So, we are nearly back to the present in my life. I arrived home, which was strange a first, but everything was feeling fairly positive, and I saw the two months repair time (with the brace on) as another hill to climb, something that just had to be done, all I could do was bide my time and wait.
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| One of the last days we were all together. Even with a Broken neck I couldn't have been happier then. Remember faces here, all hero's. |
I was referred to the NHS, as this was an incident abroad, it took a while for the hospital and my local neurologist to communicate, which disappointed me slightly, especially after having such unbelievable care at Vincent Palotti, from all the nursing staff there. I even remember having an hour long conversation with one of the ICU nurses, which included a first hand account of how Apartheid, had affected her and her families life. It was incredibly moving, I felt so honoured that she would share something like this with me. She described how she remembers her father being moved from the house they lived, into another part of the city. South Africa , for just that short time, was so full of cathartic experiences. Experiences that change view points, and mould you like clay, on a potters wheel.
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| Moors Adventure 2012. Well deserved break. Id love to show you the monster (hill) we just conquered |
This again reminded me that these next months will not be so hard, but only as hard as I make them. I am all for the NHS, but they did not show me quite so much attention or compassion. With a serious injury you have to be seen, two weeks post surgically. It took longer than that for them to even organise the appointment. And even then mistakes were made. Which shows terrible communication between general practitioner and specialist. But I kept it steady, and every visit to Hull Royal Infirmary, brought good news. I was healing faster than expected. I've always had the suspicion, that I was always slightly faster than modern medicine!
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| Intrepid Cyclists. Intrepid Adventurer's. |
I would like to thank my mother and father, for helping me through the early weeks, removing the brace etc.. And for the anonymous nurse, at Hull, who always showed me respect, and began 'moving things along' when ever I arrived.
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| A natural one from the recent little adventure I went on with a pal of mine. More eye opening stuff! |
I sent my time reading, on the odd occasion feeling sorry for myself, and looking ahead to my next visit to Cape Town. I began to put plans behind this new drive in my life. To be involved with sport and development. I have to admit, after being frustrated at first, with what is could and couldn't do, I became very used to doing nothing. Too used to doing nothing, almost. More than enough thinking time, introspective, retrospective, and all or types of 'spectives' for that matter. I want to focus very little on the worse times of the past 3 months so all I'l say is, over-thinking can cause a problem.
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| One from the First day in Cape Town... and who knew?! |
As my new plan unfolded very nicely, with acceptance to study Anthropology at both London Metropolitan University and from Trinity St Davids University, Wales. A deserved ego boost, and the first step, complete. Wheels in motion! And the goal, to become involved with Sport for Development as a career.
