baston, was just 14-years-old when he collapsed following a football game with friends. That was in May 2016.

Up until then, he had been a fit and healthy teenager who loved sport and played football for a local team and was a keen athlete. He also took part in athletics, football and rugby at his school at Bourne Grammar.

Scans at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, revealed he had an AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation) in his brain which had haemorrhaged, causing a bleed.

To save his life, he underwent emergency surgery to stem the bleed and remove a large part of his skull.

The brave teen was placed in an induced coma to allow his brain to recover and spent three months at Addenbrooke’s, where he had to relearn how to talk and eat.

Further scans revealed that parts of Ryley’s brain were starved of oxygen leaving him with permanent damage affecting his mobility and

movement.

Ryley had a long road to recovery, spending time at a care home in Cambridge, a rehabilitation centre for children with acquired brain injuries in Surrey, and a four month intense rehabilitation programme at The Children’s Trust in Tadworth before he was finally able to return home to his family in Baston in March 2017 - nearly a year after the illness struck.

His injury left him with long-term upper body dystonia, meaning he can’t walk ver y well and use his hands and arms effectively. He also uses an electronic communication system although his speech is improving.

And thanks to the support of The Malcolm Whales Foundation, a new Kaye walker has been purchased to help Ryley get back on his feet - quite literally.

His proud mum Mel said: “The more Ryley is on his feet the quicker his brain will develop new pathways giving him a better chance of recovery.

“Ryley has recently started a new school and already he has begun to walk to one lesson a day using his walker.

“The aim is to build on this gradually until can walk to all his lessons using the walker.

“Ryley is making huge progress in all areas relearning the skills many of us take for granted in daily

life.

“The key to his progression is getting the right therapy and equipment to help him reach his full potential and his dream of walking again independently.”

Damien Whales, founder of the The Malcolm Whales Foundation said: “We are delighted that Ryley has made such amazing progress with his walker. When we were approached to support him, it was a very straightforward decision.

“We hope that the walker continues to make a big difference to Ryley and his family.”