For more than 25 years, Bernice Spurgeon has helped people navigate the challenges that follow serious injury but eight years ago, she found herself facing many of those same challenges following a serious road traffic accident whilst on holiday with her husband and two young sons in France.
The accident left Bernice with significant physical injuries, a lengthy rehabilitation programme and a recovery journey that would take years rather than months.
Today, she reflects on some of the lessons that experience taught her and why they continue to shape the way she supports injured individuals and their families.
Recovery Is About More Than Physical Injuries
“When people think about recovery, they often focus on the physical injuries. That is understandable because those injuries can be significant, life-changing, and visible. What surprised me was how much of my recovery happened away from hospital appointments and medical treatment. There was the uncertainty, the loss of confidence and the impact on everyday life. There were things I could no longer do, at least not in the way I had before, and that takes time to come to terms with. Acceptance plays a very important role, so you learn to adjust, rather than look back and try and compare your life with what you were like before, but this takes time.”
Whilst Bernice suffered serious physical injuries, including a broken back, fractured ribs, and internal bleeding, causing her to be an inpatient for two weeks in hospital, some of which was in intensive care, she says the psychological impact was equally challenging.
“The physical injuries were visible but the anxiety, nightmares, flashbacks and the loss of confidence weren’t, and recovery involved both.”
Rehabilitation Matters
Following surgery and her return to the UK by air ambulance, Bernice began an extensive rehabilitation programme involving physiotherapy and psychological support, including wearing a hard tight back brace for three months. Looking back, she believes rehabilitation played a crucial role in helping her regain independence.
“Recovery is rarely about one breakthrough moment. It is usually a series of small steps that gradually build over time, and it is small steps. Some days are much harder than others. I remember having some very dark days. Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy helped me physically, but the psychological support was equally important. Both gave me the confidence to keep moving forward. I could not even talk about the accident and being trapped in the car, thinking the car was going to catch fire without sobbing, but counselling helped me process the trauma which was so important.”
It is a perspective that aligns closely with the message regularly shared by rehabilitation professionals: the right support, delivered at the right time, can have a lasting impact, and help the long-term prognosis.
Returning to Work Is a Journey
After three months away from work, Bernice returned on a phased basis. What she remembers most clearly is how exhausting even a few hours could feel.
“I remember thinking that if I was only working a handful of hours each week, I should be able to manage it easily. The reality was very different. Recovery takes energy and concentration in ways people do not always appreciate. What made a huge difference was having an employer who understood that returning to work was a process rather than an event. Your time away from work is largely spent having treatment and it can be overwhelming at times.”
Her hours gradually increased over time as her strength and confidence returned.
You Do Not Have to Do It Alone
One lesson stands out above all others.
“The people around you matter enormously. My family, medical professionals, rehabilitation specialists, and colleagues all played a massive role in helping me recover. My husband was amazing, looking after our young sons whilst also recovering himself from his injuries and helping care for me. At the time, it can be difficult to accept help because you want to get back to normal as quickly as possible. Looking back, I realise how important that support was, and I know that not everyone is lucky enough to have that support around them.”
It is a message Bernice now shares regularly with clients who are at the beginning of their own recovery journey.
Looking Back
Nearly eight years on, Bernice still lives with some of the effects of the accident. She has to adapt her life as she has permanent metalwork in her back and suffers with chronic pain and ongoing anxiety in a car and hypervigilance. She wishes, like all of her clients, she was not in that place at that time, however, she believes the experience gave her a deeper appreciation of the challenges injured people face and the resilience they demonstrate throughout recovery.
“I would never pretend that I fully understand somebody else’s experience because every injury and every recovery journey is different. What I do understand is how frightening uncertainty can feel, how important support can be and how much determination recovery can require. One thing recovery taught me is that progress is possible, even when it feels distant at the time. You will never forget the day the accident happened, or the really tough journey you had ahead of you. We all went through the accident as a family, and as a parent you never want to see your children have to go through anything that traumatic, but it has made us stronger as a family, as we came through it together.”
Recovery takes time, patience, and support but it is possible to move forward, one step at a time. Bernice hopes that sharing her experience offers reassurance to others facing similar challenges. Bernice also wanted to share the photograph of their family SUV after the accident as she still cannot believe that they were able to escape from that car.
