SNN_July 2021 Issue_web low res

NEW ZEALAND SPINAL TRUST 28
Telling it Like it is
Teina Boyd, a former patient of the Burwood Spinal Unit,
describes the pressures of a too busy life.
Man I’m getting fat. My belly is huuuuuuge. I wonder how
my family are. I wonder if they care how I am and think of
me as well. Covid has really pulled us apart. Oh well. 380
emails, I wonder how many of those are important.
I really wish I could use my hands, I just feel like seeing
my own handwriting again. Speaking of … I should really
book my next hand surgery. What trainings do I need to
organise for my care team? I’m sick of being limited on
certain shifts. Hey I learn how to drive this year! I hope I
don’t cause any crashes. Can’t help thinking I might with
all of my spasms.
All Smiles—Teina Boyd and her son William share a special bond.
Goddamn. Sometimes I just don’t know
where to start.
I need to find an architect. Hopefully one with experience
building accessible. Jesus, I REALLY need to organise
thank you gifts for my lawyers and accountants … I
should have done that weeks ago.
I haven’t heard from the builder in six weeks either …
Might be time to just turn up at his house. Oh no … Am I
too late to apply for my rates rebate? Is the dog’s
registration due? I wonder where my new manual chair
has gone to … We finished scripting that thing months
ago. My butt's going to be too big for it by the time it gets
here. I need to do my German lesson for the day … Should
I do that quickly before I run the dog? The dog … Gosh I
really need to check when her registration is due. I wonder
if I should start offering to train people’s dogs to help
them with disability? My pup being able to pick up my
phone for me when I drop it is a huge help. Maybe that
will be helpful for other people as well.
I wonder if Bradley and I will actually get this business
idea of mine off the ground. He’s so busy and I’m so
disabled, I can’t do it on my own and I know he’s time
poor. Gosh I miss my mum. I wish I could find time to sit
down and write my book. What appointments do I have
today? I think I’ve gone way overdue on my catheter
changes … Jesus how’s Willie doing? He’s so busy running
around between his sports, school and mates I feel like
I’ve hardly seen him lately. I need to get more meat and
veggies into him.
I wonder how my sister is, I’ve really been dropping the
ball on keeping in contact with people lately. I hope life
calms down soon … But then I kind of don’t because then
I'll have to address my weight gain and how much I miss
everyone overseas. My wedding … What kind of dress will
I wear? I hope I look nice. The person in the mirror doesn’t
really look like me anymore, I need to find me again. That
thing looks like a lump with eyes. At least my ponytail is
nice and long, there is that.
Oh no … My column's due at the end of the week and I
haven’t even started. No regrets though, I’m glad I’m
putting Aunty Barb and her injuries first. Visiting her for
wheelchair aerobics every day has been fun. Man … I
haven’t read a school email in months. I hope I’m not
missing anything important. I really need to cut down
that nectarine tree in the front yard before it gives curly
leaf to all of the other fruit trees.
I wonder if William and I can go a couple of weeks living
off our fruit trees and the pantry, would be cool to see how
much money we could save. Have I paid the water rates?
Nope, I better jump online and do that. Phone is ringing …
No caller ID. It could be my case manager, one of the
carpet companies I’m waiting on quotes from, my nurse
or Greenpeace. I’ll let It go to voicemail.
... looking up from my phone I think, ‘What was I doing
again?’
———
Anybody else’s days start with mental rambling like this?
I really do find my disability and care team are a full-time
job on top of my full-time job, on top of my part time jobs,
on top of parenting on top of study. Not to mention all the
family, running the house and social side of life.
Can get a little crazy sometimes … but I hope you’re all out
there keeping warm and handling it all as well as you can.
(And taking lots of breaks for croissants, friends and
puppy hugging Xx)
Nga mihi, Teina Boyd