Swindon Lives: In conversations with carer Colleen Kelly

When Colleen Kelly found herself spoon feeding her 9-month-old baby and her fiancé at the same time, she thought she was living in a nightmare.

The mother-of-two had just qualified as a carer and the couple had bought a house that they planned to transform into a family home.

But when Andrew failed to arrive home for tea after a motorbike accident, Colleen drove from hospital to hospital searching for him, until she reached Frenchay Hospital and was told to say her goodbyes.

Andrew, 44, went from being a hard working scaffolder and hands-on dad, to relying entirely on Colleen for his care - having forgotten the past 10 years of his life.

Colleen Kelly, 31, from Swindon, will join just two other finalists chosen from across the UK to be in the running for the title of Carer of the Year at the national brain injury awards ceremony organised by Headway – the brain injury association.

The accolade will be presented at a ceremony organised by Headway – the brain injury association at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Friday 8 December.

In September 2012, Andrew Cuthbertson was left fighting for his life after his accident. He sustained a traumatic brain injury, but he had three other injuries that could have killed him.

"I was numb," Colleen said. "I got to see him before his operation. He had a brain injury, he had broken his back, he had severe nerve damage in his neck. The list of his injuries was endless. I went back to the waiting room and passed out."

Andrew remained in a coma for around eight weeks and spent a year in hospital, where Colleen visited him daily, desperately teaching him thumbs up to show signs of recovery.

Just a month after Andrew's accident, Colleen's mother was diagnosed with oesophagus cancer and subsequently lost her home. As well as visiting Andrew and looking after her children, Colleen moved her mum into their home so she could be cared for.

The house the couple had just bought was in disrepair and need major renovations. So once Colleen had put her children to bed at a friend or relative's house, she spent her evenings stripping paint and ripping up floorboards, before sleeping on the sofa.

Colleen soon realised the house would never be suitable for Andrew's needs and they were forced to move. In the past six years the family has had to move home four times.

When Andrew was finally able to return home, his sons found themselves living with a different man.

"His memories are gone," said Colleen. "The ten years prior to Andrew's accident are a complete blur to him. But that's when we got together and had our children and made all our memories."

Colleen had to explain to her children why their father could no longer play with them, or remember the conversations they had just minutes before.

"Our children thought they were going to get their old dad back," she said. "He had come home but he was different. He doesn't like a lot of noise, he becomes confused and anxious.

"I had to put my feelings on the back foot to help our kids come to terms with it. Mine and Andrew's relationship has never been the same since the accident. You quickly get used to going from a partner to a carer."

Colleen has also been forced to give up her dreams of marrying Andrew, as he does not have the capacity to remember committing himself to his wedding vows.

Throughout all the upheaval, Colleen and Andrew have been supported by Headway Swindon - a charity that provides brain injury survivors and their loved ones with support.

Service Development Manager, Sonia de Blaquiere, nominated Colleen for the Carer of the Year Award.

"Colleen has worked tirelessly to support her family without a second thought for herself," she said.

"She has put aside her own loss, devastation and dream of getting married to care for her family. She is a wonderful woman and no-one deserves this award more than her."

Each year, Headway Annual Awards celebrates the exceptional efforts of survivors of brain injury and their carers. Colleen will discover if she is to be named Carer of the Year at a glittering ceremony at The Dorchester Hotel, in London, on Friday 8, December. Awards for Achiever and Volunteer will also be presented, alongside the Stephen McAleese Outstanding Contribution to Headway Award.