Today, the 18th of September marks the third anniversary of my accident. While this is usually a sad time, as my accident happened while celebrating my best friends birthday, this year I want to celebrate this date as a happy time! People might think I am crazy, what’s happy about your life taking a complete 360 and ending up in a wheelchair you might ask?
Well its happy because,
3 years ago, although career wise my life was great, my personal life sucked!
I had separated from the man of my dreams and was in a pretty crappy relationship with an older man who was a very horrible person. He was controlling and very manipulative, going to Bali was my escape away from him!
3 years ago, I had people in my life that I thought were my friends, that also turned out to be horrible people that I soon learned after my accident, I couldn’t trust.
3 years ago, I had a plan. I knew what I wanted my future to hold, but I was still unsure how I was going to make these things happen.
3 years ago, I became a quadriplegic.
I used to sit in my wheelchair, or lay in bed looking at the hospital ceiling thinking to myself, I’m not even 21, these people are telling me this is my life now, I have no one because no one understands. But I am young, by the time I’m 25, surely ill be up on my feet. Next year ill be walking.
Well 3 years later, I am walking! Not as often or as much as I would like, but I can walk and move around.
I surround myself with positive people. I don’t have time for negative energy or negative people. Life is to short, why let people soak up your awesomeness, YOU NEED IT to live life to its fullest!
I have learned to stop putting a time limit on my goals, because really it doesn’t matter how long they take to achieve, what matters the most is that you once thought they were unachievable!
As I look over the past 3 years and reminisce, I am so thankful to be in the position I am in today. To be in love, to be able to inspire and most of all to help people make choices for there own lives and recoveries!
Whilst my plans in life are extremely different from what they were before my accident, I can honestly say IM EXCITED!
I still have goals and things I still want to achieve and I know they will take time, but life is all about challenges!
I want to take this time to thank some very special people in my life;
My amazing mum, Sharyn. Not a day goes by where I don’t feel blessed to have such a powerful and strong role model in my life.
You are the reason I am here today, and the reason I can appreciate life. Whenever I am down, you raise me back up again. You tell it how it is, and sometimes, I don’t think you even know how great you are! I love you so much!
My incredible stepfather, Gary. You raised me and shaped the person I am today. You taught me to never put up with any BS. You pretty much created my vocabulary and I think you should take full responsibility for that because it’s awesome!
You kept me alive in Bali, and when I asked you to end it for me, you had more faith in me then I did myself. Thank you for being such a wonderful father!
My best friend and sole mate, Scott McKay.
As much as we tried, we aren’t built for apart. You have stuck by my side every step of the way. My accident changed both our lives, but the bonus is that it brought us together. Thank you for being there throughout the bad times, and helping me celebrate the good times! THUNDER BUDDIES FOR LIFE!
My lifelong friend, Rebecca.
You experienced this accident with me. You watched me sustain this injury, but you saved my life! I am sorry this had to happen around your birthday, and this time every year your sad, but I want you to be happy! Happy that I am still here to celebrate so many more birthdays with you! There’s a certain tree in Bali waiting for part 2! I love you so much and am thankful to have you in my life!
There are so many more incredible people in my life and I can’t thank you all enough for always supporting and believing in me!
Love and Light!
Rhiannon xx
