my story it starts at exactly 7:30 9:00 on the 14th of August 2014 the day I
on the 14th of August 2014 the day I
on the 14th of August 2014 the day I broke my neck
broke my neck
broke my neck two months previously I started a new
two months previously I started a new
two months previously I started a new job an exciting change they hope to
job an exciting change they hope to
job an exciting change they hope to herald a new chapter in my career as a
herald a new chapter in my career as a
herald a new chapter in my career as a veterinary surgeon one month previously
veterinary surgeon one month previously
veterinary surgeon one month previously I completed the famous line Megan
I completed the famous line Megan
I completed the famous line Megan marches as part of my army reserve team
marches as part of my army reserve team
marches as part of my army reserve team a hundred miles of road marching over
a hundred miles of road marching over
a hundred miles of road marching over four days and in one week’s time my
four days and in one week’s time my
four days and in one week’s time my husband and I were due to go sailing
husband and I were due to go sailing
husband and I were due to go sailing around the west coast of Wales life was
around the west coast of Wales life was
around the west coast of Wales life was busy and life felt good but on that
busy and life felt good but on that
busy and life felt good but on that beautiful August morning as I was
beautiful August morning as I was
beautiful August morning as I was cycling to work a collision with a black
cycling to work a collision with a black
cycling to work a collision with a black Mondeo which changed my life forever a
Mondeo which changed my life forever a
Mondeo which changed my life forever a collision that broke all the banks in my
collision that broke all the banks in my
collision that broke all the banks in my face damaged my shoulder broke my back
face damaged my shoulder broke my back
face damaged my shoulder broke my back broke my neck and devastated me caused
broke my neck and devastated me caused
broke my neck and devastated me caused the spinal cord injury and tetraplegia
the spinal cord injury and tetraplegia
the spinal cord injury and tetraplegia now I’ve had my fair share of challenges
now I’ve had my fair share of challenges
now I’ve had my fair share of challenges through my life I’ve rowed competitively
through my life I’ve rowed competitively
through my life I’ve rowed competitively for my university I’ve been deployed to
for my university I’ve been deployed to
for my university I’ve been deployed to Afghanistan and for years I ran a busy
Afghanistan and for years I ran a busy
Afghanistan and for years I ran a busy veterinary hospital in the center of
veterinary hospital in the center of
veterinary hospital in the center of Cardiff I’ve always thought of
Cardiff I’ve always thought of
Cardiff I’ve always thought of challenges there’s something exciting
challenges there’s something exciting
challenges there’s something exciting something inspiring
something inspiring
something inspiring they’ll be difficult and they’ll test
they’ll be difficult and they’ll test
they’ll be difficult and they’ll test your abilities but that’s part of the
your abilities but that’s part of the
your abilities but that’s part of the motivation that’s part of the reason why
motivation that’s part of the reason why
motivation that’s part of the reason why you choose to take them on and there was
you choose to take them on and there was
you choose to take them on and there was the key difference I’d always chosen
the key difference I’d always chosen
the key difference I’d always chosen those challenges I’d wanted to do them I
those challenges I’d wanted to do them I
those challenges I’d wanted to do them I hadn’t chosen this now I know that
hadn’t chosen this now I know that
hadn’t chosen this now I know that broken necks happen but they happen to
broken necks happen but they happen to
broken necks happen but they happen to other people don’t they not to me lying
other people don’t they not to me lying
other people don’t they not to me lying there in I to you as the ventilator
there in I to you as the ventilator
there in I to you as the ventilator breathe for me
breathe for me
breathe for me I realised that I had become one of
I realised that I had become one of
I realised that I had become one of those other people
those other people
those other people and it didn’t seem real I was facing the
and it didn’t seem real I was facing the
and it didn’t seem real I was facing the greatest challenge of my life and it was
greatest challenge of my life and it was
greatest challenge of my life and it was one that I desperately didn’t want my
one that I desperately didn’t want my
one that I desperately didn’t want my husband held my hand and as the reality
husband held my hand and as the reality
husband held my hand and as the reality of my injury sank in he whispered to me
of my injury sank in he whispered to me
of my injury sank in he whispered to me we’re strong we can do this you can do
we’re strong we can do this you can do
we’re strong we can do this you can do this and I thought maybe he’s right I
this and I thought maybe he’s right I
this and I thought maybe he’s right I can do this I will do this and in that
can do this I will do this and in that
can do this I will do this and in that moment I vowed to be positive to look
moment I vowed to be positive to look
moment I vowed to be positive to look forwards I may not have had a choice
forwards I may not have had a choice
forwards I may not have had a choice about my broken neck but I did have a
about my broken neck but I did have a
about my broken neck but I did have a choice about something and that was my
choice about something and that was my
