RAF veteran Sara on how RBL are supporting her to use sport as part of her recovery from a life-changing brain injury.
Following in her dad’s footsteps into the military, RAF veteran Sara loved the variety of her job as a People Operations Officer.
Sara's dad was a navigator-turned-admin officer, and despite claiming she would never follow in his footsteps, Sara eventually joined the RAF as well. But in 2014, she suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm, and was subsequently medically discharged.
Life in the RAF
Sara loved the camaraderie and variety in her RAF career, which kept her engaged and fulfilled, no matter how challenging the job.
“I loved my time in the RAF, it sets you up for life. I get bored easily, so I loved the fact I got posted around every two years.
"I could be in charge of an AFCO (Armed Forces Careers Office), I could be teaching, there’s so much variety in the role I was never going to get bored.”
Medical discharge
In 2014, while still serving, Sara woke up with the worst headache she had ever experienced. A friend, who she calls her hero, called an ambulance for her in the middle of the night, and it was discovered that she had suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm, or as Sara says, her ‘brain exploded’.
She underwent a nine-hour surgery, but further medical intervention was needed as her brain continued to swell.
After six months of rehab at Headley Court, she was medically discharged, ending 18 years of service in the RAF. She now lives every day with uncontrollable epilepsy, speech difficulties, and cognitive effects such as memory problems and neuro fatigue.
“I’ve had three main battles since my brain explosion. The first one was my speech, and the second was my epilepsy, and I feel like I’ve done all I can to get those under control, failing with the epilepsy!
“The third, is weight and exercise. I’ve been scared of exercising because it makes your blood pressure go up and, irrationally, it might make my brain explode again.”
I really miss the military ethos so to tackle my main battles with Team UK is unbelievable.
Selection for Team UK
Sara hopes that competing as part of Team UK in the Invictus Games 2025 will help her confront this fear and support her recovery journey through getting involved in sports.
“It means everything to have been selected. Just being there – that’s a Gold medal moment!”
Sara is most excited to try wheelchair curling at the games but is most nervous about swimming. Her sister Kate and niece Eva, her biggest cheerleaders, will be there to support her. "My sister Kate says I’m more smiley and positive about life," Sara shares.
“Before I lived with Kate, I wasn’t living I was just existing. Now I’m able to live my new life.”
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