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NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 4 My rugby coach came to visit, and I don’t know why, but I was so embarrassed to be seen like that. I guess I was still coming to terms with what had happened. Over that year I don’t know how or why, but I made a full recovery. I feel forever guilty about that. Why me? Why did my life magically go back to normal? It’s not fair. When I talk to the many people who willingly share their stories with the Spinal Network News, I really have no idea what they have been through. I apologise if I have come across like I do. Yep, I sustained a spinal cord impairment, but not like them. When I’m reading Brad’s book and he is pouring his heart out, recounting the agony of losing the ability to do the things he loved, it’s a moment that stays with you. You have no idea what that feeling is like unless you have lived it. When that reality is permanent and unforgiving, it is a devastating blow. That feeling of guilt and wanting to pay back is my enduring motivation to do this magazine and work for the Trust. I want to help in any way I can. I am inspired by the people I meet. I know that term gets bandied about all the time, but I mean it, I come home from trips where I meet amazing people and I feel fortunate for that privilege. I was lucky to spend some time with Jamie Astwood and her family recently in Hamilton. They are such an awesome family and they welcomed me into their home like an old friend. Jamie, who featured on the cover of our August issue, broke her back when she was just 11 years old. She is now 21 and living a full and independent life. Her relentless positivity and smile have been trademarks of her recovery. Her family have endured the hard times, leaned into their faith and they have come out the other side stronger together. That is remarkable. I was lucky to talk to Bryce Dinneen for this issue. Bryce is such a good man. In the first few weeks after breaking his neck, he started to think about how he could help others. Bryce’s sister gave him some insightful words of advice and he changed his mindset. It was a turning point for him and for those in Aotearoa who have a disability and a passion for fishing. His achievement to create Wish4Fish, a fully accessible boat in Tauranga, is the stuff legends are made of. He —Peter Thornton When I talk to the many people who willingly share their stories with the Spinal Network News, I really have no idea what they have been through. ALL IN THE FAMILY: The Astwood family have endured the hard times, leaned into their faith and they have come out the other side, stronger together. Photo Credit: CatWalk Trust. never accepted ‘no’ for an answer and Bryce and his team raised millions to make their dream a reality. That is incredible. You get the feeling that Bryce will carry on living that life—helping others with scant thought or regard for himself or his own situation. And then Brad. We have gone big covering his book in this issue for good reason. It’s a compelling piece of work that will leave a lasting impression. Brad has been widely praised for his honesty and just how raw his writing is. And yep, I’m sure his Mum is still getting her head around his over-sharing of his prolific sex-life. But Brad’s level of honesty is the magic of Owning It. It will make a difference to other’s lives because Brad has put himself second and others first to show what recovering from a high-level spinal cord impairment is like. It’s a brutal, lonely and challenging journey. You need people along the way to help you find hope again. And there is always hope. Brad has overcome the dark times to become a positive light. That is hugely inspiring. Of course, every journey with a spinal cord impairment is different and unique, but we can all learn from others’ experiences. I want to be more like these people. I want to make a difference. It’s 3.30am and I’m still not asleep. I can hear my girls snoring away, finally, and I’m trying to join them. I feel guilty again—it’s always there. I can’t do anything about what happened that day. I’ll never understand it. But I’m forever grateful. And I will repay that gratitude in my work for others every day of my life.
SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 5 Supporting Positive Futures Hans Wouters CEO’s Column This disparity is felt very keenly by those outside of the disability sector too. —Hans Wouters Whatu Ora (MOH) for those with a spinal cord impairment (SCI) and the owner is the Government of NZ. I want you to know that this seemingly immovable object remains very much in our focus at NZST. We are always on the look out to ease the burden of our friends whose SCI was not caused by an accident and although there is not a huge amount we can do, we are increasing our ability to do something in certain circumstances. Su and I were with one of our major funders recently and found this disparity is felt very keenly by those outside of the disability sector too. The funder has been motivated to give us some resources to help address the problem one small step at a time. If your SCI is a consequence of an illness or similar (non-traumatic) and you have been trying to have Te Whatu Ora supply some mobility equipment, then talk to your local Peer Support Coordinator (or me for that matter). No promises but we may be able to help you. Our friends at Permobil have joined with us to attempt to alleviate the burden this elephant causes too many of our people. ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. There is an elephant in our room. It is a massive problem and over the years it has only got bigger and bigger and detrimentally affected the lives of many Kiwis. Everyone knows about it—the whole nation knows about it! The owners of the elephant even know it is a problem and although they speak freely about it, they are not motivated to deal with it. It seems that somehow letting NZ know, that they know, that the elephant is in the room is dealing with the problem. It is not. Over the years we have drawn their attention to the elephant by visiting the owners—even having their senior management use wheelchairs in the most famous building in NZ … on national TV no less! There are many New Zealanders who are suffering and in fact being disabled because of this elephant. Some of you are reading these words now. No, this is not a cryptic crossword—I will tell you what I am talking about. The elephant is the disparity of support between ACC and Te 2022 has been a remarkable year that has seen us join with our friends at Spinal Support NZ in Auckland, with the assistance of ACC, to develop a nationwide Peer Support service. With around 30 paid Peer Support coordinators now dotted around the nation we are ensuring most new patients are being discharged to a community that has trained Peer Support available. Wow! Who would have thought? We are also engaging with many in our community who have lived many years with the effects of an SCI. We hope to conclude our two-year proof of concept project this time next year with a long term ACC contract to cement in a powerful, necessary service that remains one of the foundations of support for the spinal community of NZ. It has to be said that ACC’s support has involved a whole lot more than funding. There’s a long list of ACC team members who have put their shoulder to our wheel over eight years to get to day one and beyond. This has been incredibly encouraging and shown us time and again that ACC want us to prove that Peer and Whānau Support is not only needed—but also highly effective, indispensable and worthy of long-term sustainability. We recently held a two-day training event with the entire Peer Support team
Page 1 and 2: December 2022 Volume 25 / Issue 3 T
Page 3: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 3 An Enduring F
Page 7 and 8: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 7 Making a Diff
Page 9 and 10: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 9 For some of o
Page 11 and 12: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 11 Travelling a
Page 13 and 14: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 13 The physical
Page 15 and 16: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 15 Book Review
Page 17 and 18: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 17 “I turn th
Page 19 and 20: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS Fadiel Italiana
Page 21 and 22: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 21 decided to j
Page 23 and 24: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 23 Getting Crea
Page 25 and 26: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 25 Meet Our Tea
Page 27 and 28: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 27 Giving back
Page 29 and 30: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 29 The Metrotel
Page 31 and 32: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 31 Hospital The
Page 33 and 34: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 33 Preparing th
Page 35 and 36: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 35 Thank you to

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