Source: University of Otago
Brionne Fleming graduates with a Bachelor of Science (Neuroscience) 21 August.
An injury that almost ruined Brionne Fleming’s time at University could ironically be the focus of her future career.
Brionne graduates on 21 August with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience in absentia after suffering several traumatic brain injuries, an ovarian cyst and appendicitis during her degree.
“The extension of my University degree as a result of my head injuries was difficult. Having to watch friends my age and even younger all graduating and moving on with their lives before me was difficult and still can be at times,” Brionne says.
“To say it was a difficult journey would be an understatement, but now looking back you kind of have to laugh at how ridiculous it sounds. I mean if you can’t laugh at yourself what can you do?”
Growing up Brionne already had two concussions through sport. During Health Sciences First Year she was accidentally tripped by a friend, resulting in a significant concussion which prevented her from completing her second semester exams.
Then in the weeks before she was to sit her special examinations she was in a car accident which resulted in another significant brain injury and a short hospital stay.
“This was definitely a low point, returning home from the hospital to sit in a dark room with no light and noise for months. At times just reading one page would result in sleeping for the rest of the day. It also meant missing out on my first semester of second year with my friends.”
While in hospital the doctors discovered an 8cm ovarian cyst and once Brionne had recovered from her brain injury it was surgically removed and she returned to University for semester 2.
However, a week before her exams her appendix needed to be urgently removed, so she underwent another surgery and a week later completed her exams.
“To say it was a difficult journey would be an understatement, but now looking back you kind of have to laugh at how ridiculous it sounds. I mean if you can’t laugh at yourself what can you do?”
While the physical effects of her injuries were difficult, Brionne also struggled with the emotional effects.
“Dealing with the stigmatism around concussion in New Zealand was also a challenge in itself. The thought amongst the general public is “you’ll be right” and “it’s only a bang on the head” so I came across this attitude from many people, even some close to me.
“Feeling like you have to justify your injury to someone and prove the seriousness of it was definitely hard at times, especially when it’s not a physical injury that people can see. However, I am grateful that I listened to those around me and took time to recover to prevent any long-term damage.”
However, she says the experience has taught her resilience and patience that she will carry with her through life.
It also helped her find her study path after Health Sciences First Year.
“It definitely helped my decision in wanting to study neuroscience as it sparked a curiosity, wanting to know what was happening to my brain as I was experiencing it first-hand. And vice versa, experiencing brain injury first-hand gave me a level of empathy and understanding for others suffering from any brain related condition, knowing how difficult it is at times when your own brain seems to be working against you.”
“For the future I wish to keep learning and growing my knowledge of the brain, as there is so much that is unknown and more to learn. My real passion is neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimers so I hope through a research pathway I am able to work with others to discover why these diseases affect so many of our loved ones and make a difference.”
In some ways, Brionne is still dealing with the repercussions of her head injuries. Last year she was diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, a condition in which her brain is very sensitive to fluctuations in hormones and results in changes in mood and behaviour as a result.
“Living with this is frustrating at times but it has only increased my curiosity towards the brain and would be an area I would love to research one day.”
Brionne feels experiencing brain injury first-hand gives her an empathy and understanding for others suffering from any brain related condition because she knows how it feels when your own brain seems to be working against you.
“In the future I would love to incorporate traumatic brain injury into my research, looking at what relationship they have to the onset of neurodegenerative diseases and personality disorders and also how it influences hormonal changes, and I believe my first-hand experience gives me a level of empathy for this research.”
Brionne credits the University’s Disability Information and Support team for helping her succeed and work through the challenges she faced when she returned to University.
“They showed huge support and kindness and dealt with me when I was at my most fragile stage. Their guidance made my return to University so much easier than if I had done it alone, supporting me with my learning and simply offering assistance if it was needed.”
Preparing for graduation was the best feeling. Brionne says she felt as though she would never get to walk across the stage and wear the cap and gown at times.
Unfortunately, her walk across the stage will have to wait because of the change in COVID-19 Alert Levels resulted in the cancellation of graduation.
“I think it is as rewarding for my family as it is for me, as they went through this journey with me, struggled at times alongside me, endured countless trips to Dunedin to support me and equally felt the excitement when the hard work showed in my results. I couldn’t have gotten through it without all of them, plus my amazing friends, so I will be forever grateful for all their love and support.”
Brionne is now working as a Research Assistant at the University of Auckland’s Centre for Brain Research studying Parkinson’s disease for the continuation of the year before she begins her honours degree next year in the same department.
“For the future I wish to keep learning and growing my knowledge of the brain, as there is so much that is unknown and more to learn. My real passion is neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimers so I hope through a research pathway I am able to work with others to discover why these diseases affect so many of our loved ones and make a difference.”
