Rhiannon Tracey

Meet Rhiannon.

She’s a sassy, clever, cheeky blonde who’s not afraid to speak her mind.

She is a quad who’s rocked a few boats and has a story to tell.

She’s been to Project Walk in the States, twice, and is going to be a key part of bringing Project Walk to Melbourne.

THIS IS HER STORY! 

On the 19th of September 2009 I dived into a swimming pool in Bali, hitting my head on the bottom and breaking my c5,c6 and T1.
Due to Bali’s horrific medical system the surgery that was preformed to stabilize the fracture failed and when the nurses from my travel insurance company flew over to prepare me for my trip home, i was on my last breath we two collapsed lungs!

When i returned to Australia i was admitted to the Austin hospital and had to have 2 surgeries to fix the failed ones from Bali, each time being more and more at risk of further damage to my cord as Bali had wired me up with stainless steel which the surgeons then had to cut away trying to avoid flickers of steel onto my spine.

I was diagnosed a C5 COMPLETE Quad, with Asia A Sensation.
I was told by the doctors that I would be lucky to feed myself and walking wasn’t even a option.

Well life in a chair wasn’t an option for me! My family and I set out to find anything that could show even the slightest improvement in my body.
This meant massaging every limb and stimulating every nerve in any possible way!

We spent hours researching our options as the hospital was adamant that i needed to accept my fate and work on being independent in my chair! We constantly were arguing with staff and nurses as whenever we were told we couldn’t do something, we made it our goal to do it! My mum even took me from the Talbot to an outside physio as we were only offered 45 minutes of physio a day with at least half of that spent on adjusting my wheelchair!
Luckily 2 months before i was discharged i got a great physio in the hospital that actually believed i could improve and even, possibly walk again!

I spent 6 months in total in Royal Talbot and left as a C7-C8 ASIA D QUAD and i had just started standing and could move my left foot

Within 9 days of my hospital discharge, and after numerous fundraisers, my mother and I flew to Carlsbad, San Diego and spent 2 months at this incredible center!
I didnt have too many expectations but i did believe i would return home somewhat better then i was when i left.
I didn’t even imagine what this place would do for me mentally as well as physically.

I set a goal for myself! I would walk into Talbot upon my return home…. and i did with the help of a walking frame

Although not everybody walks after a SCI, this place gets you up out of your chair and gets your body active again! The trainers treat you like a normal person and by that i mean THEY KICK UR ASS but at the same time, they become your friend and even help you get out into the world and have fun again!!

All you have to do for inspiration is look around and see what is being achieved by people that have been told the same thing over and over again.

I returned to Project Walk in October last year for a 3 month stint, when i left, i could now take unaided steps and my walking overall and strength has improved immensely!

Although I spend most of my time up and about i still have my bad days where i have to go back to the chair but i am determined to BURN IT!

I attend a neuro physio 3-4 times a week and also continue my Project Walk training in the gym i have set up at home.

I am now also dedicating a lot of focus into opening a center in Melbourne, Australia and hope to help people achieve what I have achieved and also make people aware that there are options out there for us!

The power of positive thinking can get you anywhere and that’s been the greatest lesson learnt throughout this whole experience, I still have a long where to go…but I know I will get there!