SSIT (Southern Spinal Injuries Trust) My Newest sponsor

https://www.ssit.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 So much has happened this summer that it’s hard to know where to start, One thing that I am so excited about it signing up to work with SSIT on the leg up for talent program. Leg up for talent is a social media marketing tool which supports riders to achieve their equestrian dreams, by either finical support or gifts in kind from companies who in return receive a weekly lifestyle post advertising their product or business.  I have been with Leg up for talent just over 12 months now and I am working with 4 other companies, but I have never worked with a charity on the program before. It will be so relevant working with SSIT I can’t wait to support the work they do and help raise money for such an amazing charity.

The first time I came across SSIT was when I was chosen to take part in the Internal spinal games representing Salisbury hospital back in 2016. SSIT sponsored the team kit and we had lovely blue and orange tracksuits to wear!! Someone from SSIT came to talk to us about the great work they do. SSIT’s goal is to assist people with spinal cord injury, enabling independence and quality of life. This can mean anything from funding resources for the spinal centre to funding individual needs in respect of specialist equipment or other assistance. It was nearly 2 years since then that I got involved with SSIT again and since this recent meeting the relationship has snowballed.

It started when I had been thinking of ways I could fund a hoist to be installed in the arena for me to mount Super Flynn the para horse. I already had a hoist on the lorry so didn’t need a whole new system just the arm and the rsj to fix it on. As I had said previously I knew SSIT gave grants to individuals so I phone the charity to ask how I went about applying for a grant. I had to download the application form, fill it in and send a quote for the item I wanted and a supporting letter from my therapist to explain the advantages of the item I required. I did all this and was over the moon when I had a phone call to say my application had been approved and they would fund this piece of equipment.

I had a RSJ donated by my friends husband Tony Bleakman and Beth’s Dad installed this by the arena. The hoist was fitted by dolphin mobility and when we were up and running I took loads of pictures and wrote a thank you note to SSIT saying how grateful I was for their help and generosity. A few weeks went by and I had a phone call from a gentleman called Piers Williams asking to meet me so they could do a story for their website. Of course I agreed as anything I could do to help I would. Piers came to my house with a lady called Victoria Downs who is the fund raising and event manager for SSIT. We had a lovely morning chatting all about the accident, injury and future. They were so lovely and supportive to my para dressage dream.

 Victoria said they were organising a skydive day and would I know anyone who would want to do a sky dive while raising funds for SSIT, well I have quite a few friends who I could ask. So I agreed to support them. My sister and 4 other friends signed up to the challenge and we set about some fund raising ideas. Jane, Hannah and Sue who are all nurses I worked with before my accident and that are very special friends organised a cake sale and raffle and also did a car boot. With hard work they managed to raise over £2000. Vicky is organising a skittle’s night and raffle, and has a fund raising page and is nearly up to £500. I have really enjoyed helping out at these events and it so nice to help give something back. I think in total the sky dive has raised over £10,000 for SSIT. The Sky dive took place this weekend on 15^th September at Go skydive. IT was a fantastic set up and every one taking part had a lovely day. The weather was beautiful and I think the sun shines on the righteous. Jumping out of a plane at 10,000 feet and freefalling at 125MPH is something else, so what a fantastic achievement for the girls. Just amazing!!

After meeting up with Piers and Victoria and them offering me help with my para dressage I asked them if they would be interested in the Leg up for talent program, where I could advertise lifestyle post for them in return for their help with the grants they have donated. I think it going to be a fantastic partnership as so apt for me. I have been introduced to some wonderful people who have really supported me. I applied for a grant for a bespoke dressage saddle and am now the proud owner of a lovely one! My saddler Paul Allison from Berkshire who has done work with many Para riders, is helping to adapt my saddle to my specifications and is doing an amazing job by hand stitching it, Paul has made me my dressage whips which I uses to give instruction to Flynn instead of my leg aids and I have some loop reins which have helped massively. He is very knowledgeable and I am really pleased to be working with him.

None of this would have been possible without the support I had from the SSIT charity and I am looking forward to blogging for them weekly about the great work they do! 

wow such a great amount raised by all who were involved in the skydive, over £13,000 and funds still coming in. If you would like to donate you can add any amount small or large to at http://www.mydonate.bt.com search for fundraiser Victoria Totterdell

 

My first British para dressage training session!

