Update number One - DRIVING I first had driving lessons for my 18th birthday in November 2010 these went well but my instructor had to change career and so couldn't teach me anymore, after a few months I got a new instructor and had around 10 lessons before I ran out of money. I had nearly a year without lessons, in august 2012 I was planning to restart learning when I had my accident! After a year and a half of recovering, in January 2014 still in the wheelchair I decided to push myself and start lessons again. To be honest I didn't want to, I was terrified of being on the road but I knew it would massively help my independence.
Anyway I had to re take my theory test as it had expired thanks to the accident and after that booked my practical test for September this test then had to be cancelled and I had to wait another 6 weeks before taking it on Halloween. I ended up failing it 30 seconds before the end of the test for hesitating at a roundabout! (pretty obvious why I did that) THEN the test centre was shutting for two months so I had a window of about 2 days to hope for a cancellation or wait another two months to retake. After all that I really thought something was telling me not to drive but I managed to get a cancellation and passed my second test with 3 minors!!!!! I'm very nervous driving especially on roundabouts but I can't explain the independence it gives me, after almost two and a half years of having to rely on people for everything I can finally do simple things like go to and look around a shop by myself!
I have to use an automatic car because of my left leg but I don't mind.
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| Here she is! |
Update number three - PUBLISHED ARTICLE On October 20th I had an article I wrote published on Cosmopolitan online!!! I can't tell you how excited this makes me you can read it here http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/reports/a30591/real-life-story-coma-car-crash/ I was even on the front page of the website!
Update number four - TURNING 22 I turned 22 in November and finally managed to venture to a nightclub, I only went to a small one where there were places to sit down and not so many people I'd get squashed. It was mostly a great night and a great achievement the only down side was a few people's attitude to my stick. I had a few people come over and ask my friends what was wrong with me, asking what's wrong with someone can be rude enough if not done by someone genuinely interested and caring but speaking over me to my friends and continuing to do so even when I approach you and explain I can speak for myself is unbelievable! I also had one guy come down some stairs behind me and grab my stick, I think he thought it would be funny in front of his friends which backfired when he looked an absolute idiot and one of them apologized for him.I does make me feel self conscious and worry about what people would say if I had my burns on show if they can't even handle a stick but luckily most people aren't like that!
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| On the way out for my birthday! |
Update number five - JOSS MOVED On new years eve Joss moved to Cheltenham! He was meant to move at the time of the crash but when it happened he moved back in with his parents to be close to me. He put his plans on hold for almost two and a half years to be there for me and I don't know what I would have done without him. What we've been through would tear a lot of couples apart let alone at our age, we were 19 and 20 when it happened and we've had some rough times but ultimately we're so much stronger together because of the accident. I'm incredibly proud of him for what he's been through and what he has done and still does for me, he had to see me underneath the car and sat by my bed every day I was in hospital, he pushed my wheelchair for nearly two years and physically cared for me in ways no one should have to! He accepted my appearance changing in a lot of ways and has been there for me mentally. He's FANTASTIC! It's strange not seeing him in the week but i'm building up my confidence driving to see him at the weekend!
Physical Update - I now use one walking stick to get around and can get around my house without one. I still have physiotherapy and have a big limp and get tilt when I walk without the stick, I get knee and hip pain as well as in my leg and back and have developed plantar fasciitis which is basically damage to the tissue in the heel so I get severe pain in my heels sometimes which is a pain! I'm having triple whammy surgery this Thursday to give me more steroid injections into my shoulder scar, the third stage of my scalp scar revision and a big operation on my left leg to release a muscle hernia. Fingers crossed it all goes ok, things are looking brighter :)
DRIVE SAFE, George xxx
