This section will tell you about what happens after you leave intensive care. Most of you will have some memory of this.

You go to the ward after the doctors and nurses have decided you aren’t so sick that you need to stay in intensive care. Your friends and family usually feel happy at this time because going to the ward is a normal part of getting better.

The ward nurses will still keep a very close eye on you and make sure that you are recovering after your ABI, your operation and stay on intensive care.

You might make a few friends there too! There will be other children and teenagers to speak to and the nurses can be good fun too if they aren’t too busy!

It might take a few weeks before you start to feel better. The first few days on the ward are usually spent with you 'sleeping off' the medication and giving the brain time to adjust to being awake. You may have got tired really easily.

After a period of time, you may have some more energy and the physiotherapists and nurses can start getting you more active. If you are well enough, the physiotherapist might try and get you out of bed and walking again.

Ward nurses give you lots of help with everything until you are able to do it for yourself.

You will stay on the ward until the doctors and nurses decide that you don’t need to be in hospital anymore. Some people will be able to go straight home although others might have to go into rehabilitation.

Our next section will tell you all about what to expect in rehabilitation.