Photographic Memories
Looking back to see how far we've come
Yesterday evening saw the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Paralympics, which I must admit I didn’t actually watch. I did see some of the sporting coverage, but not as much as I intended to. Life has been busy, and my attention has been elsewhere.
However, the photo below did pop up on my memories, taking me back those 12 years to when the Games were held in London in 2012. It was taken at the Olympic stadium and shows all 4 of us, together.
The previous 2 years had been difficult – Nathan had had spinal surgery which meant he could no longer access his bedroom and he had to sleep in the lounge. It took us 2 years to sell our house (conversion was not an option) and during that time Nathan did his GCSEs (a stressful time for any child let alone one with special needs) and I became very ill to the point that there was talk of putting me on the heart transplant list.
When this photo was taken, I had just come out of hospital (hence the wheelchair) and I was actually recovering well from having a pacemaker inserted. We had moved house the week before – in fact I came out of hospital on the Friday, we moved house a week and a half later, and went down to London the Monday after. We don’t do things by halves in our family lol!
Nathan had finished school and was due to start college, where they were far more supportive and he was a lot happier. Since then, he has gone to university, got his degree, and is working with universities to train social workers, nurses and allied professionals in social policy and the lived experience of a full-time wheelchair user.
Cerys was still at primary school, but has now also just left college, and is hoping to develop her card making business, Cerys’ Creative Corner.
The house we moved to is our ‘forever home’, having been adapted for Nathan and Cerys’ needs – including a wet room, through floor lift and accessible bedrooms.
So, for me, this photo signals new beginnings, that life is always changing, evolving and moving forward and the fact that if the 4 of us stick together we can get through anything.
PS - We ALL look older now! Lol!
What a milestone moment, Donna. Thanks for sharing this with us. Reading about your journey and everything you've been through is inspiring and scary at the same time. You guys have been through so much. I am sending hugs!
Wow, 2012 was only yesterday wasn't it? Where does the time go? Great photo, and I'm glad you got the house you needed. We were lucky to move into a new home before we got sick and it has flat entrances and wider doors. We had to have a few more adaptations, like a wet room and double bannisters, but so far the lift is on the waiting list. (they were due to start work the day after the first Covid lockdown, and I've put it off ever since, not wanting to lose a big part of my bedroom, but it will become a necessity eventually)