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SPINAL NETWORK NEWS 25<br />
Meeting Arni helped me<br />
get through some dark<br />
periods of dep<strong>res</strong>sion.<br />
—Mike Franklin<br />
many races and events and have even made five ascents of<br />
Mt Cook. I was able to continue with many of these<br />
activities after my cancer treatment. My final job before I<br />
retired was teaching cycling to Christchurch primary<br />
schools. Since 2016, I have found it very difficult not<br />
being able to do these physical activities that I have<br />
enjoyed so much throughout my life. I particularly miss<br />
not being able to ride my bike, especially with my wife,<br />
Sarah. We had done many wonderful cycling trips<br />
together and now that is not possible any longer.<br />
I still try my best to get as much exercise as possible. This<br />
is why I regularly go to Beachville Road, Redcliffs where<br />
the new Coastal Pathway provides an extensive, smooth<br />
surface for rolling along in my wheelchair. I’ll never be a<br />
wheelchair racer, at my age now, but I enjoy pushing<br />
myself as much as I can.<br />
My prognosis from now on is not clear. However, I won’t<br />
be getting any better and my mobility is likely to<br />
gradually deteriorate. As will the general effects from<br />
my brain damage, such as tiredness and difficulty with<br />
coordination.<br />
Have you formed a special friendship with Arni and<br />
his family?<br />
people call out to me or toot their car horns as they see me<br />
rolling along in my wheelchair. The whole experience of<br />
meeting Arni, his family and Albina; writing and<br />
publishing the book; publicity through the local paper;<br />
and the friendly Redcliffs community, has really helped<br />
me feel better about my situation and improved my<br />
self-esteem.<br />
What other challenges have you lined up next?<br />
I often think about writing another Arni book, but I am<br />
not sure if I could cope with the publishing and marketing<br />
aspects all over again. I will keep thinking about this.<br />
A friend of mine has developed a light-weight, detachable<br />
electric motor for my wheelchair. This has given me<br />
another challenge as it’s tricky to drive, but also lets me<br />
go further and explore places that would be difficult or<br />
exhausting with a manual wheelchair, such as the New<br />
Brighton Pier. I am still getting used to it and trying to<br />
make the most of its capabilities. Navigating the rough<br />
footpaths of Christchurch remains my biggest challenge<br />
at the moment!<br />
What advice do you have for others who have<br />
sustained an SCI through illness?<br />
Try to be positive as much as possible, although this can<br />
be very hard. Try to do one thing you enjoy every day.<br />
Maintain friendships and opportunities to connect with<br />
people. While the things that you can do are now not<br />
the same as you used to enjoy before a spinal cord<br />
impairment, there are still lots of things you can do for<br />
enjoyment and challenge. It is a matter of adjusting to<br />
this different world and realising that it can also bring<br />
happiness. This is very challenging, but worth<br />
the effort.<br />
There are many dogs on the Coastal Pathway, but Arni<br />
stood out for his friendliness and adventurous character.<br />
Arni is a black French bulldog. He is very friendly, loves<br />
cuddles and to sit on my knee in my wheelchair.<br />
Although he can also be a bit naughty. He is quite a<br />
character, which is what made him such a good subject for<br />
my book.<br />
Arni’s family, Duncan and Natalia, are also a very friendly<br />
and welcoming couple.<br />
I developed a special relationship with Arni and his<br />
family. I look forward to seeing them on my excursions to<br />
Redcliffs. Meeting Arni and his family (and writing the<br />
book) helped me get through some dark periods of<br />
dep<strong>res</strong>sion as I tried to adjust to my new life without<br />
being able to use my legs and in a wheelchair.<br />
How did the Redcliffs community support you in<br />
your recovery?<br />
People in the Redcliffs community have been very<br />
friendly and welcoming to me. I live about 5km drive<br />
away, but I spend at least a couple of days a week on the<br />
Coastal Pathway. I stop and chat to local people using the<br />
pathway and in the café. People recognise me and,<br />
fol<strong>low</strong>ing local publicity about my book, they know that I<br />
am the Wheelchair Guy and ask me about Arni. Lots of<br />
Mike was proud to make his writing debut.<br />
Arni and the Wheelchair Guy<br />
Written by Mike Franklin<br />
Edited by Linda Cassells<br />
Illustrated by Albina Koldasova<br />
Buy it here: www.wheelers.co.nz
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