choice about something and that was my approach and you know what I’m on the
approach and you know what I’m on the
approach and you know what I’m on the shock and the disbelief about my injury
shock and the disbelief about my injury
shock and the disbelief about my injury making that decision to be positive it
making that decision to be positive it
making that decision to be positive it shifted my whole perspective because it
shifted my whole perspective because it
shifted my whole perspective because it was a choice that I had made and
was a choice that I had made and
was a choice that I had made and suddenly I felt like I was one step
suddenly I felt like I was one step
suddenly I felt like I was one step closer to being back in control maybe
closer to being back in control maybe
closer to being back in control maybe not in control of my paralyzed body but
not in control of my paralyzed body but
not in control of my paralyzed body but in control of how I was going to embrace
in control of how I was going to embrace
in control of how I was going to embrace this challenge so how did I do it
this challenge so how did I do it
this challenge so how did I do it making the decision to be positive
making the decision to be positive
making the decision to be positive that’s the easy bit but staying positive
that’s the easy bit but staying positive
that’s the easy bit but staying positive that’s the hard part and I learned three
that’s the hard part and I learned three
that’s the hard part and I learned three things number one celebrate the small
things number one celebrate the small
things number one celebrate the small wins to start I couldn’t find anything
wins to start I couldn’t find anything
wins to start I couldn’t find anything good about my newly paralyzed body and I
good about my newly paralyzed body and I
good about my newly paralyzed body and I had to go searching for the positives
had to go searching for the positives
had to go searching for the positives however small and treat them as a win so
however small and treat them as a win so
however small and treat them as a win so I did and I surprised myself the more I
I did and I surprised myself the more I
I did and I surprised myself the more I look for them the more I found coming
look for them the more I found coming
look for them the more I found coming off the ventilator and being able to
off the ventilator and being able to
off the ventilator and being able to talk again the removal of my track EOS
talk again the removal of my track EOS
talk again the removal of my track EOS to me the taste of real food after 15
to me the taste of real food after 15
to me the taste of real food after 15 days have been achieved fed or winds
days have been achieved fed or winds
days have been achieved fed or winds moving from my to you to the spinal Ward
moving from my to you to the spinal Ward
moving from my to you to the spinal Ward and been given special glasses that
and been given special glasses that
and been given special glasses that transformed my view of the ceiling to
transformed my view of the ceiling to
transformed my view of the ceiling to one where I could actually see my
one where I could actually see my
one where I could actually see my visitors even if I did look ridiculous
visitors even if I did look ridiculous
visitors even if I did look ridiculous both wins and in celebrating the small
both wins and in celebrating the small
both wins and in celebrating the small wins I noticed they built into bigger
wins I noticed they built into bigger
wins I noticed they built into bigger wins their needs to push objects around
wins their needs to push objects around
wins their needs to push objects around my table with my paralyzed hands win
my table with my paralyzed hands win
my table with my paralyzed hands win to pick up phone balls that the
to pick up phone balls that the
to pick up phone balls that the physiotherapist recommended bigger win
physiotherapist recommended bigger win
physiotherapist recommended bigger win but learning to pick up giant chocolate
but learning to pick up giant chocolate
but learning to pick up giant chocolate buttons and get them in my mouth
buttons and get them in my mouth
buttons and get them in my mouth huge win I was lucky I am lucky my
huge win I was lucky I am lucky my
huge win I was lucky I am lucky my injury is incomplete and I started to
injury is incomplete and I started to
injury is incomplete and I started to get recovery I could celebrate being
get recovery I could celebrate being
get recovery I could celebrate being held upright for the first time in ten
held upright for the first time in ten
held upright for the first time in ten weeks the independence of getting my own
weeks the independence of getting my own
weeks the independence of getting my own manual wheelchair and the sheer delight
manual wheelchair and the sheer delight
manual wheelchair and the sheer delight have taken my first steps in the
have taken my first steps in the
have taken my first steps in the parallel bars even if I did have a bag
parallel bars even if I did have a bag
parallel bars even if I did have a bag of catheterized urine sloshing around my
of catheterized urine sloshing around my
of catheterized urine sloshing around my ankles each improvement made me hungry
ankles each improvement made me hungry
ankles each improvement made me hungry for the next I knew that I’d never get
for the next I knew that I’d never get
for the next I knew that I’d never get all my function back at some point my
all my function back at some point my
all my function back at some point my recovery would Plateau however hard I
recovery would Plateau however hard I
recovery would Plateau however hard I work for or however much I wanted that
work for or however much I wanted that
