'Broken' Man, New Home, Fresh Start
Donation protected
You can read the full post on my blog, here.
This is Steve. A cute dork of a guy who has completely captured my heart. I'll save you from all the bucket reaching mushy stories, but he makes me smile like nobody else can, and I LOVE being the person that can do that for him too.
Today, 25th January 2015, is 6 months since his accident, and 6 years (and 2 days) since our first date.
It's 6 months since he was pushed off of a 20ft high bridge.
From his fall, one side of his ribs were completely smashed, his lung was punctured and his spine had separated. I later learned his family had been called as the doctors thought that could have been it.
The evening I received the news, I don't even have the words for. My world literally turned upside down and inside out. I didn't know what to do with myself. Even now, thinking of that phone call - yeah, it's one I try to block from my mind. It's too much to deal with.
Since, wow. Where do I even begin.
My head has been trying to rationalise what had happened. My heart has been in a million pieces, often having no clue what to do with the pain I have felt, seeing the person I care most about in the world in that hospital bed.
I don't want to tell Steve's story - that's his to share if he chooses. But there have been a number of complications and further surgeries since, and potentially more to come. His first release date of November came and went, and 6 months on he's still there.
NOTHING pains me more than seeing the waves of uncontrollable pain he still suffers each evening. So painful even the medication doesn't touch it. When you hear someone is paralysed, you know they can't walk, however you don't realise the other daily medical complications it comes with, least of all a person with a spinal injury has a shortened life expectancy.
This was not supposed to be our future, but I'm determined and *WILL* provide us with the best, happiest, new future I can.
Whilst his passion - mountain biking - has been ripped from him, along with his (now inaccessible) home, his job - his career, the one thing I want to provide whilst he figures out what the heck he now wants to do with his life, whilst we start to rebuild, is a safe place to do that from. A home.
So I'll be honest with you, asking this, it weirds me out. It makes me feel uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable. But the one thing I've learned over the last 6 months, is that I can't do it all alone and it's ok to ask for help.
Between my own business, upcoming fundraising events some of Steve's friends have planned and kind contributions, I aim to raise £235,000. It'll enable us to buy a single level home and fully adapt it for his needs.
If you are able to help or share, I (and am sure we once he's found out what I've done!) would be eternally grateful and I can't wait to share with you the photographs of our new fully adapted home.
After this - I'm not sure on the 'how' yet, but I do intend to also raise money to be donated to Spinal Injury Reseach, to help with stem cell regrowth in the hope of finding a way to help people walk again.
I would LOVE nothing more in this world than to not only see my man walk again, but also be a contributing factor to helping everyone with a spinal injury walk again.
In advance, THANK YOU.
This is Steve. A cute dork of a guy who has completely captured my heart. I'll save you from all the bucket reaching mushy stories, but he makes me smile like nobody else can, and I LOVE being the person that can do that for him too.
Today, 25th January 2015, is 6 months since his accident, and 6 years (and 2 days) since our first date.
It's 6 months since he was pushed off of a 20ft high bridge.
From his fall, one side of his ribs were completely smashed, his lung was punctured and his spine had separated. I later learned his family had been called as the doctors thought that could have been it.
The evening I received the news, I don't even have the words for. My world literally turned upside down and inside out. I didn't know what to do with myself. Even now, thinking of that phone call - yeah, it's one I try to block from my mind. It's too much to deal with.
Since, wow. Where do I even begin.
My head has been trying to rationalise what had happened. My heart has been in a million pieces, often having no clue what to do with the pain I have felt, seeing the person I care most about in the world in that hospital bed.
I don't want to tell Steve's story - that's his to share if he chooses. But there have been a number of complications and further surgeries since, and potentially more to come. His first release date of November came and went, and 6 months on he's still there.
NOTHING pains me more than seeing the waves of uncontrollable pain he still suffers each evening. So painful even the medication doesn't touch it. When you hear someone is paralysed, you know they can't walk, however you don't realise the other daily medical complications it comes with, least of all a person with a spinal injury has a shortened life expectancy.
This was not supposed to be our future, but I'm determined and *WILL* provide us with the best, happiest, new future I can.
Whilst his passion - mountain biking - has been ripped from him, along with his (now inaccessible) home, his job - his career, the one thing I want to provide whilst he figures out what the heck he now wants to do with his life, whilst we start to rebuild, is a safe place to do that from. A home.
So I'll be honest with you, asking this, it weirds me out. It makes me feel uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable. But the one thing I've learned over the last 6 months, is that I can't do it all alone and it's ok to ask for help.
Between my own business, upcoming fundraising events some of Steve's friends have planned and kind contributions, I aim to raise £235,000. It'll enable us to buy a single level home and fully adapt it for his needs.
If you are able to help or share, I (and am sure we once he's found out what I've done!) would be eternally grateful and I can't wait to share with you the photographs of our new fully adapted home.
After this - I'm not sure on the 'how' yet, but I do intend to also raise money to be donated to Spinal Injury Reseach, to help with stem cell regrowth in the hope of finding a way to help people walk again.
I would LOVE nothing more in this world than to not only see my man walk again, but also be a contributing factor to helping everyone with a spinal injury walk again.
In advance, THANK YOU.
Organizer
Ruth Ridgeway
Organizer
