A spinal cord injury can be devastating, but with the right support, those affected can still get the most out of life. We’re proud to help people with spinal cord injuries access the best support and rehabilitation, through our strong links with charities like Back Up Trust.
The charity was founded in 1986, and helps those impacted by spinal cord injuries through mentoring, community support, and skills and activity courses. Here, our client Ellis Kottas, who we supported through a spinal cord injury claim, shares her story of the help she’s had from Back Up.
“I first got in contact with Back Up in January 2021, just when I left hospital after spending over a year inpatient. Adjusting to being home was hard, and I honestly couldn’t have done it without their support.
“I was allocated a mentor who had a similar injury to me. She’d been injured at the same age, but was now two years older.
“Every week we’d call, and she gave me the confidence I needed to go out into public in my wheelchair and try new things.
“While the hospital does their best to prepare you, I had so many little questions about things I hadn’t thought of or expected. My mentor was patient and kind, and talked me through every question and obstacle.
“One thing I’d never thought I’d do again is go on a public transport, for example. Within months of leaving hospital, I’d taken the train, bus and taxi. I’d never have thought that was possible, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the confidence and information my mentor gave me.
“Back Up also runs a youth lounge, for under 18s to meet on Zoom fortnightly. This allows us to talk about issues we face, how we tackle them, or about random things.
“The youth lounge gives us a little bit of time to just relax with people facing the same obstacles or hurdles. These include going to school in a wheelchair or taking part in sports.
“The youth lounge also regularly has guest speakers covering a wide range of topics, such as how to choose a university and how to take care of your wheelchair. We’ve even had Paralympians come to speak with us!
“I went on the under 18s Back Up multi-activity course for five days in August. We stayed at the Calvert Trust in the Lake District to take part in an array of adapted activities, including high ropes, rock climbing, canoeing and hand cycling.
“My favourite activity was the long walk around Lake Buttermere. Not only was it fun, but it truly defied my preconceptions of what can and can’t be done in a wheelchair.
“When first seeing the path, I was sure we couldn’t possibly get across and follow it. It was a trail of large and small rocks and boulders and slopes going up and down.
“With the support of the buddies we managed it, feeling like we were in a maze when scouting the best path together, wheelchair users and buddies alike.
“Another activity I thoroughly enjoyed was the wheelchair skills class. The buddies and Back Up volunteers learned how to manoeuvre a wheelchair, which also helped them understand how to help us throughout the week.
“During wheelchair skills, we split up to allow everyone to be learning. As a full-time wheelchair user, I finally learned how to nail a back wheel balance and moving forwards on my back wheels. I also put those skills to use with higher and higher curbs and ramps.
“It was such a nice and supportive environment. We had activities but also stayed together at the Calvert Trust, being able to bond with each other by eating together and relaxing in the games room in the evening. This also provided more chances to talk and share experiences.
“Meeting and bonding with other people was so valuable, sharing tips and tricks we’ve learned along the way and being able to talk to people who just understood. It was never a pressurising environment where you felt you had to speak. Everyone was so supportive and kind.
“We’ve all stayed friends, and even plan to meet up soon. Being a new wheelchair user and being in hospital often can feel isolating, so meeting people here was fantastic.
“I’ve taken away so many new skills and qualities from the course. These include perseverance, friendship, confidence going out, and wider realisation of what’s possible with a spinal cord injury. Which is pretty much anything!
“At the end of the course, I was already asking ‘When’s the next one I can go on?’
“After the course, I went back to a spinal cord injury centre for a week review. I met a Back Up worker who was a wheelchair user. They came to cook along with us in the evening, showing us how to adapt cooking and create a calm group atmosphere for on the ward. That’s just another one of the many ways Back Up support people.
“I enjoyed the course so much, and recommend it to anyone, whether they’re newly injured or have been so a while. It was such a wonderful time with so much gained from it, and I look forward to working with Back Up further in the future.”
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