work for or however much I wanted that next improvement it didn’t mean that it
next improvement it didn’t mean that it
next improvement it didn’t mean that it would come and that’s the other reason
would come and that’s the other reason
would come and that’s the other reason to celebrate the small wins in life
to celebrate the small wins in life
to celebrate the small wins in life because you never know when they might
because you never know when they might
because you never know when they might end don’t hold out for tomorrow’s finale
end don’t hold out for tomorrow’s finale
end don’t hold out for tomorrow’s finale you might always be waiting instead find
you might always be waiting instead find
you might always be waiting instead find the win for today take it and enjoy it
the win for today take it and enjoy it
the win for today take it and enjoy it the second thing I learnt you have to
the second thing I learnt you have to
the second thing I learnt you have to work at it making the decision to be
work at it making the decision to be
work at it making the decision to be positive it wasn’t some quick
positive it wasn’t some quick
positive it wasn’t some quick psychological fix and I found it tough I
psychological fix and I found it tough I
psychological fix and I found it tough I find it tough I struggled to stay
find it tough I struggled to stay
find it tough I struggled to stay positive through the nausea of urinary
positive through the nausea of urinary
positive through the nausea of urinary catheter infections through the
catheter infections through the
catheter infections through the claustrophobia of my neck brace and the
claustrophobia of my neck brace and the
claustrophobia of my neck brace and the seemingly endless 60 days of completely
seemingly endless 60 days of completely
seemingly endless 60 days of completely flat bed rest
flat bed rest
flat bed rest the tears of neuropathic pain and spasms
the tears of neuropathic pain and spasms
the tears of neuropathic pain and spasms it was the parts that never returned
it was the parts that never returned
it was the parts that never returned that were the hardest the paralyzed
that were the hardest the paralyzed
that were the hardest the paralyzed fingers that barely move and the bladder
fingers that barely move and the bladder
fingers that barely move and the bladder and bowels that follow their own
and bowels that follow their own
and bowels that follow their own routines completely unrelated to my own
these were not the areas for celebration
these were not the areas for celebration all the things that my friends
all the things that my friends
all the things that my friends congratulated me on but this is where I
congratulated me on but this is where I
congratulated me on but this is where I needed all my resolve to stay positive
needed all my resolve to stay positive
needed all my resolve to stay positive so I worked at it and I still work at it
so I worked at it and I still work at it
so I worked at it and I still work at it I don’t want to be angry or waste my
I don’t want to be angry or waste my
I don’t want to be angry or waste my energy on what-ifs what if that driver
energy on what-ifs what if that driver
energy on what-ifs what if that driver had taken a moment longer to look before
had taken a moment longer to look before
had taken a moment longer to look before turning
turning
turning what if I broken my neck but my spinal
what if I broken my neck but my spinal
what if I broken my neck but my spinal cord is still intact no I wanted to be
cord is still intact no I wanted to be
cord is still intact no I wanted to be positive so I looked for and celebrated
positive so I looked for and celebrated
positive so I looked for and celebrated those small wins and I kept repeating my
those small wins and I kept repeating my
those small wins and I kept repeating my mantra stay positive look for words and
mantra stay positive look for words and
mantra stay positive look for words and the more I repeated it the more I found
the more I repeated it the more I found
the more I repeated it the more I found I believed it and the more I believed it
I believed it and the more I believed it
I believed it and the more I believed it the more I felt like I took control of
the more I felt like I took control of
the more I felt like I took control of my situation rather than it taking
my situation rather than it taking
my situation rather than it taking control of me and the final thing I
control of me and the final thing I
control of me and the final thing I learned different can be good one of the
learned different can be good one of the
learned different can be good one of the hardest things I’ve had to do is to
hardest things I’ve had to do is to
hardest things I’ve had to do is to grieve for my old life I’m never going
grieve for my old life I’m never going
grieve for my old life I’m never going to be a clinical veterinary surgeon
to be a clinical veterinary surgeon
to be a clinical veterinary surgeon again nor have the chance to better my
again nor have the chance to better my
again nor have the chance to better my 37 minute 10k PB and my career is a
37 minute 10k PB and my career is a
37 minute 10k PB and my career is a veteran officer in the Army Reserves is
veteran officer in the Army Reserves is
veteran officer in the Army Reserves is over trying to hold on to those things
over trying to hold on to those things
over trying to hold on to those things just reminding me of my disability I had
just reminding me of my disability I had
just reminding me of my disability I had to grieve to move on and realize that I
to grieve to move on and realize that I
to grieve to move on and realize that I was never going to recreate my
was never going to recreate my