I’ve been doing well on Flynn with weekly lessons and always keep an eye on the British dressage training clinics that when I saw a date and a venue really close to me I jumped at the opportunity to see if we could coordinate attending. I spoke to Beth and due to the session being para and senior we decided to take Chelsie our youngster out for the day trip as well. Beth would ride Chelsie first and warm Flynn up and then I would ride. As I have mentioned before when I do anything it’s with an entourage!!! This means that Lynn (Beth’s Mum) was asked to drive the lorry, I miss not having my lorry and being able to go places when you want, obviously this injury has stopped that and I sold my 7.5 lorry, due to old persons rights I was able to drive my 7.5t without a test. This is why Beth’s mum Lynn has to drive it as Beth is too young and needs to do her HGV test.

The lorry, Flynn and Chelsie were loaded up in old Sodbury and Lynn drove to the venue at Leyland court about 30-45 mins away from the yard. http://www.leylandcourt.co.uk The venue is about 10 minutes away from my house so it was really good for me, I had to drive myself. So just for today we had my daughter Stella Lynn, Beth Jennie, Rowena, and my Friend Louise came to watch. It takes 6 people to help me safely. Thank goodness I have some very kind and helpful friends. I really appreciate their help as without it I couldn’t ride. To be honest I didn’t realise how big a deal this was, leaving the comfort of the yard, where I am use to everything and where Flynn takes everything in his stride. It was a very steep learning curve.

Beth Rode Chelsie first, we had an instructor Called Nina Venables, She is a coach to the world class development para equestrian dressage squad. She is highly recommended in working with para and senior riders. She was very laid back and once Beth started warming up Chelsie who is 5 and not been out to much Nina wanted the session to be very much directed by you. Obviously Beth knew what she wanted to achieve out of her session, working with Chelsie to develop she straightness and strength also to confirm what Beth does and encourage Chelsie to accept the aids. While we were watching Beth I was getting more and more nervous as it was soon to be my turn. Beth looked amazing riding Chelsie, I haven’t seen her ride Chelsie before, and it’s always very different riding away from home. Leyland court has a new large indoor arena and lots for Chelsie to look at. She was a little star as it’s all new to her. After her session she looked absolutely exhausted, she had tried so hard today. 

Leyland court is a very big equestrian centre and there is lots of activity going on. Once Beth’s session had finished she quickly popped on Flynn to warm him up. Flynn has only ever been in an indoor arena once. So he grew quite a lot!! Well then it was my turn to mount. This was the first time we have used the hoist away from home and it is fantastic that it gives you the opportunity to access other venues and get on. Well we did what we normally do and have my 4 helpers at the ready.(2 leading at the front and 2 side walkers). I positioned myself to be hoisted up and as we were getting sorted the heavens opened and the rain came down, there were people coming in off the cross country course and a horse turning itself inside out neighing continually in a pen!! Well all I can say is what a baptism of fire, if I can do this now I can do anything. Flynn had taken no notice of all this going on and in the meantime I had landed on his back and was being lead into the arena. The rain noise on the roof was so loud and Flynn was walking so fast or it felt fast and he was really taking it all in I actually think I forgot to breath. I was so tense and obviously this was being transferred to Flynn. He must have thought OMG what’s up with the pilot!!! Nina Probably thought what on earth have we here. We slowly managed to gain composure and by talking my breathing seemed to settle and then Flynn started to settle. Nina said just take you time and hold on to the oh crap strap!!

 Both Beth and I wanted to have some guidance to help us realise what we are doing at home is correct, we wanted Nina to tell us, do this, this works, try that?/ that’s what others do!! But instead she said  do what works for you, try new things and see  what develops. By which she obviously means, there is no right or wrong in para riding, I am a grade 2 so will be expected to walk and trot. Flynn and I have to create a strong bond/partnership and we will develop together, Flynn will learn to trust me and understand my aids and I will learn to trust him. This is going to be a mammoth journey.

