SPINAL NETWORK NEWS

NZST
JAI IN MEXICO Continued
stop and rest, drink heaps of water and have some food.
Getting to the top, I looked back down to what I’d just come
up … I was just so satisfied coming from doctors initially
telling me that I’d never walk again, to getting to the top of
a mountain…it was like Yeah, I conquered that’.
Jai rates his time traveling through America. I was curious
to know how he found the American people and if his
disability was a topic of conversation.
‘People generally wanted to talk about the election! When
I met people briefly I wouldn’t talk about it – it felt pretty
good. When I did talk about it I kept to the basics, how
I had the injury and whereabouts I was paralysed, stuff
like that….People were great, really friendly and keen to
help…if people did take an interest in my injury then I’d
open up to them..’
While in America Jai began taking pro-biotics in an attempt
to ward off any potential bladder inflections. At one point
he felt symptoms of an infection and learnt how expensive
the American health system can be. Even with the help of
a local nurse (Jai was house sitting her mother’s house)
an appointment with a Doctor was going to be around
US$200. Jai decided to carry on without antibiotics and
luckily was ok. In late November, Jai and Phil entered
Mexico. Jai was feeling good and his health was behaving.
Their new environment was different – colour, music,
people, and cheap antibiotics?!
‘When you cross the boarder, you straight away see all these
restaurants followed by heaps of chemists – they all have
big signs up with ‘Tramadol!’, ‘Valium’, or ‘Antibiotics!’ it
was crazy!’
With the smell of new adventures ahead, the lads spent
two weeks traveling down the Baja peninsular, Jai and
Phil used buses which would travel at night. Take note –
cramped bus toilets and corners are not ideal conditions
for using a catheter.
Jai spent the following two months exploring Mexico,
traveling with Phil but often by himself. Mainly traveling
by bus, Jai stayed in hostels and even had a tent which he
would use at some of the worlds most unbelievable beaches.
One such beach was Zipolite, a place known for its relaxed
lifestyle and undercover policemen. Another highlight
was Michoacan, an inland state of Mexico and home of the
ancient Tarascan people. These two locations illustrate the
depth to Mexico’s beauty – from tropical beaches to thick
highlands and stunning fresh water lakes.
Jai explained that he fared well considering his spinal cord
injury. He suffered pain is his hips and feet if he walked a
long distance, and to avoid painkillers he would often rest
for a day, writing or reading to give his legs a break. He also
purchased a course of antibiotics that relieved a bladder
infection. Despite having been on the road for over three
months, Jai’s supplies were holding up well. Throughout
America and Mexico, Jai found the chemists to have goods
supplies of gloves and lube if he was running short. And
having around 50 catheters that he was using at one per
week, Jai had well over half left.
Jai is heading back to Mexico at the end of February ‘09 for
more adventure; I asked how his accident in 2005 affects
his outlook on life
‘I look back and think wow, I should be in a wheelchair
I shouldn’t be walking – I’m seeing the most incredible
things and getting into the most amazing places…I have a
really big appreciation cos I have friends (in wheelchairs)
who couldn’t do half the things I’ve done…’
And his future?
‘Once you know you can do it, I now just want to go off the
beaten track to push my limits’
JOHN BOURKE
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