Welcome Page

Well, the title pretty much says it all. Welcome to my little corner of the World Wide Web, and I hope your stay is both enjoyable and informative. It's easy when you are newly injured to look at the life you had before and think that life is over, but that could not be further from the truth. My site is an eclectic mix of information which is dedicated to making life after a spinal cord injury easier, by showing you how I've managed. I am now over 40 and more than 20 years post injury, and I've lived longer with my disability than without it. This only means that I have a few more ideas, possibilities and stories to bring to the table. I’m no oracle of Delphi, and have no answers, only a few ideas as to how I have made my own personal journey after such a life changing experience.

There are a few segments of this website that show photographs of some of the surgery I have had, and as such are not for the squeamish. Where these pages occur I give plenty of warnings, but I hope that they help those within the SCI community decide whether this operation might benefit them. This operation was a unique opportunity for me to increase my dexterity, which I’m pleased to say, was a success. Earlier this year I was diagnosed with kidney stones, and these are to be removed in early August 2009. When I was first injured I was warned that kidney problems were a greater risk for SCI patients, and I’m thankful that I am only now experiencing this issue.

Since my accident I have taken up photography, become a season ticket holder with London Irish Rugby Club, been married and divorced and in September 2005 I started a college course learning to sing Jazz. I have also reached the highest level playing World of Warcraft, which now has approximately 11 million players world wide, and is highly addictive. That I've managed this with my limited mobility demonstrates that with planning and brut ignorance, anything is possible.

It is also worth mentioning that I am also in full time employment, and that has presented loads of challenges. Most of these seem to be a money trap. If you work, and require minimal help to support that employment, then there are loads of means tests to work through. This I am sure has caused many in the disability arena to say 'its not worth it financially' to enter employment, and I fully understand that logic. Personally, I am glad that I have retained my independance by working although, its been harder than it could have been. I'm not asking for hand outs. However, support and encouragement for those who work should be the government agencies primary agenda.

My life is packed with opportunities to have exactly the same time as anyone else, whether its laughter or crying, and I'd not have it any other way!