Balls to the Wall - 2016 Here I Come !!!!

So we are already one month and a few weeks into the new year, and I have accomplished two of my ' bucket list 'wishes !!! Seen the Northern Lights, and skied Sweden ! - will get to that later. With eleven months to go and lots to accomplish, let's grab 2016 with a vengeance !!



With the festivities over now, and everyone seemingly back into the swing of usual everyday life again, I have had little time to sit back and ponder the year ahead - or what's left of it. Before we know it, we will be arranging our next ' year end 'activities !! As we age, the years seem to pass faster. The monthly bills roll in quicker, the trains and busses take longer to arrive and the days get shorter !!! Oh for youth again !



Just as I thought the gang were all happy and things were running smoothly, I returned from Sweden to a situation least expected. I had been contemplating taking over my care package to run myself, employ the carers myself and generally take more control - part of gaining more independence in 2016. This would by-pass having to be dictated to by the care company. In so doing, the PA's would not be compromised in any way apart from earning perhaps a little more money. Having spoken to all of them individually about my " consideration ", at face value, all agreed in principle. One step further, I thought !!! Until I received A call from the care company to dissuade me of taking it on myself...... Obviously, they don't want to lose me as a client as they are handsomely compensated by the government to run my package ! One of the gang has contacted them and expressed concern of my intention. Double whammy, Eugene, who has been with me from date of discharge, has requested to be removed from my Rosta with immediate effect, and Andrea my weekday double up announces that his intentions are to further his career and he is looking at alternate paths, so his time with me is limited ! So here I sit - two carers down, slightly stressed, but accepting of the fact that perhaps " new brooms DO sweep clean ". I'm on it, have certain plans in place and will not allow my recovery process to be altered by this. This week will tell which route I take.



I was fortunate enough to have been selected to attend the Ski Sweden course with the Back Up Charity. A privilege and experience I will never forget !. For the first time since my injury, I was to travel. The logistics of which I won't bore you suffice to say it's not a " pack your overnight bag " and go !!!! Those days are gone ! Long gone !!! What I had been so looking forward to was suddenly upon me. Rameez was to drive me in ' Diana ' to the hotel where we were staying near Heathrow for the first night prior to our early departure the next morning. Of course, I was the last to arrive as we took a few wrong turnings en route. I was met in the foyer by a slightly agitated group leader, Mike. Ushered to my room to drop off my luggage, and told to get to the conference room ASAP for orientation and briefing with the rest of the team. Wheeling into a room of sixteen complete strangers, five of us in chairs and the balance, support team - was very daunting ! What was I doing here ? What was I thinking when I applied ? I just want to go home !! ......... How wrong I was !! How totally wrong I was !! An experience and confidence building course that one cannot explain ! Back Up you rock !!!!



In order to set the scene, I need to explain the scenario. There were two team leaders, Michael and Dave ( these two guys were responsible for holding and running the course together ). Then the Buddies, Leon, Andreea and Cathy - volunteers Who would be assigned to us to share our rooms, wake us up, pack our day packs etc etc. Then comes the participants .... Myself, Pat, Shaun, Tyrone and Paul - all manual chair users except myself in the 4 X 4. Plus an invaluable Care team of Leila, Sharon, Diana, Wanda, Martin and Cathrine - who's function was our clinical care for the week.



So the team is thrown together and the orientation begins - briefing, aims of the course, some role playing games, do's & dont's by Dave and Mike ! And the allocation of carer and buddy ! I was assigned Leila as my carer and Leon as
my buddy. Lovely, ditsy, smiley, Leila with funky head bands and purple streaks in her hair - I immediately like her - her sence of humour, outgoing personality and dedication to the course admirable. Leon, oh Leon.... Oh Leon, I think we knew from the start that we would get on. A volunteer, with a friendly aura, " let's just do it " attitude, and willingness to help me in every way. Seven nights of my snoring and he was still cheerful !! Our room looked like a tip, but we found what we needed every morning, and he looked after me on and off the slopes and especially in the bar at night !!!! Somehow, I get the feeling that the week ahead is only going to get better.



We have diner, all still grasping at straws and trying to break barriers to get to know one another - Well most barriers dropped afterwards in the Pub.......... Need I say more. Dave and Mike had a challenge ahead to keep this bunch in order, to coordinate the fairly strict timetable for the next week. Both of whom did a tremendous job in doing so and both of whom were a pleasure to be with !! Andreea, who came out of her she'll remarkably, took control of the late comers breakfasts by making sandwiches for the bus ride up to the ski lifts , aided by Cathy and Leon taking control of getting everyone into the bus ! Remarkable job !!



