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A leg up for Anne

  • March Message from Anne

      2 March 2016

    Hi its 4 months since my accident today, in some respects the time has flown by, in others it has been slow progress.

    I was discharged from the spinal hospital at Burwood last Tuesday and am now back at home which is the next stage of my rehabilitation.

    I haven't finished at Burwood and will need to make several return visits over the next few months.

    During the last 4 months I have met a lot of incredible people.

    If I ever felt down about my injury it was always possible to go down the hall and chat to people who were dealing with far worse situations, life isn't so bad after all.

    The staff at Burwood, from the cleaners to the specialist doctors all seem to really enjoy working there, and I am extremely grateful for the help I have received in getting me to the point that I am able to cope at home.

    I have also had, and continue to have an amazing amount of support and help from people back home.

    Thank you so much for all you have done whether it is contributing to the Give A Little site, flowers, cards help around home or just asking Jo, Dave Yvette or Mum about my progress and passing on your good wishes.

    From now I am working towards a new life in a wheelchair. I have started driving a hand modified vehicle and will soon start a return to work program through ACC. High on my priority list is to get out with the horses again and catch up with as many friends as possible over the next few months.

    Regards

    Anne

      1 comment  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 03/03/2016 by Kaye

      Glad to hear you are now home and making progress. You are certainly a fighter Anne. Regards Kaye Emeny

  • Happy New Year

      2 January 2016
    Main image

    Hi,

    I hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas and a great new year.

    I was very lucky in being allowed to go home for 5 days over the Christmas break.

    Because our house is 3 levels with stairs we weren't able to stay in the house but Brian and Anne kindly lent us their sleep out which was wheelchair friendly.

    I was able to have Christmas day at home with family thanks to some very innovative ramp building by Dave's colleagues at the Tawa volunteer fire brigade.

    I am also very grateful to a whole pile of people who worked tirelessly to get the house ready for Dave and I, and off course organise the Christmas day festivities.

    I'm sure you'll all understand how much of a thrill I had being able to see Astra again. I was a little concerned about what she would think of the wheelchair but in true Asti fashion she sniffed me, sniffed the wheelchair and then declared that there was no gremlins living in it and I was safe to pat and cuddle her and of course provide her with her Christmas treats.

    From such a big highlight it was been hard getting back to Burwood and back to rehabilitation. However I now have a much clearer picture of the skills I will need to master before going home and have already reset my priority list.

    Thanks again to everyone who has contributed to the Give a Little page, and thank you all so much for your help and support. I would also like to thank the people who have sent cards and messages, please accept my apologies. if I have not been able to respond.

    Until next time please stay safe.

    Anne

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    • 02/01/2016 by Kaye

      Happy New Year to you Anne and Dave. So glad you are making such good progress and it was great to hear you were able to go home for Xmas. Look forward to catching up with you some time in the future. Kind regards Kaye and Alan Emeny

    • 04/01/2016 by Sandy

      Glad you got home for Christmas and got to see Astra and that the weather was good for Xmas day too!! I love the photos. Great memories.

      Thinking of you lots.

      Good luck with the rest of the rehab - you will do great Anne!

      Take care

      Sandy Mick max and georgie

      HAPPY NEW YEAR

      xxx

    • 07/01/2016 by Sandy

      Great to see you had a great Christmas with the family Anne, must have been super special

      I was in hospital for 4 months when I was 16 after a serious car accident, my dog Pal was over the moon to see me, just love the unconditional love they give you.

      Thanks also for the Christmas card.

      Thinking of you.

      Regards Sandy Stowell

    • 03/03/2016 by Sandy

      Looking forward to catching up Anne.

      Sandy

      xx

  • A Christmas message from Anne

      11 December 2015

    Hi,

    It’s nearly 6 weeks since my accident and an update is overdue.

    The first few weeks passed as a bit of a blur, but I have now settled down to life in the Burwood Spinal Unit.

    Week days pass quickly with a strict routine of time in the gym at physio and at occupational therapy. This involves learning the skills required for life in a wheel chair.

    I have been lucky enough to have many visitors, who brighten up the afternoons and weekends, and so many wonderful messages from so many people, thanks.

    I have met so many fabulous people over the past 6 weeks, many of the patients here have far greater disabilities than I do, they are inspirational in their determination to make the best of things. The staff here are also incredible, they are so patient, however the thing that is really amazing is that they are teachers as well as nurses, physios etc, willing us to complete the next task, coaching and encouraging, they say that they love the job and it’s obvious that they do.

    Discharge from Burwood for me is likely to be the end of February, I look forward to catching up with everyone, meanwhile have a great Christmas and New Year with your families, friends and ponies. Keep safe.

    Cheers,

    Anne

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  • A message from Anne

      24 November 2015

    I was fortunate to get to see Anne in the weekend, She is the same ol Anne, just a little sore and frustrated, 'pissed off' might have been the actual words...

    She looked really well, Anne still has a neck brace on to stabilise the higher fracture at C6-7. Very fortunately there is no spinal cord damage at this level.

    She has some great people around her, and a daily schedule of rehab but there is still a lot of 'spare' time in her day. She said she expects to be there 12-16 weeks.

    Anne expressed her thanks for all the support she has had and has written this message for you all.

    Message from Anne

    Hi all. Thank you all for you concern and for the messages of support for myself and Dave, Jo. Yvette and the rest of our family

    You will know by now that I had a fall from Donny while jumping cross country at the new Massey university course in Palmerston north on sat Oct 30th. I was training with my coach Andrew Scott and jumping a block corner fence at 1.05m. Donny slipped on take off and somersaulted over the fence. I landed on my back, fortunately Donny landed clear of me but as he got up he stood on me.

    Due to some really quick thinking from Andrew, Louise, Jo Chris Moody and others they were able to move me by helicopter to palmy airport then by air ambulance to Christchurch hospital. After undergoing an operation to stabilise the upper spinal fracture, I spent 4 nights in ICU, and 6 in the trauma ward.

    I have 2 spinal fractures. The one at T5 has resulted in paralysis from the mid back area down. I also had a broken collar bone, scapular, sternum and 3 broken ribs.

    Donny was a little sore but has since made a full recovery.

    I have now been in Burwood Hospitals Spinal unit for 14 days working on a rehabilitation programme.

    It will be a long slow road but I am determined to do the best I can.

    Thank you all so much for you messages, cards and support in so many ways including through the 'give a little' website. I would like to thank each one of you individually and as soon as I am able I will endeavour to do this. Meantime please take this as a personal thank you.

    Regards

    Anne

      2 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 24/11/2015 by Jo

      Thinking of you every day Anne xo Jo

    • 24/11/2015 by Kaye

      Thinking of you Anne. If anyone can do it, you can. Love Kaye Emeny

  • Anne and Astra

      18 November 2015
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    Just received this amazing shot of Anne and Astra at Hoy a few years ago. Special thanks to Barbara Thomson for sending it through

      2 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 04/01/2016 by Sandy

      Love this shot of you and Astra.!!

    • 19/11/2015 by Kaye

      Great photo. Any updates on Annes condition.