The Next Big Challenge...

This is the first time in 3 months I have been in my own company. I am becoming a little introspective.

Without the distraction of Doctors, Nurses, Physio's, Specialists, Visitors and my Mum, I am getting some time to think. I am still upbeat and positive, but it has been an emotional time for me. I think I am finally grieving. But before you all call me or email me worried I am spiralling into a pit of despair, I am not. I am just entering another level of acceptance and getting used to being on my own again.

I saw the Club Caulfield Registra on Monday. Dr. Richard said it was a good thing to get back to work as people who stay off work for prolonged periods, have disabilities that own them. I need to own my disability.

I officially go back to work on the 13th July now so have the next 2 weeks to rest, repair and get to the hydrotherapy pool as much as possible. This really keeps me spirits up.

I am still reliant on the crutches although the stability through my pelvis is returning and I do not have to put as much weight on them. I can take a few more steps without the crutches and without the AFO's and not wobble like I am auditioning for HAPPY FEET 2.

My next personal goal, is proficiency using only one crutch.

With incomplete spinal cord injuries, I am told, the major recovery happens within the first 3 or 4 months - then it plateaus and recovery slows down. After 2 years, if you have not recovered 100%, you are not likely to. So as I embark on my 4th month, I have had a word with myself. I need to rest and recover as much as I can.

I am already doing a lot with the exercise, healthy eating and not smoking. Just one more demon to face….

Although there is no scientific evidence to suggest that alcohol can slow the healing process (broken bones are different) after a few drinks you think you are superman and with the rains coming down here in Melbourne, the ground is wet. Crutches on wet ground can equal a disaster. Now add a few smooth reds with your friends down the local Pub and we could be looking at more time in hospital!


So, I have signed up for DRY JULY. The challenge is to get people to sponsor me for an ALCOHOL FREE JULY - The money goes to selected cancer charities.

You can sponsor me here: https://www.dryjuly.com/profiles/rachaelmilne
(it seems I put the wrong link in, I wondered why I had received ZERO sponsors - now you can try again, it's for charity you know - CANCER charities)

I get the feeling this will be harder than quitting smoking, but I will commit to it. Also on the dry July bandwagon are Nat and Kelly.

In the back of my car and ready to be returned to the hospital…is The KARMA Queen. I haven’t needed my trusty steed for weeks now so it’s ready for someone who does!



The pic at the top is taken from one of the wineries at The Clare Valley, South Australia. A gang of us went at the weekend and I just wanted to say thanks to them all for looking out for me.

Penguin, Weeble or Cockney Sparrow - you decide!

This is my 4th week out of hospital. And my Mum's last week with me. I don't know what I would have done without her these last 5 weeks. I really wonder how I would have coped.


I think I would still be wearing the same pair of pants and I wouldn't be able to leave the flat because of all the pizza boxes up against the door!

Mum extended her stay by a week as I still really needed her. I still really need her, everyone needs their Mum! It's times like this you subconsciously position yourself into the fetal position and suck your thumb.

However, there comes a point when the apron strings need cutting. That will be Friday night.
I just want to say a BIG FAT THANK YOU to my Mum and remind her I LOVE HER!


On another note, I made my first few steps without my crutches, this shows the stability in my pelvis area is coming back, I have signs of movement returning in both my ankles (this is what they thought might never come back) and generally I have got a little stronger every day.
I have my car, I am mobile and it's brilliant! I did a few hours work this week that I will be ramping up over the next month.



This won't be the last blog post as I still have a little way to go. For now though I thought you might enjoy these videos

Driving Test. . .

Martin Luther King Jr, said,

"Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom..."

I like this quote, I feel I have gone through a huge period of change since I wheeled into that physio gym, it sometimes felt like an uphill struggle. I want to straighten my back up and press on.

But then he went onto say.

"...A man can't ride you unless your back is bent."

So now I'm not so sure.

It’s been 2 weeks since I left hospital. It feels like a lot longer as so much seems to have happened in the same space of time where I have done very little.
For the first week I worked on my endurance levels. Mum and I set a daily goal, an errand to run or a place to get to. I built that up to being able to use the crutches for up to 750 metres non stop.

With all this walking , I had worn out the rubber on the bottom on my crutches. This resulted in me falling over, twice. Once in Safeway (safe, way, ironic really) and once in the showers at the local swimming pool.

The only thing I hurt was my pride and luckily I had practised how to get up from the ground in my physio sessions.

I have not used the wheelchair for 12 days. The KARMA QUEEN (the wheelchair brand is Karma - who thought of that?) is still parked at home like my trusty steed, but is now covered in clothes.

I went for my first outpatients appointment at the hospital last Thursday and met with the orthopaedic surgeon and the spinal surgeon who is responsible for the 4 inch line down my back. And the successful operation of course.
I learnt that the nerve that is damaged was actually cut during the operation. This is wide open for analysis but without being a spinal surgeon and conscious during the op, I won't delve further into it.

After the appointment Mum and I went on the hunt for new rubber bottoms for my crutches. We were successful and I even got a couple of spares. I always thought I would carry a different kind of spare rubber in my hand bag.

3 weeks ago I thought I would be driving a specially adapted hand control car. Today I passed my test in an automatic. I drove brilliantly. I only wish I had done so well 13 years ago on my first test...and my second test...
A big thanks to Marie for trusting in me and letting me drive her car round the block a couple of times last week. It gave me great confidence getting behind the wheel again, in a pressured situation.

So much confidence in fact I have already chosen my car, My friend Kelly was kind enough to give up her day off and drive me around to different car yards yesterday.

It's a mine field out there and I have decided that as well as politics and religion, cars should not be discussed over dinner. Opinion after conflicting opinion from guys who are currently auditioning for Underbelly 3. Of course the car I like was at the first car yard, but we still had to go to 3 others and drive for 6 hours - yawn!

I will hopefully be mobile by Wednesday…watch this space.

Its official, my Mum knows someone in every Country. Not content with meeting an ex prisoner in Thailand 8 years ago, she’s managed to drag up a cousin here in Melbourne, that she hasn't seen in 58 years. We are having lunch with her on Monday.

So onwards and upwards everyone. And thanks for all the votes of confidence!