GLASS HALF EMPTY OR FULL??

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHAPTERS IN LIFE!

At some stage in life we all go through situations which either are unexpected or can’t be helped, is there anyone who hasn’t?, we are human, it’s normal to do so!

One of my chapters (without question the most sincere to date) which has recently made me think on sharing, not by any stretch of imagination for glory, or sympathy (that’s not me in any form or fashion), but if it helps any one person either mentally or physically, then I have achieved what I set out to do. Anyone that knows me will vouch for this not everyone will agree or like me, and that’s completely fine, I won’t lose any sleep over it.

So here goes my novel! (going to try and keep it reduced, I promise)

Three years ago on 20 July 2014, one Sunday evening before the start of another working week, I was out my daily Sunday evening motorcycle run and a lovely run it was, stopping in on the Antrim coast and grabbing a bite to eat whilst waiting on a fellow biker and friend Chris to continue the run. I was on a high as I’m a runner (would like to say athlete, but athlete is second best thing lol) and was starting to get consistent progression in my training and had ran a sub 40 minute 10k at Dervock 10k, an undulating (hilly) course down toward Ballymoney direction on the Saturday, the event was actually Kennedy Kane McArthur Festival of Running. For me, I was in the shape of my life and was happy after all the work that my coaches Mark / Jenny and friends of our running club East Coast AC had achieved to that date with me and indeed everyone in the club, Sorry back tracked there a wee bit so anyway........

Chris and I got ready to continue the journey, hadn’t long left and............, I can’t remember anything after that!, I’m sure you’ve guessed, all I can remember was being in hospital, I had been in an accident, not going to go into everything here as I don't want to bore you’s, and I’m trying to keep it compressed!........ LOL. I had no memory of the incident, still don’t (which I myself would really like to know!) but, my injuries were severe enough unbeknown to me!!. I had fractured several vertebrae on the top part of my spine (neck) and clearly with the head being hit, there was slight bruising and bleeding to the brain, the memory loss I was told at a later date was the brain protecting itself. Luckily for me there was people quick on the ball with emergency services, Chris being one. There was lots of movement for sure that night by friends and family unbeknown to me as I was getting a V.I.P ticket to Antrim Area Hospital first, then later moved unto the Royal as I think Antrim weren’t able to address my injuries, I could be wrong here..

Meanwhile on my vocation, people back at the scene were in full swing spreading the word and friends doing what they could to try and help in any way possible, some being Chris, Gareth, my parents, emergency services, the list goes on..... While I was being checked in and admitted friends/family had made it out off their beds (it was bed time got LOL) to come to me. Mark, Catherine, Marty, Ryan, parents.... , still oblivious to all going on, I was told all this at later dates (which I apologised as time went on for getting the out of their beds! LOL). They stayed with me the whole of the first night and had to go home for work, and actually Mark couldn’t rest and made his way back to the hospital after dropping people home, if that’s not friends for you, then I don’t know what is!. Others as mentioned above and more which I may not have mentioned!, were busy back home doing their bit for me, Chris, Gareth and whoever else was there, but the reality is they all had to continue on with their normal routines and I’m sure I was in their thoughts. Gareth, Chris and others were especially helpful at the scene and will never go to miss, as was everyone else!.

I was in hospital for two weeks and can’t remember the first week or before the incident and word was spreading back home and concerns were raised I believe for the first 48hrs, needless to say people were concerned back home, which I thank everyone for. Parents and friends had visited and I can only apologise to them as I can’t remember them in the first week, or before the incident. On the night of admission I was into the operating theatre to address my injuries, the operation was successful. Metal framework braced my fractures both front and back (still does) and as time went on the bleeding was drained out and stopped, thankfully there was no head injuries! It could very well have been so much worse, but in saying this, was lucky not to have been apparently possibly paralysed if the fractures had of went down one further vertebrae and/or nerves. One of the surgeons said at a later date that it was my fitness they believed that may have prevented this, which in my opinion was definitely a god send, there is people worse off for less and this is something I now appreciate!. I can only thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers and kind gestures that was passed onto me as in cards, collections, goodies, the list again goes on!...., visits over my time in hospital even though I can’t remember the first week, probably as was in pain and system was trying to adapt to the medicine/s. At the start of recovery I couldn’t even feed myself, I was braced up, a nice purple eye and blood shot and generally sore, I felt useless to be honest, this is where the mind started taking over I think!. Mark was kind enough to organise temporary glasses so I could see how beautiful I was LOL, I kid..... UcenterDress homecoming party short wears with affordable price

With the help of the hospital staff, visits from everyone etc, I can’t thank you all enough for your support, I was discharged after the 2weeks with the luck that nothing more serious was the outcome. 19 tablets a day to ease pain, seven months of work (braced up for 3 months) then gradually easing out of it, the recovery process was underway... Various visits was had when home over the months and appointments needed attended and thankfully the hospital then deemed me fit enough to not needed seen again a few months into the following year. I was advised not to drive, clearly when braced (first 3 months) and Mark kindly drove me to at least one maybe two of the earlier appointments, my uncle then to another. I was taken into work to visit and life continued to progress.

There was loads of ups and downs, I couldn’t run and when I seen people running I was frustrated, mentally it was starting to get to me because of months of not running and jealousy kicking in. I was sore, couldn’t sleep, restricted (still am), and because I was never like this before, annoyance and possibly a bit of depression may have kicked in, but got easier to accept as months went on. Visits at home from people lifted me. Eventually I was able to start walking more distance and was able to visit the running club one night which I’ll never forget their faces and kind words, also one night at an earlier stage at Lionels BBQ!. Whilst in hospital, the card from our clubs juniors was very touching, as was everyone else’s!, and are all keepsake. There’s loads more I could go on about, but this is a brief description of my situation. Physically and mentally tough!, seeing your fitness go from you and people you were once with progressing (through no fault of them) got to me. Eventually I was able to start running, but easing in, always in pain, being one of if not the slower at training, knowing where I once was was eating me, friends at the club kept me sane.

Time’s a healer!, speak to people, my club was outstanding with support and also other running friends in general in other clubs both local and further afield, you’s were all motivational including my family and non running friends. One year went on, then two, and today into the third year and the progressions starting to return, especially this year. Don’t let things get to you, think positive and there will be a way through whether it be progression in general of any situation, or in my case running, give yourself a chance to progress. Determination and willpower is a wonderful thing, and so is friends!, never give up and keep striving to be the best you can be, and more... I understand peoples circumstances are different and appreciate this, all I ask is try to stay positive. People would have loved to have been where I was, even in the early stages of my running progression, but at times I let my guard down and never thought of it like that, my situation has certainly made me think differently to life.

After all the help I received, the love for sport, I then went on to qualify as an athletics coach, this was not easy for me, but with friends, I achieved it and now am only starting to learn as a coach. All I wish is I can pass onto others what I got from other coaches onto me. There is difficulty with restriction in neck, the shoulders and back take a lot of compensating for it, but it is the way it is and not sorry for saying again it could have been a whole lot worse!. The pain is bearable compared to other peoples situations, actually there’s times were I have to use heat to relieve pain, but every day despite the aches , I keep relating to my wee saying..., life’s issues you come across are manageable, it’s how you deal with them. Stories I had heard after made me sick and thinking why them, though things are sometimes out of our control and all we can only do the best we can.

I hope this may reach out and help at least one person or more... if I can answer anything or help, I will certainly try. For me, the glass is always half FULL waiting to top it up with more fullness.

APPRECIATE LIFE FOLKS.