The gym saved my life. I lived and breathed it! You would find me training 3 afternoons a week, after my normal compulsory school sports. Come rain or shine, there I was in my little speedo. At times I wondered, ‘Why am I here’ But I never gave up. Then there was the competitions almost every Saturday and the training all Sunday morning! That was my life. I loved it. I may not have been talented, but I was dedicated.
I had my ups and I had my downs. One thing was, I never stopped smiling. Occasionally I would land flat on my back, with a resounding crack (boy! Instant tomato!), and the occasional over rotation resulting in a somewhat how shall we say, euneched me!
I gave it everything. It was unfortunate that it came to a very untimely end. Dry seasons were a nightmare. With no heated pools, let alone a diving pool, we had to use trampolines. So there I was, practicing on my own.
Yeh I hear you all now, I was silly.. but I did…I enjoyed the freedom! That sense of flying .. Well, that day I was having a ball .. Somersault after somersault .. up and down onto the trampoline .. I was lost in the rhythm .. thing was, I had slowly gained such height and speed, that I should have been scared. I had drifted from the normal dry practice forms into that of wet season .. so low and behold! There I was up in the air!
Gosh! Gulp! I was over-rating, in full layout .. nothing would help me now! I was gonna come down no matter what. Thing was, I was going to hit head first .. Quick thinking, I twisted, pulling myself out of the most vulnerable position…
Only thing was, as I hit, so the trampoline gave way under my pressure. Bit by bit I slid to the middle, pulling me head flat against my chest….
All could feel was the pain…It was blackness .. overwhelming! I wanted to cry out. I lay there, waiting .. help came .. off I was carried to the hospital…nerve damage to the arms. Inability to feel in the hands .. shattered c5-c6 .. 2 weeks later, a Christmas at the hospital, but two operations later, I was given the greatest news .. I would be ok! I would be fine. The traction, the operation has been a success .. I would walk and be well!
I was lucky .. But it gave me an understanding an passion .. a drive .. there is far more to life than what we think.
Because of this, I do what I do today .. I want to touch lives .. give people the freedom I have .. to live the life I have .. be it in a wheelchair or on their own steam! Just believe in yourself! Have faith! That’s my motto! Thanks to Disability charity Scope UK
