On the way to visiting her grandfather in hospital, Chelsea found herself facing an emergency of her own.

The then five-year-old had watched from the footpath as her mother crossed the road to pay for parking. But tragedy struck when she decided to follow. Chelsea didn’t see the four-wheel drive as she crossed and was hit. The impact throwing her 10 metres down the road.

Chelsea was rushed to hospital and underwent urgent surgery, involving a skull reconstruction (cranioplasty) and the removal of damaged brain tissue.

Image: Chelsea with her dad in hospital

She also needed a surgical drain fitted to remove excess fluid around her brain. The immediate impact of her injuries was profound. Chelsea, now 19, described it as being “like a newborn baby again.”

“I experienced post-traumatic amnesia for three months and had to relearn everything from walking and talking to eating,” she said.

“I was in hospital for almost six months and since then, have undertaken numerous therapies to aid my recovery.”

Image: Chelsea learning how to use a walker

While Chelsea started off a dancer, she was forced to transition to less physically demanding hobbies like drama, music and hand-made crafts. Her mental and physical resilience have progressed, but she continues to deal with fatigue and muscle weakness.

“The symptoms are constant and I usually need a nap just to get through each day,” she said. “Due to the brain injury I have a left hemiplegia, which is a weakness on the left side of my body. It can be hard to do daily activities with one hand, but I’ve adapted.”

Image: Chelsea now, a survivor and mentor

Chelsea now mentors other young survivors through Heads Together, an organisation that supports children and families impacted by brain injury. She continues to be creative through her online craft shop and has taken on the role of lived experience advisor with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI).

“I know first-hand the great research MCRI is doing to help improve the lives of young people with brain injuries,” she said. “It would be wonderful to see research advance even further to lessen the impact of newly acquired brain damage.”

Chelsea said she wanted other children in her situation to know there was life beyond brain injury and rehabilitation.

“Trust the doctors, but don’t let yourself get too boxed in,” she said. “There will always be possible improvements you can make. And remember things can always get better.”

Read more about MCRI’s Brain and Mind research.