SNN July 2018

“It was not just lying in bed ‘recovering’ like i had assumed.”
Bailley’s accident was on 4 March 2016 and she was discharged from
the Burwood spinal unit on 13 July 2016, but her recovery didn’t stop
there. She came back to her family home in Winton which was a huge
adjustment.
“Having to live in a place where you had lived your entire life which has
now become an environment with barriers around every corner of your
home is very frustrating.”
At first, Bailley thought she was going to be the miracle story who regained
everything and would walk out of Burwood, but the more her
journey went on, she realised that was unlikely.
“I felt like my life was over, I wouldn’t be able to do anything I enjoyed
ever again, I would just be a girl in a wheelchair. It was hard and I felt as
though it was very unfair. I always thought to myself; ‘Why me? What did I
ever do to deserve this?’ It was a grieving process. I had to go through the
process of accepting that this is how it was going to be now, and to make
the most of what I do have. I am so grateful for what I do have, and I try
to focus on what I can still do rather than what I can’t do anymore.”
She was scared she would be judged by the wheelchair and not seen for
the person that she is.
“I am still Bailley I am just sitting and it is hard to try and show that to
society when a lot of the time they don’t give you an opportunity to show
this. I am constantly becoming more aware of the inequality between
able-bodied and people with disabilities.”
In two years since her accident, Bailley has learned how to live with her
disability. She has travelled overseas twice, gone adaptive skiing, luging,
joined a wheelchair basketball team, been swimming in the pool, river,
ocean and lakes, gone kayaking, camping, biscuiting, cycling, been to
Outward Bound, went on the Nevis Bungy Swing, went to the Junior
Disability Games, gained her independence back so she can live in a flat
with her friends in Dunedin and gone back to full-time study.
“I definitely get out and do more, and I wouldn’t have been able to achieve
half of these things without the support from my friends and family. They
are always working out ways to make something work. There is a way to
do everything you just have to have the right attitude.”
When she had her accident she was studying a Bachelor of Science at
Otago University, but following her recovery she had no motivation to
continue. Occupational Therapy (OT) was a natural fit.
“I wanted a job that was going to be logistically achievable for someone in
a wheelchair and something that I was passionate about. OT ticked both
of these boxes. I hope to make a positive difference in my clients’ lives, and
show both able bodied and disabled people that you can be disabled and
still be successful.”
Bailley has high hopes for New Zealand and dreams of a society that is
one day fully accessible.
Through all the challenges on her journey, Bailley has maintained a positive
mind-set that is both inspirational and infectious.
“Life isn’t always easy but I have learnt that through all the tough times it
has made all of the highs that much more enjoyable.”
Bailley took her personal growth and recovery a step further when she
pushed herself to the limit with Outward Bound. We caught up with her
on what she called “a life-changing experience”.
Q&A
Why did you want to do Outward Bound?
I had always loved the outdoors and had heard of only great things from
the people I knew who had completed an Outward Bound course. I guess
it was a challenge I was keen to see if I could achieve. I did have a lot of
doubts about actually being able to do anything as a wheelchair user. I was
definitely proved wrong.
How did you first get selected to take part in Outward Bound?
I was on the Connecting People Facebook page when an advertisement
came up about the Adaptive Outward Bound programme that is for
people with a physical disability over 18. I looked up the website to see
whether I fitted the category to attend, and luckily, I ticked all the boxes.
On the Outward Bound website, it also said that full funding was available
for WINZ clients, so I filled out all the forms and went to WINZ and I
was chosen to attend the course in November 2016.
What was the experience like? Were you nervous?
In the beginning, I was so unsure of what to expect and how the logistics
of it all was going to work, especially if the bathrooms were going to be
actually wheelchair accessible. It was only eight months since my accident
and four months since I got out of hospital so I was still adjusting to life
with my injury. The journey of getting to Anakiwa was just as frightening
as the actual course was. I actually can’t even put the experience into
words, you have to go and see for yourself how much it will actually affect
your life. Which so many people who had been to Outward Bound told
me before I went, I couldn’t understand how it could be just so amazing
when it just sounded like a school camp. But I was definitely wrong, it
was physically challenging with the early starts and late nights which were
jam packed with all kinds of activities including kayaking down the Pelorus
River, camping, sailing, rowing, the high ropes course, daily ocean swims,
bush walks. It was mentally challenging without my phone to keep my
mind busy, but I had time to think and reflect on everything that had
happened.
Outward Bound is known for pushing people to the edge, did
you get pushed out of your comfort zone?
Yes. I was so used to playing everything safe and because each day was
unknown you didn’t have time to prepare yourself for what was on
for the day. But we always had the support of the rest of the group,
instructors and volunteers to encourage and help us when we needed it.
What was the highlight?
Meeting everyone at Outward Bound, and sharing the journey together.
As well as all of the physical activities we were lucky enough to take part in
– it was a huge confident booster for myself to understand that I am still
capable of a lot, with the right attitude, support and equipment anything
is possible.
How do you think this experience will help you in life?
Outward Bound was an experience which changed my life in the way that
I was able to experience the outdoors again. I was able to realise what
I was truly capable of, by being pushed to my physical limitations. I now
have the confidence to do anything I want. It gave me the opportunity to
break down the barriers I had set in my mind and I guess put in place the
trial and error method.
What advice do you offer to others who have an SCI and are
looking at doing something like this?
Everyone should give Outward Bound a go. After I sustained my SCI I got
into the habit of letting others do things for me that I was capable of doing
myself, the nurses at the hospital and my family and friends at home. I also
had a lot of doubt of what I was physically capable of doing anymore, but
the eight days I spent away at Anakiwa really opened my eyes, that I am
still capable of 99 percent of things. And the other one percent of things
I thought I couldn’t do, we would problem solve ways to find a solution. I
realised if you have the right attitude, the right people supporting you and
the right equipment you really can do anything you want to do.
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