In this piece I aimed to depict some of the emotions revealed in a home-visit I attended recently where I met Paul* and his mother Rachel. Paul is in his twenties and was involved in a motorcycle accident six years ago from which he sustained severe head injuries. His mother was wholly unprepared for the situation which unravelled as she arrived at the hospital, as Paul had been involved in many accidents of lesser severity in the past – Paul remained in a coma for several months. During this period, some of the medical staff advised that Paul’s life-support machine be turned off as his chances of survival were minimal. However, Paul’s parents repeatedly insisted that his ventilator remained switched on. When Paul subsequently came out of his coma he sadly still remained in a vegetative state. Undeterred, Rachel felt that she could provide the best quality of re-habilitation for her son at home and after lengthy discussions Paul was eventually taken home and cared for by his parents.

The emotions which Rachel experienced and described provide the basis for my creative piece.

In this image I have tried to depict Rachel’s hopefulness and tenacity which she believed sustained her throughout this testing period. Rachel felt that others had little faith in her son’s ability to recover and it was therefore her responsibility to provide optimism. The grey colour scheme I have selected represents how Rachel perceived others to view the situation, with very little faith, and is also used to demonstrate the loneliness and isolation she experienced at times as Paul’s carer. The facial expression conveyed in the drawing highlights her overwhelming need to remain positive, even when the situation around her seemed endless and occasionally unrewarding. I also tried to convey the strain and stresses of the situation in her facial expression, but combining this with the overriding attitude of positivity which was gleaned from my meeting with Rachel and Paul.

The photograph at the top of this piece represents the view from the room in which Paul was cared for. I selected this particular image as the sun is the central, prominent feature. The photograph gives a perspective of looking out onto freedom and simplicity, perhaps representative of their lives before the accident. I have, however, selected the image of the sun to signify Rachel’s overriding hope for her son and her ability to remain optimistic about a situation that is otherwise grey.

After having listened to Paul and Rachel’s story, I felt very humbled and inspired and it further confirmed my desire to become a doctor. Rachel’s resilience and spirit was evident throughout and was very thought-provoking. I found myself reflecting upon how I believe I would have dealt with that situation and whether I would have the same determination as Rachel and indeed Paul to overcome all barriers.

Paul is now leading an effectively normal life and believes his perspective on life has altered since the accident. He is now more appreciative of things he previously took for granted, including his family.

After having attended this house-visit I felt truly inspired and amazed at the outcome of sheer determination and hope – LIFE.

*names and details have been altered to maintain patient confidentiality