 All of a sudden I felt reality kick in. seeing this journey starting to unfold. It is so much harder than I ever thought it would be. Flynn had started to relax and I was starting to enjoy the session. Then Nina said did I want to trot!! Is she mad?? I was just about managing to balance in the walk. I think I had lost confidence when I had fallen off and due to one thing and another I actually hadn’t ridden Flynn for about 4 weeks so trotting I don’t think so!!! Hahahha  I know we have to bite the bullet at some point. I can’t imagine how other para riders do it. But today was not the day!!

I asked Nina about a specialised saddle, leg straps, Velcro and knee rolls on the saddle, I think it does depend on what you have on your classification card, so whatever you ride with at home you need to ensure its on your classification card for when you compete or you may find you turn up to a competition and can’t use your aids, so we need to make a conscious effort to look into this, I need to find a saddle company to sponsor me a new deep saddle and we need to get the confidence to try the trot!!

Today was a huge step, I actually cried as the emotional energy that it took for me to achieve this really took it out of me today, it was huge, this was my first ride away from home, Flynn was an absolute star and I was a wreck!! We need to practice going away from home more often, but I am aware that the whole team have to help and that’s huge! People have to give up their time voluntary and this is a big ask.  I feel really helpless at times, that I just have to rock up and get on and the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to make this happen is phenomenal. I have the best support from the lone oak para team it so amazing. Can’t wait for our next outing and next time I  will know what to expect. 

Latest news from last couple of months

Since I last blogged quite a lot has been happening with my personal circumstances. Well I have finally commenced my big build at home. The builders have been her 8 weeks now and the drilling noise has become the norm.. From 8am all I hear is disk cutters/diggers and the sound of the kettle being put on to make tea!!!

All joking a side it is going well, actually I am out of the ground now with the ground works to the back of the house, ditches and drains and holes to the front of the house and the biggest hole ever in the garage!! I think the building inspector made the footings deeper than double!! I thought they were building a swimming pool and were down deeper than 2.5meters. Well let’s just say if the house falls down the extension and garage wont. All this was because of the neighbours leylandii tree that’s in the bottom of his garden near my wall… the cost of this has gone into extra thousands and it’s so depressing. Oh well have to suck it up I will have a great secure floating block and beam floor but no kitchen or bathroom as I can’t afford it!! Ha haha .I will be looking at ways of making money soon and calling on some favours to help with decorating and the garden as the garden budget has been swallowed up in the floor!

Well I now have an extension, roof and skylights and the hole at the front of the house has been connected and all the drainage done for the wet room, which means that soon they will be blocking up at the front garage and then the only access will be through the house, then all the internal walls will be taken down and all knocked through into one big open space. It’s getting exciting now but I am a little worried as how I will cope with things when this happens. I’ve had to pick all the windows for the new extension and discussions with the builders about RSJ steels and acro props to hold up the back of the house while they knock it through. The new kitchen will make such a difference to my safety while doing my tasks, I can’t wait to have a dishwasher back as been washing up for months and find this so hard as can’t actually get up to the sink, have to go sideways and my back is twisted and its really uncomfortable.

Roll on being able to cook and open an oven safely and reach things in the cupboards, no more dropping tins out of wall units that I can’t reach and smashing glasses. Well to be fair I actually had to stand on a step stool to reach things before my accident!!  Maybe I won’t drop and break so much stuff now? I think we are three quarters of the way through now.  The kitchen comes out next week so and offers for tea will be appreciated!  I can see light at the end of the tunnel now.

 

 

 

 

As well as the build starting I’ve been to see a hand surgeon about my carpal tunnel in my wrists, I defiantly need an operation but have been putting it off as am so worried if things go wrong as my hands are so important to me now, I do everything with my arms and hands and if they go out of action I will be snookered. I have managed to get another cortisone injection and this has bought me 3 months grace to get over the build and chaos at home, the last thing I needed was to have to be sleeping downstairs and not being able to drive and transfer as down stairs looks like a bomb has gone off. Once the build is finished I will hopefully have a downstairs toilet I can get in and a shower room, so then I will be able to get the surgery done and not have to worry about being downstairs and not being able to manage. To be honest this has taken over my life at the moment and I am not sure whether the stress of everything has been a bit too much as I have had a lot of bladder problems and infection yet again, this has been a major problem and knocked me down quite a lot. Have had to have time off work and been on antibiotics again and needed to build my stamina up as got quite low. Well things seem to be picking up and slowly getting back to normal and the sun is out and this makes me feel amazing.