Pat, with her beautiful dry sence of humour, Paul, who constantly got in my way, and his mellow attitude to everything, Ty, who became one of the smokes, along with Shaun who also joined us outside in sub zero temps to puff. I started a sayin when we arrived in Sweden that I was going to see if the Royal Mail had delivered my parcel !! That was the cue for going out for a smoke. Some of the team initially asked what parcel I was waiting for ? I told them they were ' fliers ' I was waiting for to recruit Swedish ladies for my " rent by the hour " second bedroom back home. I might have been a little to wild for the team, but we all lost our personal shields, and we're now new best friends for the week !!



Sharon, in all her pink glory, Martin and his organisational skills, wicked sence of humour, Cathrine and her ability to get more ski jackets donned Whilst we hovered around the hotel foyer waiting for the bus. Then the darling......... " Winter Wonderland - Wanda " who had funny ski hats for all occasions ! Also a volunteer and spent all her time on the slopes filming our antics ! Wonderful, warm hearted lady with so much to give !! And, lastly our " chatty " Diaaaaana !! Constantly working the team to get ready, sorting water bottles, meds, leg bags etc etc etc...... " even if it wasn't her job !!! ".



SO LETS GO SKIING !!! Hats of to the amazing handling of the disabled by SAS - Swedish airline. Their respect, handling and ability to load and off load five cripples on one flight was awesome ! The friendly ground staff at arrivals, and the equally obliging coach driver to negotiate the roads up the mountains to our hotel. The modern technology of the vehicles, having lift access etc etc etc............. An example of which many countries should follow. Arrival at hotel, with friendly, welcoming staff, eager to please ! Amazing room, with wet room facilities, larger than life lifts, and chair access to anywhere in the hotel, guys, spa, bowling alley, function rooms,.... You name it. Diner is served, Jerusalem artichoke soup, followed by steak, salad and veg. Scrumptious, albeit that the Swedish chefs like salt ! The food for the rest of our stay was first class, and beautifully presented ! Room allocation, briefing for agenda in the morning and then free time. Funny how we all found one another in the bar upstairs at free time !!!! It got to a stage where we didn't have to order, roll in and barman simply said ' bottle or glass of Sauvignon ".....



First morning out and into our bus to do the 10 minute ride to the ski school - an unbelievable bunch of dedicated instructors who have opted to run the disabled skiing school. Friendly, helpful, fun loving and eager to get the most out of the slopes for you. I was assigned to " Awesome " A local girl who knew the mountains like the back of her hand ( like I'm sure all of them did ). If you've seen my pics on FB, you will see the carts we were hoisted into. From the onset, I said to Awesome that it's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for petition !!! So let's break the rules !! She AGREED !! And rules we broke ! I will be posting a video of some of my runs - just need to condense the file and edit the profanity :-).


The nightly snow falls were kind to us, the temps never less than -10* odd, some sunny days and some overcast days. The unbelievably beautiful landscape, covered in pristine snow. The morning sunrise, and we were already on the mountains ! The frozen river way below us meandering through the small quaint town where we were based. The amazing comradery built up over a few days together with the humorous bantering amoungst ourselves. The sharing between ourselves about personal matters not easy to share with people notin the same position, from sexual function, to bowel care sharing, bladder management, skin issues, hoisting tips and dressing tips to name but a few........ I for one learned more than any doctor,nurse or psychologist could tell me - thank you guys for sharing !!!


All of the above said, I cannot express the sheer exhilaration of hurtling down the mountain side, half in control with no noise apart fron the air rushing and swooshing of snow ! The chilled wind on your cheeks !. Where disability does not enter your mind - it's you and the elements, no self conscious feelings, just an adrenaline rush between you and your brain - no outside influences, freedom, freedom, freedom !!


Again, I have to thank The Back Up Charity for affording me the privilege of this course, which was a confidence booster, and making me realise that anything is achievable within reason. Travel takes a little more planning, but is totally doable. And whatever level of injury you are, there are activities to explore and just get out there and do them.


So my friends as you will ascertain from the above I have topped up my " let's get out there " attitude. Once again my renewed vigour to conquer and challenge the limits of the adversities of spinal cord injury ! It can be done, I have just experienced it first hand ! There is life after SCI, we just have to have the guts and determination to follow through and find it. I have made myself a " bucket list " of things to conquer, with no time parameters apart from to look, find, and take the challenge. Always remember, you can travel around the world and see nothing, but you can walk around the block and see everything !!!!


As always, in my quest to finding my legs again, I post this with love and ongoing good health wishes !


G.