Brinston Tchana, a Birmingham actor and content creator, has described feeling “whole again” after a cherished keepsake was beautifully restored on the BBC programme The Repair Shop.
Brinston, who lives in Harborne and uses a wheelchair due to spinal damage sustained in a car accident, had worn the lucky coin around his neck for years. The coin, bearing a four-leaf clover, was gifted to him by the parents of Gabriel, a young boy he met during his long hospital recovery who also suffered paralysis following a collision.
At the age of 17, Brinston and three friends were walking home when they were struck by a drunk driver. Tragically, his friends lost their lives in the incident, and Brinston was left fighting for his own life. He spent 11 months in hospital after waking from a coma and faced the challenge of adapting to life with spinal injuries.
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During his hospital stay, Brinston formed a close bond with Gabriel, a one-year-old boy who was paraplegic and unable to communicate or eat initially. Through patience and determination, Brinston was the first to successfully encourage Gabriel to eat and engage. Sadly, Gabriel later fell into a coma and passed away.
In a meaningful gesture, Gabriel’s parents gave Brinston the lucky coin, saying their son would want him to have it. Brinston treasured the coin, keeping it safely within a pendant he wore every day. Over time, however, the pendant became damaged, making it difficult for him to wear.
Renowned goldsmith Richard Talman undertook the complex task of restoring the pendant on The Repair Shop. Upon receiving the restored piece, Brinston was visibly moved. The team surprised him further by engraving Gabriel’s name on the base of the pendant, symbolically keeping the young boy close to him forever.
Reflecting on the experience, Brinston said, “It’s bringing back all the memories. Having it back like this is like, I’m actually doing it. Living life the way I want to. I feel like I’m whole again.”
He added that he would never remove the pendant, describing it as “a piece of me” that he could not sleep without.
Brinston’s journey from devastating loss and injury to resilience and connection highlights both the power of friendship and the significance of treasured memories.