 

I’ve also been to the Hospital for an ENT appointment as I’ve mentioned before I suffer with labythritis. I get extremely giddy when lying down, sitting up, and leaning over to pick things up!! This actually has been a problem for quite a while. Sometimes it’s worse than others. The GP said I needed to see an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor as it seems like the crystals in my ears had become dislodged and I need to have a procedure called an epley manoeuvre. I looked this up and it seem like mumbo jumbo ha ha ha but when I went to the appointment I was a bit sceptical but once done the initial progress has been great, I’m not half as dizzy as I was so there is some improvement. I have to be followed up and may need it doing again, as it not completely worked.

 

During May I had a week off to attend Badminton Horse trials, I absolutely love this event. Lots of shopping and plenty to eat and drink.. Event Mobility was there for the whole event, making people accessible in venues like this. Just on Saturday alone we rented out 180 wheelchairs and electric scooters. This is absolutely amazing as many families/individuals wouldn’t attend outdoor events if they couldn’t get about. It’s about making special memories with friends and families and having access to get round venues why I love this charity so much. The charity also loan equipment to individuals in need and also organisations such as garden centres and stately homes for use by the general public in the season. They have some great shows coming up in June 2018  with Bramham horse trials 7^th-10^th in Yorkshire, RAF Cosford airshow 10^th June Wolverhampton, Royal Three counties show 15^th-17^th June Malvern, Labour live, 16^th June London, Lincolnshire show 20^th-21^st June , Blenheim palace flower show 22^nd-24^th June oxford, Royal Ascot 19^th-23^rd June and Royal Norfolk show 27^th-28^th June. Come along to these events knowing your mobility requirements are taken care of. Get in touch with Event mobility on the booking and general enquires number 01386 725391, booking@eventmobilty.org.uk or through the website. eventmobility.org.uk

I have been extremely busy making great progress with my newest sponsor on the leg up for talent program. Neurokinex provides activity based rehabilitation. The Bristol branch is an addition to the gyms in Watford and Gatwick which already specialise in neurological rehabilitation for various forms of paralysis.neurokinex.org

Their vision is to make high quality rehabilitation and wellbeing programs more accessible and inclusive for those living with various forms of paralysis. They make it their responsibility to stay up to date with the latest breakthroughs in neuroscience, by delivering specialist neurological rehabilitation in such a safe, positive and supportive environment can have a profound impact on the quality of life for someone living with paralysis.  Neurokinex provide forms of rehabilitation to conditions such as spinal cord injury, stroke, transverse myelitis and multiple sclerosis.

Activity based rehabilitation has two main goals, to stimulate the whole body to work as one unit again and if possible to re-establish some form of link or pathway between the paralysed and functioning parts and too improve the body’s condition as much as possible to allow the client to be stronger, fitter and more independent. The approach is to target the entire nervous and musculoskeletal systems rather than only the functioning areas of the body. The centres uses a variety of weight-bearing activities, balance, stand training, gait and locomotor training, electrical stimulation, upper and lower body ergometry, vibration therapy and strength training. The benefits of this type of rehabilitation are improving muscle bulk, balance and trunk control, skin and bone health, neurological function, cardiovascular health, strength and stamina, and boosts psychological wellbeing.     

I’ve been attending every Wednesday morning and I absolutely love it, I’ve been training with Matt and 2 students called Jess and Ben, they are so motivational and the cardio and core strength I have built up already is fantastic, I sometimes make a short film for Instagram and Facebook and post pictures as this helps get the information about the program out there. I would really recommend this rehabilitation for anyone who has suffered a spinal injury or has a neurological medical condition. I am hoping to take part in a triathlon in August raising funds for this great centre.

