Hi my name is Sallyanne, I
am a 43 year old mother of two amazing children Harry 15 and Stella 13. I have
decided to write a blog of my life over the past 12 months, my injury and
Journey of dreams, riding for the British dressage para team.
Back on the 10th
of October 2015 while attending an organised rally day with Severn vale riding
club was when my life as I knew it changed forever. I was enjoying riding my
horse “Greyhill Oublie” Oubles, as she was known! At the riding club
day camp, this involved structured teaching in flat work, show jumping,
sessions on horse health and massage. The afternoon was spent doing cross
country.
About 2.30 in the afternoon,
1/3 of the way round the cross country course, my horse Oubles refused one of
the fences, I approached again more aggressive this time and she reared up,
unfortunately for us we were on a slope and she fell over backwards on top of
me. I didn’t fall off and stayed sat in the saddle!!!! “Ouch” I can tell you it
hurts having half a tone horse weight fall on you.
It was then when I realised
it wasn’t good. I was in a white tunnel, I had an overwhelming feeling to go back, my
children needed a mum I thought I didn’t want to die in a field. My
mum (who had passed away 4 years previously!!!) told me to go back and be a mum;
your children need you she said! When I came round I was lying on the floor and
the pain I was in was unbelievable. I was able to talk and tell my friend who
was with me, I needed and ambulance/air ambulance very quickly. It took ages for
the ambulance to attend and when it arrived everything still seemed to me to be
going in slow motion.
I remember saying to the
paramedic “please don’t cut off my ariat boots!!!” your boots or your life he
probably thought!!! I am a nurse of 20 years by profession, so being on the
other side of health care was quite scary. The Great western air ambulance
attended to take over and I knew things didn’t look good. I couldn’t move or
feel my legs!!!
There were 3 doctors on
board that day and I will never forget Greg, who held my hand all the way and
the reassurance he gave me was amazing. After 15mg of IV morphine things were a
little more comfortable. The last time I was in a helicopter I was in Las Vegas
flying over the Grand Canyon!! Not so exciting this time lying flat on a spinal
board with a neck collar. Unable to move, just looking up little did I know
this would be the position I would stay in for 8 weeks.
On arrival at Southmead
hospital the A&E major trauma team were waiting, and following assessment,
x-rays, MRI and lots of poking and prodding. My Family were taken into the
visitor’s room and given the worst news possible. I wasn’t going to die but
life was never going to be the same again. I had broken my back from T12-L2,
and had a complete spinal cord injury at L1. Also broken ribs and facial
trauma. The broken ribs, facial trauma would heal, the broken back needed
emergency surgery but the spinal cord damage was going to leave me paralysed
from the waist down for ever.
The consultant neuro surgeon
Mr Patel was the most amazing gentleman I’ve had the pleasure to meet. Shame we
had to meet in these circumstances. Well he did what he promised which was stabilising
my back! I had an emergency 7 hour operation. This resulted in major surgery
and 6 weeks flat bed rest. It’s very difficult to eat and drink lying flat on
your back. A drastic way to lose weight!!! But could lose a few pounds…. Well let’s just say being a patient is
difficult when you’re a nurse! I remember once shouting go and get someone who
knows what they are doing. The worst bit was not being asked if you want your
teeth brushing!!.
Well let’s just say I met some amazing doctors
and nurses and some not so amazing. The next 6 weeks went in a bit of a blur
and I was told I would be on the waiting list to be sent to Salisbury spinal
unit. I spent a total of 9 weeks at Southmead hospital. By which time the
physio team were sitting me up and working towards sitting me out of bed. I
actually had to learn to sit up again. I had no control and was like a weeble…..
I couldn’t believe what had happened to me. It was so scary being hoisted out
into a wheel chair and not being able to sit.
Then I got the news I was
waiting for … a bed Salisbury spinal unit. I was really looking forward to
being transferred as the doctors and spinal nurse specialist had made it sound
like utopia. When I get to Salisbury everything was going to be amazing…. Well after
a 3 hour journey on Friday 11th December I arrived at Salisbury
spinal unit. Oh dear utopia it wasn’t……. let’s just say it was a very dark Christmas,
thank god for amazing friends and family who kept my spirits up.
My main focus was to get home
ASAP. I asked the consultant what I had to do to get out of here???? That probably
didn’t go down that well as I don’t think she liked my direct approach!! As
well as saying I haven’t come here to make f**king Christmas cards, I was
promised individualised care with intense rehabilitation, this is not my idea
of state of the art spinal rehab. Well I had no choice but to get on with it…let’s
just say I cried a lot.
The next 11 weeks were extremely
difficult, relearning how to live in a wheelchair, be independent with the
bladder and bowel management and trying not to lose my mind. Once I had made
some friends and we had an established cheese and wine night, things got a
little bit more bearable. The special people you meet in a place like this
makes you actually appreciate what you can do… Thank god for Mark and the pub
trips, we had a right laugh and the pole dancing certainly was something to
remember…. These friends will be friend
for life!! A bit like this bloody spinal injury! I can’t change it so best
embrace it.
While at Salisbury I went to
Wilton RDA (Riding for disabled adult) three times, to get my fix of smelling
horses, the staff there were fantastic and really encouraging about the possibility
of me riding again. I spoke to the
consultant and she advised waiting for at least a year post injury, with this
in mind I had a goal.
The main aim of this blog is
to describe my trials and tribulations of coping with my spinal injury and my
goal of getting back up on the horse. I will update the blog with the ups and
downs on this journey. Some things have already happened and are in the past,
but still interesting, so will just go with it….
Thanks for taking an
interest in my journey
Sallyanne
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