was never going to recreate my pre-accident life life was going to be
pre-accident life life was going to be
pre-accident life life was going to be different but different can be good
different but different can be good
different but different can be good I’ve played wheelchair tennis and
I’ve played wheelchair tennis and
I’ve played wheelchair tennis and wheelchair rugby
wheelchair rugby
wheelchair rugby I mean sit water skiing and sit skiing
I mean sit water skiing and sit skiing
I mean sit water skiing and sit skiing I’ve been gliding whitewater kayaking
I’ve been gliding whitewater kayaking
I’ve been gliding whitewater kayaking and recumbent cycling and I would love
and recumbent cycling and I would love
and recumbent cycling and I would love to tell you that this is the start of my
to tell you that this is the start of my
to tell you that this is the start of my journey to become a para athletes but
journey to become a para athletes but
journey to become a para athletes but I’ll let you into a secret I couldn’t
I’ll let you into a secret I couldn’t
I’ll let you into a secret I couldn’t throw a catch before my accident and I
throw a catch before my accident and I
throw a catch before my accident and I sure can’t do it now instead getting
sure can’t do it now instead getting
sure can’t do it now instead getting involved in those activities meant I met
involved in those activities meant I met
involved in those activities meant I met people that both humbled and inspired me
people that both humbled and inspired me
people that both humbled and inspired me in their approach to life and the people
in their approach to life and the people
in their approach to life and the people that inspired me the most
that inspired me the most
that inspired me the most not the Paralympians or the charity
not the Paralympians or the charity
not the Paralympians or the charity ambassadors but those people who however
ambassadors but those people who however
ambassadors but those people who however severe their injuries were just quietly
severe their injuries were just quietly
severe their injuries were just quietly getting on with their everyday lives
getting on with their everyday lives
getting on with their everyday lives they showed me that it was possible to
they showed me that it was possible to
they showed me that it was possible to adapt but I didn’t need my disability to
adapt but I didn’t need my disability to
adapt but I didn’t need my disability to define me when I was rebuilding my post
define me when I was rebuilding my post
define me when I was rebuilding my post accident life and they show me that
accident life and they show me that
accident life and they show me that there was no reason why I could not have
there was no reason why I could not have
there was no reason why I could not have an ordinary life just like anybody else
an ordinary life just like anybody else
an ordinary life just like anybody else I’ve come to realize that this challenge
I’ve come to realize that this challenge
I’ve come to realize that this challenge was never about success or failure
was never about success or failure
was never about success or failure there’s no such thing
there’s no such thing
there’s no such thing it was about taking control of it so
it was about taking control of it so
it was about taking control of it so that it did not take control of me and
that it did not take control of me and
that it did not take control of me and for me that was by making the decision
for me that was by making the decision
for me that was by making the decision to aim to be positive to celebrate the
to aim to be positive to celebrate the
to aim to be positive to celebrate the wins in life to work at enjoying it and
wins in life to work at enjoying it and
wins in life to work at enjoying it and to embrace the fact that it would never
to embrace the fact that it would never
to embrace the fact that it would never be the same again
be the same again
be the same again so where am I now it’s three and a half
so where am I now it’s three and a half
so where am I now it’s three and a half years since my accident and I’m
years since my accident and I’m
years since my accident and I’m permanently disabled an incomplete
permanently disabled an incomplete
permanently disabled an incomplete tetraplegic but I’m lucky after two
tetraplegic but I’m lucky after two
tetraplegic but I’m lucky after two years in rehab
years in rehab
years in rehab I can walk short distances on crutches I
I can walk short distances on crutches I
I can walk short distances on crutches I can use my paralyzed hands to the best
can use my paralyzed hands to the best
can use my paralyzed hands to the best of their ability and I can drive I’m
of their ability and I can drive I’m
of their ability and I can drive I’m studying for a master’s in Vitoria
studying for a master’s in Vitoria
studying for a master’s in Vitoria epidemiology I’m about to start training
epidemiology I’m about to start training
epidemiology I’m about to start training to be a magistrate in Cardiff and most
to be a magistrate in Cardiff and most
to be a magistrate in Cardiff and most importantly I’m thoroughly enjoying
importantly I’m thoroughly enjoying
importantly I’m thoroughly enjoying being mum to one-year-old William I may
being mum to one-year-old William I may
being mum to one-year-old William I may not have chosen this life but I’m
not have chosen this life but I’m
not have chosen this life but I’m embracing the challenge of taking back
embracing the challenge of taking back
embracing the challenge of taking back control and I’m determined to make the
control and I’m determined to make the
control and I’m determined to make the most of it thank you
most of it thank you
most of it thank you [Applause]
”
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