 

While my life continues to be busier than ever in between work and home life I’ve been on Radio Bristol on the John Darvell show, For an interview about my horse riding accident and my life now and ambition to be back in the saddle, I really enjoyed this but I was so worried about swearing in conversation as it was live on air. This has opened up loads of other things and they want to film me at the yard riding for their social media channel. Recently I’ve been to the GWAA (Great Weston air ambulance) again to do an interview for HTV local news to help raise awareness for GWAA 10^th year anniversary.https://greatwesternairambulance.com

 As I’ve said before this team are absolute heroes. They have helped save the lives of so many. We are still making plans to organise a spring ball to help raise funds for this amazing charity. I absolutely love this charity they provide a flying A&E department for Bristol, Banes, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and part of Wiltshire. On average they attend 5 incidents every day, and receive no government funding. It costs £3 million every year to keep this charity in the sky, so they need all the fundraising they can get and I hope to be able to give something back for them. Plans are afoot!!! .Stella said that we will be like the Kardashians soon with a fly on the wall documentary, as I have celebrity status!! I wish I could be paid for all these celebrity appearances and have the Kardashian money, as I could do with some extra!! Hahahhhaaa……

Well as we go from May in to June and my health and stamina is improving and also the weather, I still go to my weekly PT sessions with Seona at Frampton Fitness, working 2 days a week for Wellspect health care, I absolutely love this Job and the people I work with are lovely. I am so lucky to have got myself a job with this team. During May we had a party for the royal wedding, thanks Sue for organising that, I attended south glos food and drink show, in which my friend Mark can to with his new business, Pop goes prosecco!! Love this and he’s worked so hard to achieve this. I’ve been away for the weekend with Harry and Stella and we went to Windsor and joined access adventure for water-skiing!!  https://accessadventures.co.uk

Water-skiing was the best ever, we stayed at Heron Lake just of the M25 and the facilities that are set up here were great, all accessible rooms and showering facilities, the kids had an amazing weekend. We also dropped into Windsor castle and did the town, shopping and great Windsor Park. Both Harry and Stella can water ski as we have been to Cotswold Water Park a few times before. I also have enjoyed skiing in the past, but as everything I do no post injury it’s now completely different and a huge challenge. The people who I’ve met this weekend are so positive and great at making you feel at ease and getting you confident at skiing. The whole weekend was a huge achievement and I absolutely loved skiing.

Making new memories with Harry and Stella is so special now and meeting new friends who are so positive and great to have around. I have been catching up with other friends and going out as much as possible as I don’t actually have a kitchen at the moment!! The new kitchen has been delivered and the kitchen fitter is coming next week. I  also can’t wait to get in my garden as this too has been renovated, all ripped out, and raised so everything now is on a level for me to have easy access, Just still waiting for bi fold doors, wet-room to be finished and for things to get back to normal. I had 10 trades’ people in my house this week, and this is enough chaos for me!

I am busy planning training for the triathlon I am doing in August  please go to my link and sponsor me as this is a huge challenge for me http://www.justgiving.com/sallyanne-haigh and am not really looking forward to an operation that I need to have August time too, for my wrists, I have  lots to look forward and this is just the beginning!!

Boom lets do this !!!

   

 

Welcome Neurokinex to the team

neurokinex.org


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci-Ks8dQpQM

 Back in December 2017 I was introduced to a new concept in physical rehabilitation and gym work, Seona my Personal trainer from Frampton fitness, knows a lot of people, she had been speaking to a friend of hers who is a nurse in specialist, who had attended the Para Olympics as part of the healthcare team linked to the wheelchair rugby. She had worked with a Gentleman called Ed Baker who has now  helped to set up a new type of gym in the Bristol area. The company already have 2 established gyms in Watford and Gatwick, Neurokinex provides activity based rehabilitation. The Bristol branch is an addition to the gyms in Watford and Gatwick which already specialise in neurological rehabilitation for various forms of paralysis.

Their vision is to make high quality rehabilitation and wellbeing programs more accessible and inclusive for those living with various forms of paralysis. They make it their responsibility to stay up to date with the latest breakthroughs in neuroscience, by delivering specialist neurological rehabilitation in such a safe, positive and supportive environment can have a profound impact on the quality of life for someone living with paralysis.  Neurokinex provide forms of rehabilitation to conditions such as spinal cord injury, stroke, transverse myelitis and multiple sclerosis.

