A lifetime.
On the 20th of September this year (2016) I will be celebrating my 40th year of living with a spinal injury. In 1976 I was the front seat passenger of a car that crashed into a bus near New Ross. I was flown to the national Rehabilitation centre NRH in Dunlaoghaire. I had a complete C5/6 spinal cord injury ( Quadriplegic ). I was paralysed from the shoulders down as well as my bowls and bladder . My face was cut up but that healed. I was put on traction for weeks and manually turned every 3 hours. After 3 weeks I caught meningitis but They saved my life with excellent care. I was lucky that I accepted my disability right away. I never blamed anyone. I knew I just had to make the best of it. It was much harder for my family and friends. They had to look at me in bed and then in a wheelchair.
In those days the NRH was only learning how to care for spinal injured people. The OT department was only built and the gym had basic equipment. There was no sports gym and the hospital was very run down. The windows were draughty and single glazed, the beds were old metal ones and we lay on 3 pillows, no air mattresses. Condoms were glued on and drained into big glass bottles. There were no baths. The staff were wonderful and it had a great atmosphere. Every one was focussed on getting out by being rehabilitated to there level. At night bands would come into the wards and play music. We were aloud out to the local pubs and taken out to Shows. We were given bottles of Guinness at night as a tonic. At half six in the morning we had Mass piped through out the hospital over the loud speakers. We never had any counselling, we talked among our selves about our difficulties. There was always someone worst then yourself. There was a lot ( 20 ) of young people between the age of 16 and 30 at that time. The third floor was full of old men in for limb fitting. There were a few head injuries victims in each ward.
It was hard coming to term with being paralysed. I was and am unable to do anything for my self lying in bed. If no one came to care for me in the morning I would be just left lying there. Every other day someone has to manually empty my bowls. Someone has to feed me in bed and I must drink regularly. To get out of. Bed I have to be dressed and hoisted out. Today's electric chairs have improved ( there were very few in 1976 ). There were no accessible public transport,no accessible taxis. The first time when I went home was the worst, I realised for the first time life would never be the same. I could not get around the house and my family were unable to cope. We had to move house and my family had to slowly learn how to look after me. I was and still is not easy to care for someone with a SCI its ongoing. I can't take a break from my disabilities, I can't takea day off I'm still paralysed.
Over the years I have studied and tried many things. You must get on with life. I studied computer programming and worked at it for two years but it's was not very rewarding. I studied at The Open University and got a degree in Social science. I had to write my essays on an old typewriter every month ( this was before word processors ) and had to dictate my exams. I took up watercolour painting in the 1980 and had success with a solo exhibitions in The Guinness Hop Store in Dublin.
I have travelled all over the world from Australia to East coast of America. Camping in France to a safari in Kenya. I have been to many sporting events. The American cup in Rhode Island, the Ryder Cup at The Belfray, the Euro88', Italia 90, Aussie rules at Gabba, Baseball at Fenway Pk. Soccer International in Landsdown Road ( could drive into the ground and park between the stands in 1979), and rugby, GAA.
For 10 years I campaigned for rights for people with disabilities ( mainly with the Forum of People with Disabilities). We got to sit with The Taoisceacht ( Albert Reynolds) at the Cabinet table. We got them to agree that a percentage of civil servants would be people with disabilities, public buildings must be accessible to all disabled persons, that building regulations would be changed, that Dublin bus would only buy accessible buses and kerbs would be ramped. I had many letters and articles published and appeared on TV and radio. I hope I did my bit for the cause. But After all those campaigns a lot more needs to be done.
The greatest thing that happened to me was meeting my partner and now my wife. We have been together nearly 25 years. She has put up with me, cared for me through many ups and downs over the years. She has encouraged me over the years to keep going, We now have a son ( with a little help from the NRH ) who has changed my life.
In recent years I have spent a lot of time in General Hospitals with pressure sores. I have numerous operations on them. They do not know how to look after people with SCI in general hospitals. I do have to tell them I need turning regularly. They are good when they get used to you. But still showering and bowel management are nightmares. Being in general hospitals is hard for visitors. Then you have the problems of the HSE and The Government. They keep changing the rules, what you are allowed to receive. SCI is not a seen as a long term illness in the Irish health system. You are not entitled to a medical card. You cannot get health insurance for SCI. It's a total mess. It changes with Governments. With the Disabled services being cut all the time.
After 40 years life is a struggle but well worth fighting for. I am one of the lucky ones. I have a family and friends, live independently, and am not totally dependants on the State or charities.
♿️ Martin Sinnott BSc. July 2016. © 🇮🇪
