What do the holidays mean to you? For Alison, this time of year is always a little bittersweet. It brings back memories from 37 years ago when her life suddenly changed forever.
It happened on Alison’s 17th birthday. She was excited to head out with her family on a cold night in Quesnel to celebrate. They were driving up to Prince George to have dinner at a favourite place and watch the local hockey game. But Alison and her parents never made it to the restaurant or the rink. The roads were icy and they were involved in a car accident on the way. The impact of the crash damaged Alison’s spinal cord beyond repair. The teenager was now paralyzed.
That first Christmas was tough for Alison. Instead of doing fun holiday activities, she had to focus on rehab to build up her strength and learn balance from a wheelchair. It wasn’t easy. Alison credits her youthful determination to get through the ordeal and get back to school and her friends.
Alison graduated a year behind her classmates and was making plans to move on with her life. But the next four or five years became a blur of surgeries and hospital stays. The accident left the young woman with many health problems. Blood clots. Stomach issues. Pressure sores. Alison would get a little better and then get knocked down by something else.
It was soon after that Alison realized the importance of connecting with others who face similar challenges. “As much as you’ve got your family and friends, I really think we need that connection with people who truly understand what you are going through. It’s like a light bulb going off and the person totally knows what you are talking about. It makes such a difference.”
This is the power of peer support! We host activities across the province that bring people together. It’s a chance to meet others, share tips and tricks, laugh, sometimes cry, and ultimately learn about life with a spinal cord injury. And it’s your generous gifts that make all this possible.
Alison admits that during the early days of her injury she often watched from the sidelines. There just weren’t opportunities for people in wheelchairs to be involved. That’s why she was so thrilled to discover our programs.
“Some of my best memories over the last few decades are from your peer events. We’ve gone bungee jumping. We’ve been on a glider plane. We parasailed off the back of a boat. We even went dog sledding. That was exhilarating! I remember that it was a very chilly day. But so peaceful with a gorgeous blue sky and snow glistening on the trees. Going through nature on that sled gave me a wonderful feeling of freedom. Freedom from my wheelchair for that bit of time. It means so much for us to be able to do things that regular folks get to do.”
Our peer events give people the opportunity to try activities they never imagined possible. They come away with increased confidence, new friendships and the realization that life can be full after a spinal cord injury. And it’s all thanks to your generous support.
It was at one of our “Have a Go” days that Alison fell in love with wheelchair curling. From the moment she threw that first rock down the ice, she knew it was the sport for her. Alison went on to be a competitive curler and win medals at the provincial and national levels. We are so proud of her! Alison has now hung up her “competitive rocks” but continues to curl at the local rink several times a week. Her dad comes out to watch her play. That’s sweet.
It’s these life-changing experiences that made Alison want to give back. She has been volunteering with us for many years and helps put on events in her hometown of Quesnel. “I know how important these peer relationships are. And how vital it is for people to see that they can still enjoy life after an injury. I just want to do for others what was done for me.”
Alison marked another birthday last month… and the anniversary of that tragic winter night so many years ago. She is 54 now and feeling the effects of aging with a spinal cord injury. Alison lives with constant pain in her upper body. It makes everyday activities more difficult. But she pushes on with a positive spirit.
Alison laughs that she doesn’t turn down offers of help anymore now that she is older. She has been stranded in the middle of the street countless times after a snowstorm. Alison is grateful for the strangers who stop their cars and help dig her wheelchair out of the snow. That’s what she loves about Quesnel. It’s not just a quaint little town. It’s filled with amazing people willing to help.
With the holidays upon us, Alison is looking forward to our biggest peer event of the year. Everyone comes out for the Christmas social gathering in Quesnel. It’s a chance to catch up with friends and celebrate together. And later Alison will spend a quiet Christmas Eve with her dad and sister. They will carry on a family tradition that features barbequed tenderloin steak with all the trimmings. Moments like these are so precious.
Alison knows what is important during this busy holiday season. It’s family. And it’s being there for others. Please send your holiday donation to Spinal Cord Injury BC today. It’s a gift that will have a lasting impact all year long. And remember that only funds received by December 31st are eligible for a 2024 tax receipt. Thank you for helping people with a spinal cord injury thrive in their new lives.
With thanks,
Ed Milligan
Chair, SCI BC Board of Directors
