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Emilia Clarke, who plays the role of Daenerys Targaryen, ‘mother of dragons’ in the hugely popular HBO series, Game of Thrones has launched a brain injury charity called SameYou which aims to provide treatment for people recovering from brain injuries and strokes.
The star of the most successful TV series of all time has launched the charity after revealing that she is a brain injury survivor herself, having had two brain aneurysms.
Writing a personal essay in the US publication The New Yorker recently she explains how the first of these aneurysms was discovered when she was working out with a personal trainer following the first season of filming of Game of Thrones in 2011.
She collapsed in the bathroom of her gym after suffering a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), a “life-threatening type of stroke, caused by bleeding into the space surrounding the brain” at the age of just 24.
After a month in hospital she was discharged and returned to work to film the second season of Game of Thrones. But doctors found a second aneurysm which worsened and eventually, she needed further surgery in 2013, shortly after the filming of season three.
Until now, the actor has kept quiet about her brain injury experiences but has decided to go public to raise awareness of the impact of brain injuries and to call for better access to rehabilitation care.
According to the SameYou website, the charity aims to boost primary research in partnership with the Stroke Association to understand the recovery needs of those who experience brain injuries and strokes, particularly, young people. It also aims to help fund clinical research and form a new neurorehabilitation training qualification.
At Novum Law, we represent people from all walks of life who’ve sustained a brain injury through serious accidents or due to medical negligence.
We think it’s vitally important to raise public awareness of brain injuries and the launch of a fundraising charity with such a well-known celebrity as its figurehead to campaign for better access to rehabilitation can only be a hugely positive step.
In the UK, we are fortunate that there are already several incredible charities and support groups working to improve life after brain injury. For example, Headway does a fantastic job providing vital support and information services to brain injury survivors.
In addition to its excellent network of local groups and branches across the UK, it also lobbies for better support and resources to be made available to people affected by brain injury and works to raise awareness of brain injury and the devastating effects it can have.
The launch of Emilia Clarke’s SameYou charity has received widespread publicity across the world highlighting the challenges brain injury survivors face.
We hope that existing brain injury charities in the UK, such as Headway, Brain Injury Group and The Children’s Trust will all stand to benefit from any increase in public awareness of the impact of brain injuries on survivors as well as their families and carers.
As Emilia says: “I know from personal experience that the support you receive when you leave hospital can have a huge impact on your recovery. Young adults in particular face immense challenges trying to rebuild their lives.
“Not everyone is able to make a full recovery after brain injury or stroke, but I believe that everyone should have access to the best possible mental and physical rehabilitation to maximise their individual recovery potential.”
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury due to a serious accident or negligent medical care, our expert team of brain injury solicitors may be able to help. Call 0800 884 0777 or email info@novumlaw.com.
