Childhood car crash 'blessing in disguise'
ACCIDENT victim James Jackson says the childhood crash which left him partially disabled has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
The Torquay teenager, known as JJ, is now 18 and has become an urban rap music producer.
But he was only 12 when he was run over by a car coming home from school on the Hele roundabout in 2006.
It was a week later when he woke up in Bristol's Frenchay hospital after suffering life-changing brain damage and multiple injuries.
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And it took him years to come to terms with the permanent injuries.
But JJ says: "I wouldn't change it now. If it wasn't for the accident, I don't think I would have started making music.
"I would have been just another child playing football and going to school. I wouldn't have learned the life lessons I have."
JJ says that after years spent alone in his room afraid to face people, he turned his life around.
"I changed my attitude and decided I can't lead my life to suit other people. I can't help how I look.
"I am deaf in one ear and I kind of look as if I've had a stroke.
"I have come to terms with what happened to me and I haven't let it hold me back.
"I now make urban music, run my own TV production channel on youtube videoing local artists and trying to create opportunities for people who don't have the facilities I do.
"It took me a long time to become more confident and to stop caring what people think of me.
"I changed so much when I was run over but gradually I have learned life is what you make of it. And I'm making the most of it by doing what I enjoy.
"Although I am deaf in one ear which can cause problems for most people, I have found ways around that too.
"I have been watching the Paralympics and seeing people with no legs running and it is inspiring.
"I took a good year-and-a-half recovering from a brain injury with multiple fractures. It caused fatigue and dizzy spells.
"I still get after-effects but I kind of learned to deal with it, I just focused on other things.
"At first, I started trying to play football but I couldn't because of my accident and joint problems.
"In the end, I got in contact with a friend from Torquay who moved to California and was making music.
"We started linking up and I set up a home recording studio in Torre.
"It was hard for my parents but they are doing better now that they can see that I have moved on."
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