Facebook Youtube

Category: Disability

Categories
Disability Uncategorized

The Trials of Life

This photo was a facebook memory from 3 years ago.  I am using it to talk about  the trials of life, recovery and being kind to yourself.

Background to the photo (tl/dr: I was ill and homeless)

At the May bank holiday, I was at a car boot sale and went to pick up a box and in doing so, injured my already unstable spine. The outcome of that was a spinal cord compression and going from a self transferring wheelchair user with some walking, to needing a hoist, needing help to turn in bed, the whole deal.  Whilst in hospital, I got a no-fault eviction notice. I found my current house with one week to go until homelessness It’s a long way from anyone I knew at that time and of course I needed lots of care which I had difficulty getting.  All in all a very traumatic time.

The emotional response

Seeing that photo gave me such a rush of emotion, I was shaking, tears came. I was right back in the trauma, yet at the time, I didn’t cry I just fought for what I needed. 

Time passed, and now I can feel the emotions that I didn’t have at the time.  These things happen to all of us, not all of us will break our backs or get evicted but we all go through traumatic events, often without really realising at the time how traumatic it is.

Only now I’m recovered (or as recovered as I’m going to be) and I have time to feel the emotions.  I am being kind to myself, giving myself time to process it all over again, to grieve my old life and then plough on with my new life.  Making every use of the abilities I do have.  Having adventures, being fit and just generally having the full life that 3 years ago, I thought was impossible.

Some Advice

When something from the past hits you in this way, be kind to yourself.  Take some time to work through those emotions, to recognise all your achievements both at the time of the trauma and since.  If when this happens, the negative emotions drag on and you are struggling with your day to day, you may need medical help, don’t allow the thing to damage your new life.

 

Sources of help

Your own GP can help you access therapy and if needed will have a crisis team should trauma hit you so hard you are unable to cope

Mind 

mental health charity with lots of information and support including in person via their network of local organisation (www.mind.org.uk)

Mind
Blurt Foundation 

Lots of online support and resources. Regular email checkins for desired (www.blurtitout.org)

Blurt
CALM 

Campaign Against Living Miserably. Support and campaigning to prevent suicide (www.thecalmzone.net)

Calm
Samaritans 

Support at times of crisis with lots of ways of contacting them (www.samaritans.org)

Samaritans
Categories
Challenges Disability

The Kindness of Strangers

Feeling utterly despondent after yet another fairly major failure of the wheelchair I posted in ‘The Conquerer Community’ on facebook. This is a group of people who undertake virtual challenges with the company ‘My Virtual Misson.‘

I wrote how devastated I felt at the broken front fork and how I felt like giving up. With a little over a week to go to my next big charity challenge, I was feeling utterly lost.

The overwhelming response was “keep going”, and to remind me how far I had come. The other response was not just to suggest I started a go fund me but also multiple offers to start one. I akwardly accepted one of these offers.

We are now a couple of hours on from that go fund me starting and I want to share with you the incredible kindness of these strangers. None of them know me, other than by the videos I share.

That fundraiser is already at £1675! I honestly cannot beleive people are so happy to help me.

For me this means the world. My chair is simply not up to the hammer I give it. It wouldn’t have been when new, never mind given it is an ill fitting second hand chair. What none of these people know, and no one did until you read it now but with the chair now being too wide for me I dangerously slide around in it on side cambers and it has given me some rather worrying sores which I already have a doctors appointment to discuss and so to be able to get a suitable chair is going to mean everything. I will be able to continue on this incredible fitness journey and do so much more safely than before.

Here is a link to that fundraiser but if you cannot donate or would rather donate to one of my chosen charities I am still very grateful for your support.

Wheelchair fundraiser

I am overwhelmed by all the support I receive whether in this practical way or just by reading my site and watching my videos.

Lots of love, and very sincere thanks

Carol

Categories
Disability Uncategorized

How Can I Improve This?

Here is my current wheelchair set up. I am wanting to improve this. Primarily I’d like to bring the centre of gravity forward when I am carrying more than the essentials. Do you have any suggestions on how I can improve? I will talk you through what I currently have and see what you think

 

On the front I have two cycle bags, two camera mounts and a waterbottle holder. I find them hard to open and close and hard to find the items in them without dropping everything on the ground. They store

 

  • Phone
  • Power Bank
  • Charger wires
  • Hand tape and knife
  • Spare gloves
  • Mask
  • A couple of snacks
  • Bank card, bus pass, WheelieMum Card, Cash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will probably need another powerbank and if possible (though I don’t think it’s possible) I could do to have a map on the front because my phone is hard to see.

Under the seat is where I would like to add more storage.  At the moment I have a first aid kit and some basic tools and puncture repair kit.  I am very open to suggestions on how to add underseat storage

The back of the chair has a shoulder bag where I have spare camera batteries, more snacks, my waterproof and anything I think I will need fairly to hand during a run

Under the WeelieMum bag is a cycle panier containing spare clothes and has space for any luggage and it’s where any shopping goes.   

Do you have an ideas on how I can improve the under seat storage? it would be great if my additional clothing could go under there along with the first aid items to bring the centre of gravity forward and free up the big back back for shopping or items for overnight trips.