Mind over Matter!

My name is Paddy Slattery, I‘m 27 years old and have remained a quadriplegic since way back in 96’ when I survived a road traffic accident whilst hitch hiking my way home from a painting and decorating job… I use the term “way back‘” because it seems forever ago. In fact it was, a whole complete lifetime ago and I guess my story is quite like many others who are living with a spinal cord injury. Your life changes to say the least, and to some extent I look back now and honestly feel that my “new” life only began on that fateful day of destiny. Well, actually not only my life changed, but the lives of my family also. But it’s when I say to others “It changed for the better” that people begin to think I’m a few picots short of a fence! Perhaps I am, but since we don’t have a medical opinion on my psychological well-being we’ll have to call it “Eternal optimism” And one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned since being wheelchair bound is that forever more nothing will be taken for granted. How much now would I give for a stroll down a sandy beech barefooted! Not many people could imagine being eternally optimistic about facing life head on with a severe physical dependency. I myself never thought I could, but with time being the greatest healer you eventually come to terms with your situation and accept, adapt and adjust your life around your “disability” and mentally prepare yourself for whatever life throws at you. And boy has my life thrown with accuracy!

There’s no better place in our country to acquire this ability than the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dublin. Anyone that’s suffered from spinal injury, including the immediate family can relate to my experiences in this place. First the doctor tells you in the most unapologetic fashion that you’re never going to walk again, and before you’ve had time to digest this information you’re told you will spend a year in Rehab! In all honesty I thought I’d be home and healed in time to play a football match which was two weeks down the line. To say I was gob-smacked would be an insult. Actually since my injury was so severe and I was completely immobile I developed a crucial bed sore in the Mater Hospital prior to entering Rehab which consequently required me to lay on the flat of my back for a solid three months on a “Roto-Rest” bed. But these months I would spend on a hospital ward were priceless none-the-less. I made great friends who were all going through the exact situation, so we could compare notes and truly relate and console each other when times were tough.. The nursing staff and attendants there were amazing to say the least. At no time were you shown sympathy or given time to wallow in your own self-pity, but instead you’re encouraged and inspired to pick up the pieces of your life from day one, and head back out into the big bad world. Since most of the patience there were leaving in wheelchairs we would notice that the world had just got an awful lot bigger and badder!

The first thing that becomes apparent is that no longer are you looked upon as an equal in society but instead seen as inferior or useless. That’s a great shock to the ego when all you’ve know before your accident was a life of independence and social activity. Well to be fair, the times are changing gradually where people are opening up their minds and taking notice of our presence and capabilities but the key to this acceptance has got to be credited to special awareness programs such as this great Magazine for example, that promote such cases and publicize disability across the country. No longer should the word “disability” be a point of reference for people like myself… I like to see it as being “Physically challenged” actually, because I don’t honestly feel that there’s anything I CAN’T do! After-all, much of the sensations and achievements in life are psychological. A mere figment of our imaginations you might say. When I think about it, the doors of opportunity haven’t closed to me, in fact it’s quite the opposite with more doors opening for me than you could imagine. Let me just give you a little progress report shall I?…

Ok, before my accident I was your average teenager, left school early, working a six day a week apprenticeship and struggling to survive on an a measly £70 a week, 20 which had to be handed up to my mother for food and rent, another 20 went towards travel expenses to a driver that was going in my direction anyways! (such a pal) and the rest had to feed my addiction to pool tables, football club expenses, “Fizzy” drinks and designer clothes. (Marks and Spencer) The only thing in life I had to look forward to was a sleep-on of a Sunday morning! Joy! *sarcasm* NOW, after my accident and physical rehabilitation I’ve attended courses for Media Studies and Film School. Made a short-film in the process… I’ve been studying and practicing song writing and script writing and have since been working in and out of a recording studio composing songs which have had frequent spins on local radio stations and once aired on 2FM. (My 3minutes and 50 seconds of fame) I'm about to launch my debut album titled 'Stand & Deliver' this summer, so fingers crossed all goes well *touch wood* I’ve done countless interviews on radio promoting ability rather than diss-ability! And on occasions get invited to schools around the midlands to lecture kids about the importance of "diss-ability" awareness and social prejudice. All these I’m currently advancing in, along with writing poetry, plays and now I’m in the process of writing a “Self-Awareness” book. Sure the possibilities are endless! My social life is awesome too, because my friends and family are great when it comes to assistance, so it's a great relief knowing they‘re at hand. THESE are just some of the reasons I can hold my head up high and sincerely say that my life has changed for the better and I wake up every morning and thank my lucky stars!

But just like the National Rehab must be credited for strengthening our resilience and determination with the necessary tools required to succeed in life with a spinal cord injury, so too must I be grateful for the intervention of the C.I.L. here in Offaly. (Centre for Independent Living) Which is a priceless establishment with offices through-out the country and world! They provide me with a “PA” or Personal assistant, and myself being appointed as “Leader” together we make all things impossible,…once again POSSIBLE! I’m not too sure how many people with disability are even aware of its existence but our Centre here in Tullamore is funded by the Health Board and FAS, and with their financial support Carers like PJ Dearing, a semi-retire man becomes my appointed PA/friend, and now makes a weeks wage while working a 5 day a week job tending to my physical needs while relieving the responsibility and strain from my family. There’s no greater sense of burden when you feel you must rely on your loved ones for constant care and attention. But it’s our god given right to participate in education, work and society in general, because we too have to earn an honest living and this makes it all possible! Life certainly doesn’t end when you’re faced with adversity like I have! Of course you could lye down and die… But for many, the life-altering decision to accomplish and excel no matter what obstacle is put in front of you takes courage and will and one thing I‘ve learned in my lifetime of physical disability is that the only thing that truly disables a person is the boundaries and limits they set themselves inside their minds! Especially in this day and age when technology has advanced so much which makes it easier for people with disability to rejoin the workforce. Streets towns and cities are becoming more wheelchair friendly today due to the increase in disability awareness. And if you’re fortunate enough like I am to have personal assistance then you’re left with absolutely no excuse to carry on in society as an EQUAL. I could harp on about peoples rights all night, but at the end of the day, the level of which you are to succeed in today’s world is determined by your willingness to “stand up” and be counted. Make your voice heard, because in this life you only get what you give. I know it’s a cliché that you’ve heard time and time again, but anything is possible! It’s just a matter of setting your mind to it!

Paddy