A calendar year - but an eternity in my life...

A year ago, to the day, I woke up paralysed from the chest down, completely unable to move. Within six hours, my life and the life of those closest to me, had been turned upside down. A year. 365 days. 8,760 hours. A lifetime... Without a doubt, this has been the hardest thing I've ever had to cope with (and I've had some doozies in my time - some self-inflicted and some not). Having said that, I think I have been lucky. I know not many people would describe my current situation as 'lucky', but over the past year I've gradually started to believe the many medical people (and the nosey old bags I run into on the street and at Waitrose) who tell me I am. Had it not been for cancer twisting around my spine and paralysing me, I'd never have known I had it. I was already at Stage 4 - there's only one stage after that and it's not a happy thought. But it did and so I'm still here. Bonus. The amazing medical care I've received, my sheer bloodyminded determination and the support of my amazing family and friends has meant that I've made way more progress that could have ever been expected. The fact that I'm sunning it up in the Caribbean is testament to that. :-) This trip has been incredible. I was super nervous about coming - afraid that I wouldn't be able to enjoy it to the full. I have yet again surprised myself and it's been one momentous moment after another. I've always been a water baby and the idea of being so close to the sea and by the pool without being able to get in and enjoy them would have been heartbreaking. On day 1, I faced the challenge of getting into the pool. Would I a) go arse over tit and enter gracelessly or would I b) manage to get in the water with some dignity still intact? The answer was a resounding b). Would I be able to stay upright when my visual cues were compromised by the water? Again, a resounding yes! Woohoo! Once I was in there I had another amazing realisation. I could do virtually everything I was able to do before all this shit happened. I was able to walk freely, swim exactly as before and most amazing of all I could run and twist about. I had the best 30 mins ever! Then I was knackered and had to get out. My stamina has been shot to pieces, clearly. On day 2, we decided I was ready to hit the beach. Eek!! Would I be able to cope on the unstable sand? How would I cope with the sea if I tried to paddle? Again, would the swirling water mess up the visual cues my brain needs to help my legs work? The answer again, was I could manage both (albeit with a little wobble when the water started swirling round my feet). Cue amazing walks on the beach with the odd paddle thrown in. Bliss. Basically, as this holiday and time generally goes on, I'm realising that there isn't really much I can't do anymore - I just need to do it more slowly and carefully. Also, I'm still going through physio rehab, so who knows how far I'll get on my long road to recovery? All I need to keep that momentum up is a few more Caribbean holidays, or perhaps a pool at home. Now, where's Kevin disappeared to....? ;-)