My standing journey

I don’t write as often anymore, I don’t want to be a typical blogger writing about their daily life. But today I want to talk about my standing journey.

After the accident, I spent the next two years being hoisted in and out of bed , to the wheelchair. This was very tricky when I began to use a toilet again, it was such a long process, and the full body hoist must be operated by two people at all times, as it can be dangerous if not handled in the correct manner, so two pairs of eyes are better/ safe than one. The only issue, careers are busy people, so often you be waiting about a hour to relive yourself, which is bizarre when you think you just go toilet relieve yourself and that is it.

The second stage in my standing journey was a long time coming however I achieved that in my second rehab home. I began using a standing hoist called the Oxford standing hoist, it it is battery operated, as you shall see from the video, it pulls you up into standing, it literally meets the purpose to get you up and that is all,but you don’t learn anything in relation to how to stand.

when I went to Kingston rehab, they rented me the Sara plus, a fairly sophisticated standing hoist.when I came home we purchased this machine, again battery operated, so requires little effort, when I began physio at home my physio therapist got a new sling which helped push me up from my bottom, rather then dragging me up by my arms, he kept saying we must learn to stand correctly.He was insissistent on me learning the correct way for standing up, initially I just wanted to stand up did not understand why you have to stand correctly and I did not care, what I understand now he was putting in the correct building blocks.

since my accident I have always passionately desired to stand on my own two feet. I have achieved my goal, three long years later! I can’t express my joy and it has given hope I am now able to stand up on my molift . I have learned so many lessons in my standing journey alone.

1. The human ability to stand up and remain standing for long periods. Is nothing short of a miracle. I never believed it would take three years to learn how to stand again but it has. its really complicated learning how to stand, from the hips to your knees so many elements have to work in harmony but u never know until you loose this ability to stand just how complicated it is , you wil never know how complicated it really is, it’s a miracle. The beauty of being disabled, your eyes open to the simplest miracles in life, I am often left awe stucked by simply things.

2. I have learned that I can’t force my body into recovery. However you can give it a helping hand, which I have done outside my actual physio sessions I work as much as possible with my career. So hard work pays off, however it may not be according to your timeline of how fast you desire something. I have learned as humans we want instant gratification, we live in such a technological era, we no longer know how to wait for things with m brain injury , their is no quick fix, it’s sheer hard work and pray and time.

3. I said this before but the mental state of your mind , equally needs time. I have always found on this journey a strong mind goes hand in hand with my physical ability.I am really proud of myself not in an-arrogant way, I never believed that I was a miracle,though my husband had always told me. I would dream of being able to one day suddenly being able to stand up and walk, I dream one day I will wake up with my old voice., showing my East London roots.I believe in miracles however sometimes they can be subtle and if you don’t look carefully you might miss them . Today my physio said something that really hit home.

He commented that I am missing range of movement in my hips, my instant thought was oh no! Not another missing piece of the puzzle .then he said the fact I can stand, is simply amazing. Then I realised I am witnessing a miracle here! In very dark days, hope never dies, you have to keep trying to keep the flame burning, even through the torrential rain, keep your candle alight.

This is my first blog for this year but it is my blog of hope , three years ago I never believed this day would arrive, I truly believe a day shall arrive, God willing where I be writing I can walk, it’s a long journey ahead I am not even midpoint.

My daughter last year planted daffodils in a pot.its sheer joy watching bulbs shoot up, this is not something Hannah pre accident could ever enjoy. Every day as I see them spout more and more, I think about my own condition. Every day I am so slowly recovering, you can’t force the daffodils to flower in November, you can help them by watering them, but when the time is right they shall flower. I hope and pray one day I shall bloom , if only to help others through there trials. Love Hannah