SNN_August 2020 Issue FA_low res

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NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 28 In 2000 you had another setback with your health, what happened there? Over Labour Weekend in 2000 I lost about 30 – 35 percent of my movement. Bang just like that I lost it overnight. So I went back to hospital and then into the Spinal Unit and they couldn’t figure it out. They hadn’t experienced anything like that before. It took them a long time to figure out, but they worked out that where I had my original injury was still quite unstable and it had moved and caused more damage to my spinal cord. I was on and off for neurosurgery for the first couple of years and they were quite worried because back then they hadn’t done the proposed neurosurgery that high up on a person with SCI before. After two years the neurosurgeon said yes, he can do it. They left it up to me and my wife to make the choice. I chose to go ahead and it stabilised things but it didn’t bring back all my movement. So I went from an incomplete C5/C6 to a C4/C5. For example, I could not drive anymore. That setback inspired you to study again, what was the experience like second time around? When I went back to university in 2006 – 2007 I was overwhelmed by the disability support services because back in my day they just didn’t exist. When I went to university first up there was nothing, absolutely nothing – the registry office just didn’t want to know me. When I went back in 2006 there was a whole support service that was available to those with disabilities. It was phenomenal. Today it is a totally different world and it is wonderful. What were you looking to achieve with your PhD? The question is often asked at what point is someone with a disability ageing or are they aged and disabled? When does it switch over? Internationally there has been a massive amount of research in this space. The majority of the research indicates that someone with a spinal cord injury, if they look after themselves, can live 90 – 95 percent lifespan of an able-bodied person. That was certainly not well documented before. It is not saying that you are not going to have a variety of complications along the way. One thing is clear if you don’t look after yourself and your body then you are going to pay the price. There is no in between there. In the end whether you are abled bodied or disabled we all end up in the same place. We all end up getting old and getting stuffed. In the end whether you are abled bodied or disabled we all end up in the same place. We all end up getting old and getting stuffed. before 1990 but the National Health Index (NHI) database was really unreliable. It is meant to be cleared and checked and deaths were meant to be removed but when I went through it, I realised there were a number of people who had passed away who were still on it. It has been a bit of a journey but a number of people are working towards fixing it, which is great. What advice do you offer others with an SCI who are at the start of their journey? Life is but a journey and you only have one shot at it, so you better make give it a pretty damn good shot. You need to make the most of every day. It get’s harder as you get older. I am coming up to 62 and I am finding that it’s not my biological age, it is my age since the injury. The research shows that time since your injury has more of an impact than your biological age because you are sitting down, your bones aren’t as strong, you are more prone to arthritis, more prone to obesity which leads to cardiovascular problems and respiratory problems. All of that is a result of the fact you can’t physically exercise in the same way. But you can live a full life – it is all up to you. Special mention: Mark Thompson, named in Richard’s story as the first person to attend the University of Otago in a wheelchair, passed away recently at the age of 74. Mark was a great survivor and he shared his story in the SNN. He enjoyed a full and abundant life despite 51 years in a wheelchair following his tragic accident at the age of 22. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family at this time. You are on the board for the New Zealand Spinal Cord Injury Registry(NZSCIR), how important has that work been? Getting the registry up and running has been a huge thing. When I started my research, it became clear that no one in New Zealand actually knew how many SCI’s there were in New Zealand. That is one of the things that the PhD looks at. I was able to identify around 1500 injured
SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 29 Driving and transport products for your independence Explore our range of products: www.totalability.com.au info@totalability.com.au Electronic Accelerator Hand Controls Lowering Turning Seat Bases Wheelchair/Scooter Hoists Platform Lifts Manual and Electronic Ramps Transfer Platforms Visit our website for more information “Now I can drive more safely using both hands, thanks to my Satellite Accelerator”
Page 1 and 2: August 2020 Volume 23 / Issue 2 SNN
Page 3 and 4: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 3 “I Can’t
Page 5 and 6: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 5 Supporting Po
Page 7 and 8: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 7 Back in Tune
Page 9 and 10: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 9 Nick Cornish
Page 11 and 12: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 11 NZ Spinal Co
Page 13 and 14: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 13 support serv
Page 15 and 16: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 15 Telling It L
Page 17 and 18: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 17 NZ Spinal Tr
Page 19 and 20: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 19 right?’…
Page 21 and 22: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 21 Kathy: We ha
Page 23 and 24: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 23 really good
Page 25 and 26: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 25 The Attitude
Page 27: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 27 University o
Page 31 and 32: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 31 SpeediCath
Page 33 and 34: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 33 “Throwing
Page 35 and 36: SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 35 Thank you to

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