The neurologist wanted to perform another MRI of Isabel's brain. Just to be sure. But there weren't really any signs of something existential, she said, offering solace. The result of the magnetic resonance tomography, which uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create tomograms of the body, astonished even the doctor a few days later. She spoke of a "spectacular" finding.
Isabel (56) had a meningioma; a brain tumor. It was benign but needed to be surgically removed. And as quickly as possible. Isabel told herself she would have no more symptoms once the tumor was gone. Little did she know how much further she still had to go.
Anyone can suffer a brain injury – even young people. It often occurs suddenly and unexpectedly. The most common causes are stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, craniocerebral injury and tumors. The damage left behind by such events frequently results in permanent impairment and limitations in everyday life. Victims may lose the ability to walk or speak properly or may be paralyzed on one side. And disability may manifest in many other, initially less noticeable, ways. An affected person may also suffer financial losses as they are no longer fully able to work.
In Isabel's story, it all started with a headache. And leaden fatigue. She got herself checked out. Her blood count was normal. So everything seemed to be OK. Instead, she blamed herself. She chided herself for becoming a "lazy bones" in old age. But then came the memory lapses. And the change in personality. People close to her said that she became erratic at that time, wasn't interested in anything anymore and became very self-centered.
And then came the diagnosis: a brain tumor. The operation lasted ten hours. There were no complications. But the healing process was protracted. This is not uncommon. Some people manage to get back to normal with almost no problems. For others, returning to the world of work is a lengthy process that can also fail. The unseen disabilities, such as lack of concentration, rapid fatigue or memory lapses, can present major obstacles. Consequently, many people need support in everyday life in addition to medical help.
Three months after the operation, Isabel had enough confidence to return to work. In the beginning she was more often to be found in the recreation room than at her desk. She was relieved to find that she could still do her work. In other areas, however, her brain continued to function poorly for a long time. The following spring, Isabel bought a technical device. The saleswoman explained to her how to use it. But Isabel could not remember anything, even after several explanations.
Since then, Isabel has regained her footing. Things aren't all quite the same. But she has learned to live with one brain in two states, as she puts it. One state sees Isabel being creative and productive – just like she used to be. In the other, she's completely exhausted after one and a half to two hours’ work. However, thanks to FRAGILE Suisse, she has found her way back into everyday life.
FRAGILE Suisse is the Swiss patient organization for people with brain injuries and their families. With a comprehensive range of services, it supports those affected and those around them ones on their journey back to a new everyday life. FRAGILE Suisse also provides special help for children and young people whose parent has suffered a brain injury. The website www.fragile-family.ch provides age-appropriate information on the topic, including explanatory videos.
Zurich Switzerland supports this commitment: For every new life insurance policy taken out, Zurich makes a financial contribution to the patient organization. Zurich also wants to raise awareness of the issue. We are making a start with our own employees. In cooperation with FRAGILE Suisse, we are offering internal training seminars for our customer advisors, administrators and care managers on interacting with those who have suffered a brain injury. The goal is to provide Zurich customers with the expert advice and support they need.
A brain injury can affect anyone – and the consequences are often difficult to predict. In some cases, it leads to permanent disability. In which case, it is good to at least have a safeguard against any financial losses. If an accident causes incapacity to work, most people receive good coverage from the LAI and can expect to receive around 90% of their previous income.
The situation is different if the incapacity for work is caused by illness. The rule of thumb here is: The IV and pension fund are often only expected to provide around 60% of previous income. Disability insurance reduces this gap and thus enables greater financial independence.
