2 years later

What a long couple of years it has been, but at the same time where did that time go? Two years ago our lives were turned upside down, as well as those of our family and friends. Here we are today, still going through appointment after appointment, struggling at times with the immobility and constant pain - but that's just it. We are HERE. I can't lie and say I'm positive all of the time about our situation, because it honestly sucks sometimes... but Luke and I choose to try our very best to make the most of what we do have, not what we don't. If we have found one good thing that has come from the events of September 19th, 2013, it is the wonderful people we have met through our experiences, as well as the people who have stuck by us and shown us so much love support. Thank you to our families, who we know have felt so powerless but have helped us more than words can describe. Thank you to our friends, both those who have stuck with us as well as the people who we have since met whose friendships will last a lifetime. Thank you to the nurses and staff at the various hospitals we have visited, but particularly those at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre who were there for us in the middle of the night, who gave us tough love when we needed it, and who showed us that it's okay to cry because they're only human too. I could go on forever but there is not enough words to describe how grateful I am for the people who have had an impact in our lives, no matter how big or small.

I will keep this short and sweet (just like me!) and quickly update you on our last few months!

• Luke has continued with the relentless medical appointments, juggling follow-ups from the three surgeries earlier in the year as well as having another two, with one more still to go. In August Luke had the metal plate removed from his right foot. The bone has been fused and healed however he had a major nerve sitting on top of the plate which caused incredible nerve pain which has slightly settled since the removal. Luke also had a second round of radiofrequency denervation for the major nerve supplying sensation in his left thigh, which slightly reduced the constant background nerve pain but unfortunately aggravated the sharp, intermittent pain. He is booked in for surgery on his shoulder in October as it was fractured in the crash and tendons were damaged but with all of the other injuries had not been picked up.
• I have been travelling along steadily with regular physio and will hopefully have a bit of a change-up and get some gym equipment to work on my strength for a few months before returning to physio to revisit learning to self-transfer.
• I have started attending markets with both my art as well as bath, body and hair products. I have been learning about aromatherapy, working with natural products and essential oils to make a range of shower gels, hair care, moisturisers and more! Luke has been kept busy, being my handyman and muscles! Visit my website or Facebook pages for UnLimited Function Art ( www.unlimitedfunctionart.com / www.facebook.com/UnLimitedFunction ) and New Life Essentials ( www.facebook.com/NewLifeAus ) to see where I will be over the next few months. Over the next few weeks I am excited to go home to be at the Parilla Seasonal Market (September 27th, 9am-2pm, Parilla), Market to Market in Morphett Vale (October 3rd, 3pm-8pm, Morphett Vale Basketball Stadium) and join the North Haven Football Club Spring Carnival (October 11th, 10am-3pm, Largs North Reserve).

I hope you are well and, although it can be so hard to do, make the most of what we do have - you never know what is around the corner.

Much love xx

Enjoying the sunshine at my first outdoor market!

Your brain is like a tap... Read on to find out more!

What a jam packed couple of months this has been... Let's start off with the medical side of life. Things have been going steady for me as usual with regular physio and exercise, and they have been going really well for Luke! He recovered well after the sinus surgery in February and went in for his next surgery only a couple weeks later. Luke has been referred to a great maxillofacial surgeon who removed a few problem teeth that were destroyed in the accident but more importantly cleaned up his right jaw joint (removed excess bone and damaged cartilage and tightened the plate) which has meant Luke can now almost fully open his mouth, before he only had about 40% of the range which made eating a good burger or pie pretty difficult! Luke also had surgery on his left hip to attempt to help the nerve pain. It wasn't a guaranteed fix so unfortunately it hasn't had much of an effect at this stage, but we will wait and see as it's a slow process when dealing with nerves.

Now to the big event... the incredible, amazing, absolutely fabulous Pinnaroo Fun Run, Walk and Roll!! The initiative of a few locals culminated in two great days with the school event on Wednesday 25th of March and the community fun run on Sunday 29th of March.

Students from Pinnaroo, Lameroo and Geranium primary schools as well as a group from the Pinnaroo Kindergarten met at the Pinnaroo Oval attended the school event on the Wednesday. (Murrayville students had planned to attend but unfortunately chicken pox was going around the primary school!) The day began and I had a chance to welcome them all and give a little introduction. I told them the basic story and it was pretty easy to explain that Luke's injuries were mostly broken bones but had spent all morning trying to figure out the best way to explain a spinal injury. I decided to not complicate it by describing a complete injury vs incomplete (which is what I am!) so it went along these lines - 

Imagine your brain is a tap and the spinal cord in your back is the hose leading to all of these sprinklers in your arms, fingers, legs and toes. Usually you can turn the tap on and the water comes out right? But has anyone tried, or had a brother or sister(!) that has folded the hose or stepped on it to squish it? That's kind of what happened to me! I broke a bone in my back that is next to my hose so it squished it and the messages from my brain to my feet couldn't get through, just like the water to a sprinkler. 