 

Activity based rehabilitation has two main goals, to stimulate the whole body to work as one unit again and if possible to re-establish some form of link or pathway between the paralysed and functioning parts and too improve the body’s condition as much as possible to allow the client to be stronger, fitter and more independent. The approach is to target the entire nervous and musculoskeletal systems rather than only the functioning areas of the body. The centres uses a variety of weight-bearing activities, balance, stand training, gait and loco motor training, electrical stimulation, upper and lower body, vibration therapy and strength training. The benefits of this type of rehabilitation are improving muscle bulk, balance and trunk control, skin and bone health, neurological function, cardiovascular health, strength and stamina, and boosts psychological wellbeing.

I am now going to have weekly sessions at the gym in Bristol, working with the leg up for talent  scheme. I will provide weekly lifestyle blogs and the gym will cover and follow my journey and this will advertise the amazing benefits of neurokinex. I am over the moon, this is absolutely fantastic as all the benefits I will receive to help with my ongoing rehabilitation for my spinal injury and this will keep me in shape for my riding. I went this morning for a session. The session is an hour long and we start with some stretching. My feet are suffering from foot drop as the Achilles and calves have shortened, this means that my feet are always in a drop position, I have to stretch them every morning and massage my calves. I get quite a lot of resistance at first and the clonus is quite bad. (This is when my feet spasm). Ed has to work on getting me to flex and extend my feet and also we work up my legs and do lots of pushing away and pulling back to me. For my knees and thighs we do similar exercises and this is quite hard. The faces I pull are hilarious. Once we have stretched out the lower parts then he moves up to my hip flexors. This is also shortening from being sat in a wheelchair all day, it’s very painful to lie flat and my legs draw up so stretching this out is so helpful.

Following on from this I transfer into a EZ stand aid and I am then upright for my next lot of exercises which is hand bike and cardio. I have to sprint for 1 minuet on a high resistance and then rest, the aim is to increase my cardio output and blood flow,  this acts as a warm up and to prime the nervous system for the actives ahead in order to help with the circulation. By standing and weight bearing the nervous system  becomes more excitable and receptive to input,  I can feel my pins and needles tinging in my legs, it’s really hard to explain the feeling that I get from the pain as its nerve pain and there all the time always feels like I am sat in a cactus, it become like white noise though in the background, the more exercise and suppler my body is the better. I really want to work on the standing as my allowing my legs to have weight going through them help with the bone density and this will be very helpful for me moving forward with my riding.

 

Wow this gets me really out of breath and I can tell I need to get fitter; I am going to try a few things that might help this! We then move onto another machine which I have to do core strength. While in a stand position leaning forward from my waist and trying to pull back up. This trunk work in the standing position also uses the muscles around my hips, this will be really valuable with my position and riding, by working against gravity, using my trunk to bring me back up  is key  This is to help strengthen my back, which I find impossible to do at the moment, things will improve as I get stronger. By now I am shattered as the team are really good at pushing you to achieve more, so we go on, more pulling weights forward and leaning back and trying to pull myself up. Anyone who knows that due to my spinal injury my core stability has gone completely. I have worked really hard at the core/stomach to hold myself up. Otherwise I would just flop forward or backwards. This is really obvious when I am sat on the horse. My balance is shocking. I won’t give up easily though as I want to achieve this possibility of riding again. It’s hard for me mentally to try and forget how I did things before and now am trying to learn a new way of doing things; it is not so easy at my age!! Ha ha.

We finish the session with a machine that I lie on I think its called the total gym and again work with small movements to push and pull up my knees. I am performing weight bearing exercises, for my legs against resistance, I am helped to bend and straighten my legs and this is helping control a proportion of my bodyweight. My body gets feedback from my feet being in contact with the footplate, Ed is able to support this movement by ensuring I work in a safe range of motion and push  myself as hard as possible without danger. I have to really work hard and by now I am totally fatigued.


 I love the session especially being upright for so much of the session, this really feels good, I am working at getting up right into my stand frame at home and working up to being able to do this activity myself, as to stand and pull the straps around is quite hard for me, I have achieved it a couple of times. The more I do the easier it will become; I am working towards standing x3 a week for 1 hour. At the moment I need my hands to hold on, but as I work on releasing one hand at a time I will be able to do my hand exercises at the same time.

Go girl rehab goals!!!!