Lisa Baker, from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, has been recognised for her commitment to caring for Nick and other family members, while also helping to raise the profile of brain injury.
During his career, Nick, a former British Middleweight Champion, sustained two serious brain injuries in the boxing ring. Although both saw him placed in induced comas, the second life-threatening brain injury caused extensive damage. Subsequently, Nick announced his retirement from boxing in 2016.
"He had to have part of his skull removed and put in his stomach, spent over a year in rehab and had to learn to walk, talk and eat again," said Lisa.
She met Nick in 2019, and alongside being his partner, Lisa helps him with daily tasks which he would otherwise struggle to complete.
"He has short-term memory loss, vision problems, and weakness on his left side and needs constant physiotherapy,"
she said.
As well as caring for him, Lisa helps Nick raise awareness of brain injury. The topic is doubly close to their heart, as Lisa also cares for her son Jacob, 9, who was born prematurely alongside his twin brother Joshua, in 2014.
Sadly, Jacob had a bleed on the brain. As a result, Jacob has complex needs including frequent seizures, visual impairments, and cerebral palsy. Alongside him and Nick, Lisa also cares for her eighty six-year-old mother.
For these reasons, Lisa is one of just three finalists for the Carer of the Year award. The accolade, sponsored by Hugh James, will be presented by Headway – the brain injury association, at its glittering awards ceremony on December 8 at the Landmark London hotel.
Lisa was nominated for the Carer of the Year award by Carla Snell from her local brain injury charity, Headway Bath & District.
Carla said: "Nick and Lisa share hugely valuable brain injury awareness videos online and a huge amount of people see and benefit from the videos.
Lisa lets Nick take the limelight when raising awareness, as he is the former professional sportsman with the profile. But it would also be great to recognise Lisa's role in their endeavours. She's the solid foundation that allows the family to function in the way that they do.
She's been by Nick's side, providing unwavering support, love, and encouragement throughout his recovery. Lisa is not just a partner but also a pillar of strength for Nick as he navigates the complexities of life post-brain injury. Her compassionate care has been vital in Nick's rehabilitation, enabling him to use his platform to raise awareness about brain injury.”
Lisa added: "Nick and I have had hundreds of messages from people who reach out to us having suffered brain injuries. They say that our videos inspire and motivate them. Nick and I work hard to produce videos for people struggling with brain injuries or their mental health. As well as helping others, it gives us a sense of purpose and makes us feel empowered.
I'm still shocked I've made it to the finals of the Headway Awards – it’s a massive shock."
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