I then went on to say how the healing is like letting a bit of water through. A bit more thought went into that recount of my explanation but it seemed to make sense to the kids! A heartwarming story came a few days later after my mum told me that one of the kindy kids had gone home and told her mum all about how 'your brain is a tap.. and you squish the hose...and..'!!! And then she told it all over again when her dad got home! The fun run itself was awesome - the kids all started together, running laps around the oval and getting a tick on their lap card each lap. I grabbed a marker and joined in marking the cards... and wow I was exhausted just doing that! I have no idea where they got all of their energy! It was such a fun day, and a good bit of exercise for the kids! The Lions Club were great in putting on a sausage sizzle for the kids for lunch, but not even that stopped the kids - they would have a rest and a sausage before doing a couple more laps. The kindy kids (at 4 years old!) all did 6 laps and a couple of the older kids made it over 40 laps! One kid made it to 50! That's almost 15km!! In total the students ran, walked and cartwheeled 2450 laps! 

We headed back to Adelaide on Wednesday night before being back in Pinnaroo on Saturday to enjoyed a barbeque with some family and friends that night before getting a good night's rest!

Sunday was a early start with the first walk/runners starting the 10km at 8:30am. As soon as we arrived I could see the number of people that were already there and it was incredible! I remember saying to Bec, the committee leader, in the early days that it didn't matter to me how much money was raised or if only 5 people turned up, it would be an opportunity to say thank you to the people that were involved for all of the love and support in the last 18 months. But there was definitely more than 5 people there! Luke and I started the participants with the air horn at 8:30am, 9am and 9:30am for the 10km, 5km and 3km respectively. In the end around 260 people ran or walked in the Fun Run! It was an incredible atmosphere at the finish line, with participants finishing their distances and then gathering around to talk, grab a bite to eat from the Lions Club barbeque, a coffee from The Fudge Fairy van, with the gorgeous Frankie & Dandelion (www.frankieanddandelion.com) pop up shop and beautiful Henna Happenings joining the fun. The kids were amused with a bouncy castle and entertainment by Tony from Cool 4 Kids. Click on their business names to go to the Facebook pages! I set up a few paintings for show as well and it was great to get feedback and a few sales! Don't forget to check out www.unlimitedfunctionart.com ! It was such a fabulous day, Luke and I were overwhelmed by both the fundraising effort as well as the attendance on the day, not to mention the well wishes from those who couldn't make it. We cannot thank everyone enough for their part in making it such a memorable day, we are so lucky to be a part this great community. Thank you to Ken Solley (Stock Journal), Deirdre Graham (Murray Pioneer), Miranda Hudson-Lloyde and Allan Edwards for attending and capturing the memories of the event.

A recent event that I can't resist sharing - I went with a friend to see a cirque performance, Le Noir, at the Adelaide Festival Centre last weekend which turned out to be an incredible experience. We arrived early and ended up in line for the cafe behind a performer. We chatted while in line and before he ducked off to get ready he told us to come to the stage door after the show and he would get a couple of programs signed for us. Not only did we get those but he managed to get us a spot to sit with the on-stage seating and we got to meet a few of the other cast members after the show! It was an amazing show, so amazing that I dragged my cousin along the next night so I could see it again!

So that about sums up the amazing couple of months we have had, but that's not to say the effect of the Fun Run ended once the final runner crossed the finish line. We are pleasantly surprised every day with the support we have around us and how far spread it is. Until next time we hope you are well and keep warm! ❤

Here are a few photos from the last 2 months!

Kylie and Kale's engagement party

Pinnaroo Fun Run, Walk and Roll - Photos thanks to Miranda Hudson Lloyde

Article in the Stock Journal (7th May)

Catching up with Kaye and Roger to deliver a painting that a cousin commissioned for his wife's 40th!

Courtney's 21st

  

Le Noir at the Adelaide Festival Centre

A massive update!!!!

Where is the year going already?! So much has happened in the last couple of months, it has just been so busy! Although extremely belated - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! I have so much to tell you about - my art, our family, our progress and the event the amazing community of Pinnaroo is putting together for Luke and I!

