Amanda’s home is calm. It’s sun-drenched, private and peaceful. It’s a warm, welcoming, family home. You might notice the ample space and clean, uncluttered surfaces. It’s stylish, yes, but more significantly, it’s accessible. It’s a home designed for a Mum in a wheelchair.

Having a spinal cord injury is one thing. Raising your children after a spinal cord injury is another level of challenge.

Amanda’s sons, Charlie and Darcy, were just 7 and 9 years old when she broke her neck. It’s such a busy and important age for boys. For Amanda, the impact of her injury on her children has been one of the hardest things to deal with.

She recalls lying prone in her hospital bed. She called her dad over and asked him to lift her arms. And to place them around her sons, so she could give them a hug.

Her eyes fill with tears.

“At that point, you don’t know what the future looks like”, she says. “I was hopeful, then. I thought I would get better. Don’t get me wrong, I am incredibly lucky. I have my arms, and I have the most amazing supportive and loving husband, family and friends. But still, it’s tough. And I worry that it’s left some sort of lasting trauma on the children.”

“Mum, would you rather be able to use your arms or your legs?”

“The kids have adapted – well, they had to. We talk about everything, we’re very open. There were times when they were teased about having a mum in a wheelchair. There were times when they were frustrated. And yeah, there were times when they were a bit pissed off. But together, we found a way through. There’s a lot of love and affection in our home.”

She’s interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. Charlie, her youngest son, bursts in. He’s a bundle of teenage energy. He yells a hello from the doorway, dumps his bag in his room, and detours back to where we sit at the dining table. Already tall, he bends to give his mum a quick hug and kiss her on her cheek. He’s polite, happy and clearly loves his mum to pieces.

“It is challenging, she continues, but I try to do as much as I can. I like to cook and do, often. Obviously, I have amazing help, but I do have to think and plan more than before. Everything takes more time and coordination. We laugh that I’m a bit like a supervisor. When you can’t do much physically, you have to put more in verbally and emotionally to connect.”

I’m a Mum, a wife, a friend and a daughter.

“I’m so conscious that this didn’t just happen to me. It happened to my kids, my husband, my parents and my friends. Sometimes I feel guilty about what it’s done to their lives, but it was just an accident. It was just a bit of bad luck, really. But it was life-changing, and it sucks – for everybody.”
“I’ve always been ambitious, busy, and hardworking. I was successful in my work life. Now that Darcy has moved into a flat, and Charlie is 16, I’m starting to think about what’s next for me. I feel like I need to find something for myself now.”

Spinal cord Injury doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Your donation can help find a cure faster.

In my conversation with Amanda, she emphasises time and again how grateful she is for her fabulous husband, and her incredible, supportive family and friends. She acknowledges that’s not the situation for everyone. That’s why participating in our research, whether she gains from it personally or not, is important to her. It’s a way to give back, to help drive for a cure.

After a spinal cord injury, it takes a village to get through the day, let alone to raise children. Likewise, it will take us all, working together, to find a cure. Thank you for being part of our village.

Make a difference, today.

Spinal cord injury does not have to be a life sentence. A cure is within reach. Your support helps to bring that cure closer.
Thank you.
Donate Now