A MUM who fought tirelessly to ensure her son got the best possible care following his brain injury has been shortlisted for a national award.

Janie Ferrier, will be recognised at an annual awards ceremony organised by Headway – the brain injury association, as one of just three people from across the UK in the running for the title of Carer of the Year.

Her son Nick was 22 when he sustained horrific traumatic brain injury after crashing into a brick wall on his quad bike. The accident left him unable to speak, walk, move or feed himself. He is completely dependent on his mum.

The 44-year-old had to have a lot of time off work initially so she could be at his bedside at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, then reduced her hours on returning to work so she could still visit Nick in hospital. More recently she has given up work to become his full-time carer. She was initially told that Nick would have no quality of life but after two years of hospital treatment, and with some signs of improvement, he was eventually moved to a care home. However, this was unsuitable for Nick as it was a geriatric care home and not geared-up for a young disabled man.

The Brickfields resident started the Help Get Nick Home campaign to make sure her house was adapted to meet his needs and enable him to live with her.

Due to the campaign, Janie’s dream was finally realised and Nick, now 27, is able to live at his city home. Janie said she was shocked when she found out she had been nominated for the award.

“It has been heartbreaking to see what has happened to Nick and to have had to be his voice throughout this ordeal," she said.

"Nick is the eldest of my four children, and it has changed all of our lives, but you just have to get on with it. I’m his mum so it just comes naturally to me, you just want the best for your children and so you keep pushing onwards.”

Janie was nominated for the award by Mandie Fitzgerald, a fundraising and marketing manager, from the Headway charity.

“Janie will never give up her fight for Nick and she is rightly very proud of her boy and how well he has come on since the horrific crash," she said.

“She is one of our unsung heroes with the fight of a lioness. I’m thrilled that she has been nominated and will spend a special day with everyone at the event in London.”

She will discover if she has been successful at a glittering ceremony in London, on Friday, December 6.