I will start off with two bits of current news and then fill you in on the happenings of the last couple months with a couple of photos at the end!

The support of the community has been overwhelming, from Pinnaroo and further, in organising the "Pinnaroo Fun Run, Walk and Roll" fundraiser for Luke and I. On March 29th, the wonderful committee will be holding a fun run including a raffle and family entertainment. The support has been incredible, with countless businesses and individuals donating time, money and so much more. It will be amazing to share with you this day and thank you all for the love and support over the last 18 months. To find out more visit http://www.pinnaroofunrunwalkandroll.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/events/696296087074349 , register at https://regonline.activeeurope.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1634792 . Contact the committee at pinnaroofunrunwalkandroll@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to make a donation.

My art, also known as UnLimited Function Art, has been a wonderful hobby, escape and business in the last couple of months! Starting off with my visit to Pinnaroo I have been keeping very busy - painting original pieces and commissions as well as building the business side with a web page and business cards! Check out http://www.unlimitedfunctionart.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/UnLimitedFunction . I love working on pieces specifically for you with an idea you have. You can see most of my paintings on the website and I've included a couple below!



I last left off just before my first visit home to Pinnaroo, which went really well! Luke and I felt like the drive from Adelaide flew by. It was so great to be back in my home town and to see all of the wonderful people from the community that has shown so much love and support over the last year. It was great to share my art and have people purchase and commission new pieces as well!

My favourite part of the day was when the Year 2/3 class came for a walk from the school to come visit us. It was amazing to see the kids I taught swimming roughly 2 years earlier remember how "Miss Elise made me put my head under the water" and "Miss Elise made me blow really loud bubbles". It was these kids that came up with the idea all on their own that they would donate the money they raised selling ice blocks at recess to us. It was the last day of the school term so after the kids made their way back to school I decided Mum and I would go to the school so I could thank them all in person! 

It was such a great day we decided to go back again the next week! I finished a few new paintings and I got to catch up with a few people I missed the week before. Luke and I stayed to watch the Pinnaroo Christmas Pageant. It was an amazing day, topped off by an impromptu decision to make it all the way home to the farm before heading back to Adelaide. I was fine on the highway but as soon as we turned on to Summerton Rd it really hit me... and the tears began! It felt like the biggest reward, to finally make it home. After a couple hours with my parents, Luke and I enjoying rain water and mum's chocolate cake, we headed back to Adelaide.

Only a few days later we were back in Pinnaroo for Christmas! We had a wonderful pre-Christmas surprise when Kale proposed to my sister Kylie! We celebrated both Christmas and the 100 year anniversary of the Summerton family in Pinnaroo with all of Grandma and Grandad's children and grandchildren together. It was the first time in 17 years my grandparents had all their family together at home!

After a wonderful week at home, Luke and I had a quiet New Years in Adelaide. January was full - mostly of appointments now everyone was back from Christmas break. I was fitted for an ankle brace to help stabilise my foot when I am in my standing frame. Luke has been having dental work done and only last week Luke finally had one of two surgeries we are expecting early this year. On the 19th of Feb, Luke had his sinuses opened up and cleared out as they had already been crushed by the crash but had also developed little growths that were blocking up the passageways. He is expecting to have a major surgery in early April to remove and adjust some of the metalwork in his face as well as a few other little things.

I hope you have had a great couple of months and can't wait to share the next action packed few weeks with you :-)

I'm still alive.. and kicking a little bit!

Hello to everyone who still goes to the effort of checking for a new post on here!! We have had a couple of amazing months full of highs,  lows and everything in between! Last I left off on was my birthday party, it was a wonderful night and here are a few photos so you can see how amazing everyone looked.

We have been keeping as busy as ever, with regular physio and hydrotherapy sessions for me, my leg muscles are a tiny bit stronger which mostly helps to wriggle around in bed a little bit! (But this is not near enough to take my body weight to stand or to walk). Luke has endured a whole array of medical appointments lately! He had surgery on his left ankle on October 22nd to remove a piece of bone that had detached after what would have been a simple ankle roll for anyone else. That went as well as could be expected, we had a really great doctor that took Luke on. Pain is still immense for Luke but we are in the process of trialing a few different approaches and will wait to see how effective they are.

The one year mark passed by and as a milestone of how far I've come, I completed the City to Bay on September 21st with my family. My sister Joanna cheered us on as she had a knee reconstruction not long before and Luke would have joined in if he wasn't nursing a fractured ankle, although he almost did 3km himself from the car and back to pick us up! I completed the 3km with Mum while Dad, Kylie and Kale all completed the 12km course. I was very proud to have pushed the whole way by myself with Mum helping for a moment when I needed a drink.. You can't push and drink like you can walk and drink!

