I’ve written before about how this injury can be different for some people, the less active amongst us. When I was in Stoke Mandeville, in my ward there were people who just seemed OK with it, whilst I was in complete shock.
There was a 19 year old girl who just seemed, well.. smiley. Her fiancée was in the hospital every day with her – I think he may have somehow stayed there?

I was devastated for her, for them, just assuming that their young lives and future were ruined by her paralysis.
The other day I found her ( via social media ) and saw that her profile picture was of an ultrasound scan of a baby ( yes, SCI women can conceive just as ‘ easily’ as normal women ).
I messaged her, pleased for her, but also assuming that life must be a huge psychological struggle, deprived of so much physical ability – as it is for me.

I was surprised by our conversation.

You’re pregnant ?????

I am indeed ?x

Jesus
That’s good!
And married?!

Yea sure is were over the moon and yea got married September and was pregnant end of January x

All you ever wanted?!
?

Exactly that x

And what about the SCI ?
That wasn’t on the list of things you wanted?
What do you do these days? X

No that wasn’t hahaha and at the moment being sick and lack of sleep is what I’m doing hahahaha x
How are you doing ? xxx

Tell me what you’ve done since Stoke Mandeville – briefly.
Other than marriage and getting pregnant ?

Not much really, had different appointments and sorting our house and stuff ahahah x

You sound happy? X

yeah I couldn’t be happier to be honest were away at the moment in our caravan we have in Great Yarmouth xxxx

Lucky you !
How on earth u get into a caravan???

? it has a ramp xx

To be honest, you never really looked like you really minded being paralysed, that much.
Anything that you miss about not being paralysed ?xx

So what’s your level?

T10
No, it hasn’t really bothered me much to be fair – erm normal bowels and bladder xx
Yeah that’s the bit I miss about being paralysed hahah xxx

But otherwise you’re pretty ok with the whole paralysis thing? Xx
I guess *** is always there to help you?

Yeah, I am to be fair, and yeah he is xx

To me, the above is just inconceivable.
Perhaps her family and friends call her ‘ amazing’ – that being paralysed hasn’t dented her at all – she’s just the same as before – but has a ramp for the caravan now.

She definitely doesn’t read this blog, and won’t ever.

I suppose if you never lived, you don’t know what you’re missing – as proven here.

She is indeed amazing – both amazingly lucky to still be happy, and amazingly unlucky to think that what she has is all there is in life.

But what do I know?