Eddie travels the world

Since my stroke in 2011 I became determined to become as independent as possible, like many I and my family were told that I wouldn’t be able to do the many things I did prior to my stroke. However, as soon as I began to learn to walk, talk, use my arms and hands again I knew that my God had different ideas for me and that how I live was down to my self-determination.

My drive to independence started with me being nominated to carry the 2012 Olympic torch and the training I did with my physios showed me that nothing is impossible.

After my discharge I soon realised that the only way for me to get about was in my power chair, yes, I can walk but not far without being in severe pain or becoming fatigued so I set about planning my short term goals.

Goals.

1. To get on a bus
2. To get on a train
3. To climb a mountain
4. To fly
5. Go back to Australia
6. Travel on a London bus

At first these goals were very daunting to think about and I was scared of going into the unknown as a disabled person but there wasn’t a choice I had to face my fears in order to get my life back, it’s had its ups and downs I’ve learned that life with disabilities is not easy and at times very frightening and frustrating.

This page is a pictorial story of my journeys starting after I conquered my mountain ‘Mama Tor’  

During my time in hospital (8 months) I thought that I would never be able to visit my daughter and 4 grandchildren in Australia again or even worse I would never see them again. Like many stroke survivors it didn’t take a lot to lower your mood, my daughter and children came to see me thinking I was going to die, on the day that my daughter Sarah and her children came to say goodbye I was suffering with the NORO virus so the grand children were not allowed in the ward.

Sarah was allowed in to see me for a few minutes only, even today I am really upset trying to write this but, I must face the memory and document it. Sarah came into my room, sat by bed then she rested her head on the bed and lifted my arm so that my hand was resting on her head, this simple act broke my heart and still does when I think about it, I believe she was thinking the same as me, after she said goodbye and left my room I broke down and silently howled (remember I had no voice)  my heart was Broken, then my grandchildren appeared at my room window waving goodbye again I broke down completely, poor bairns had to leavewithe the memoryof their Grandpa crying.

Three or four months later I was transferred to Rehab where my physio Matt started to work on getting movement in my limbs, after a month in rehab my recovery was swift, Matt had me standing and taking very small steps. One day I asked Matt “if when well enough will there be anything that will stop me going back to Australia” Matt replied “Give Yourself a year then there should be nothing to stop you” Well that was the moment I told everyone that I plan to go to see my daughter and grandchildren in Australia,

18 months later Jeannie and I boarded a Plane bound for Perth WA, I’ve been back five times and we plan to go again soon.  

Are you a wheel chair user and anxious about flying? March 2017 Jeannie and I flew to Australia for six weeks, when we traveled before I traveled with my manual chair then hired a scooter or chair for our visit.
This time I decided to take my own power chair, firstly we talked to various air lines and asked each one "Will your company carry power chairs' each one said definitely yes all they would need are the dimensions.
Once we had chosen who would carry us (shop around for the best deal we do all the booking ourselves) we gave them the info they needed, it's important that you have dry cell batteries any thing else you have to take the batteries out of the machine.
There is no charge for power chairs etc.
As usual we booked assisted travel on arrival at the check in desk We always get to the airport 4 hrs early it's amazing how fast time travels at airports, I asked if I could take my power chair all the way to the gate, no problem with that but asked us to be at the gate early. My chair was booked in all the way to Oz as there wasn't enough time in Hong Kong.
On our arrival to Oz my chair was waiting by the baggage carousel, dead easy.
On the way back I had to put my chair in with our luggage, this is not a problem as they give a manual chair at the desk, again the chair was waiting for me at Heathrow.
As well as saving loads of money to hire a vehicle then being scared of damaging it I was stress free using my own chair which is very reliable.

More to come