In October our story was printed in Take5 magazine, written from my perspective. It was wonderful to tell my story from the beginning right through to how far we have both come.

The last two months I have been regularly making a mess (more than usual!) and getting paint everywhere! I have been occupying myself with painting and started a Facebook page, visit www.facebook.com/UnLimitedFunction , even if you don't have Facebook yourself you will still be able to see the page and the photos! It is lots of fun and I have even sold a few. I am so excited to be going home to Pinnaroo for the first time this Friday 12th Dec to take part in a local arts and crafts display and have my first 'exhibition'! I have been painting all day for the last couple weeks! If you are in our near Pinnaroo that day it would be lovely to see you! Or if you are interested in any pieces feel free to contact me! If you have something in mind I can paint something specific to your request as well.

Keep scrolling for a torrent of photos from my birthday, painting, and a few others slipped in there!

Here's to the end of one chapter and start of the next! Days 143 - 223

Well this is overdue... I've been meaning to post this for over a month now!! It's been a bit more than 7 months since I started this blog... I haven't posted anywhere near as much as I originally intended but it's been amazing to find out the amount of support we have and the corners of the world that this had reached. After 9 and a half months, 8 and a half of those being in Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre, I was officially discharged from being an inpatient on June 27th. Luke and I have now begun to settle down and build our lives together again. The month and a bit between my last post and being discharged has been very busy. I've still been staying at home on the weekends but have been able to escape to home for dinner some nights as well, almost being at home more than at Hampstead! I continued therapy as before with physio and gym, improving bit by bit but with no major milestones to report. My weights in gym have been increasing, my transfers have become independent with a slide board and getting closer to transferring by myself with no aid but it is now a matter of reinforcing all aspects of the technique and building up strength. I've almost mastered the wheel stand but need a bit more confidence!

The last month has been wonderful, not having to worry about going back and forth between home and Hampstead, finally having one 'home base'. Not to say that it has been any less busy though, between appointments, scheduled gym and physio sessions and trying to set things up exactly the way we like! Getting out to do little bits and pieces makes life seem a little busier as it is more involved than just jumping into the car and heading off!! All in all though it has been so nice to be able to be together rather than being forced to separate every night. 

In mid-July Luke had an epidural nerve block into his lower back to help the pain caused by two bulging discs and a tear in the nerve, the most magical thing happened at 5am the next morning.. Luke cuddled me and said "There's no pain. No pain." I think that's the happiest I've ever been at 5am!! He still has other pains but for that deep pain to have eased a little has been wonderful.

On July 30th I was able to celebrate making it to 21 years old, despite the close call eleven months ago! Luke and I had a relaxing day before sharing the evening with some of my family over dinner at the Watermark Hotel. Mum made a sponge cake as per my request(!) and I soon found out that my lung capacity isn't anything like it used to be, feeling slightly light-headed after trying to blow out 21 candles!

On the night of August 9th I was blessed to have many people join me to celebrate my birthday with a 1920s twist! With Luke's help, I organised the night at The Oakden Central, stressed about things being perfect right until the morning of the party... we were setting up and the cake was delivered. Made by the beautiful Steph, with her new business Confetti Cakes, this amazing 4 tier decorated mud cake exceeded all of my visions - it was beautiful! From that point I promised Luke I wouldn't stress about anything else because all that mattered was that I had him and my cake!!!! The night was incredible, my father gave a beautiful speech from him and Mum, everyone looked incredible and I was overwhelmed as always by the support we have. There will be more photos from the night to come, my wonderful friend Wil was the last-minute photographer for the night and he did an amazing job!

On a side note, watch this space for an update on an event being organized for early next year at home in Pinnaroo. Some wonderful members of the community are coming together to organise something so that those who wish to support Luke and I in some way, can do so. Thank you already to all who are, and who will be, a part of this!

9th August - my beautiful family all dressed up for my 21st party!

Thank you Steph - check out her website! www.confetticakes.com.au

30th July - attempting to blow out my 21 candles!

20th July - welcoming our friends from Arizona who now call Australia home! William liked helping me push, both from on my lap as well as from behind pushing me around!

How gorgeous is James!

30th May - Luke helping me to transfer in our own way... getting to stand for a hug in the process!

25th June - trialling a cross-trainer standing frame!

26th June - having one last walk on the TheraStride!

3rd June - holding a wheel stand all by myself!

30th May - celebrating my sister Kylie's birthday