Izzy Judd: 'Music let my brother, Rupert Johnston in a coma connect with us'

Izzy Judd’s brother, Rupert Johnston, suffered brain damage in a car crash, but his musical talents continue to thrive and help him connect with his loved ones even while in a coma.

Rupert Johnston was left brain damaged after a car crash, but his prolific musical ability lives on.

After enduring a severe car accident in February 1997, Rupert Johnston remained in a two-month-long coma, exhibiting no indications of brain function. Medical professionals recommended discontinuing the life support sustaining the 18-year-old musician. Yet, his father opted to bring Rupert’s cherished French horn to his bedside.

In a poignant turn of events, Rupert Johnston, hailing from Harpenden, Hertfordshire, began delicately maneuvering his fingers across the horn’s valves, synchronizing with a Mozart recording.

Izzy Judd, Rupert Johnston’s younger sister, a 12-year-old violinist at the time, reminisces, “That marked the initial glimmer of hope that perhaps something was stirring within him.”

Rupert underwent a 13-hour brain surgery to reconstruct his skull, during which his front left lobe was removed, leaving the right lobe permanently damaged.

Izzy mentions, “The muscles around Rupert’s lips, crucial for playing the horn, remained intact despite severe facial damage.”

Rupert Johnston pursued studies at the Guildhall School of Music after leaving home at eight to become a chorister at King’s College, Cambridge.

Surrounded by music from childhood, Rupert and Izzy, along with their two brothers, were raised by their parents who ran a music school in Hertfordshire.

Describing Rupert Johnston as extraordinarily talented and vibrant, Izzy remembers, “His passion was to become a professional horn musician, a dream I believe he would have undoubtedly fulfilled.”

Rupert’s physical recovery led to his hospital discharge, but it became evident that he would require round-the-clock care. At 45 years old, he faces challenges with memory, spatial awareness, and basic tasks, relying on assistance for activities like washing and laundry, Izzy explains.

Despite his altered state, Izzy expresses a lingering sense of absence, feeling as though someone integral is missing, while they continue to mourn the loss of the person Rupert might have become.

However, amidst these difficulties, Rupert’s exceptional talent with the French horn remains unchanged, described by Izzy as nothing short of a miracle. “Since childhood, he possessed this extraordinary musical gift that still endures. Music is his connection to us—it flows naturally from within him, a part of him since he was a little boy.”

For the past 21 years, Rupert has resided in a residence in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, managed by The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust, a charity dedicated to aiding individuals with acquired brain injuries. He is an active participant in the Aylesbury concert band and maintains his exceptional technical skills, according to Izzy.

While occasionally causing disruptions during rehearsals, Rupert is warmly embraced by the group, being a highly esteemed member. His performances evoke a sense of familiarity, offering a brief respite into a semblance of normalcy, momentarily overshadowing the challenges he has faced.

Izzy pursued her studies at The Royal Academy of Music in London. Alongside her two brothers, she ventured into professional music. Izzy notably joined Escala, an electric string quartet that gained fame on Britain’s Got Talent in 2008.

She played in the strings section during McFly’s tours and entered a relationship with their drummer, Harry Judd.

“Harry’s incredible connection with Rupert was one of the factors that made me certain about marrying him. Rupert and Harry didn’t know each other before the accident, yet Harry fully accepts Rupert for who he is,” she shares.

On their wedding day, Rupert captivated everyone with a mesmerizing horn solo from John Williams’s “Somewhere in My Memory,” known from the film “Home Alone.”

“It was breathtaking to witness Rupert’s performance. I swelled with pride, yet a tinge of sadness lingered, knowing his extraordinary talents might steer him away from experiencing his own wedding day.”

Following their marriage, Izzy and Harry welcomed three children, a joyous occasion that stirred profound emotions about her brother for Izzy.

“Rupert adores and shares a special bond with my children. Watching my son Kit reminds me vividly of Rupert’s spirited youth; the zest for life and inclination to test limits evoke reflections on the life Rupert might have led.”

Izzy took a break from playing the violin after becoming a mother and felt a bit adrift during those early motherhood days.

“We faced challenges in starting our family, and after Lola, Kit arrived swiftly and unexpectedly, making life quite chaotic.

“It was when Lockie came along that I picked up the violin again to comfort him, and it unexpectedly soothed both of us. As I played different lullabies, my older children also found solace.”

When Izzy made the decision to return to the studio for a new album, which features some of these lullabies, she wanted to involve Rupert as well. Together, they recorded a fresh rendition of “Somewhere In My Memory.”

Rupert is undergoing brain scans due to his declining memory, according to Izzy, who believes there’s a connection between brain injuries and early-onset dementia. This realization has made her aware of the limited time she may have left to collaborate with her brother.

“I used to worry that I neglected my relationship with Rupert after having kids, especially with the COVID restrictions keeping us apart. But now, I feel more content.

“Music has always been the language of our family when words became too challenging. I’m eager to reconnect with Rupert and create a space for him to share his musical talent. It’s been an incredibly healing experience for me.”