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Shoulder to Shoulder: 100 Days of Rehab for the Halberg Foundation

  • Day 100/100

      21 August 2025

    And like that 100 days is over! Thank you so much to everyone that donated and/ or followed along, we've raised $800 (!!!!) that will go straight to the Halberg Foundation, to help empower young kiwis with disabilities through sport.

    Although I've still got a ways to go with my recovery, I've made so much progress since May, and over the last week I've been able to be back playing Ultimate again (albeit playing mostly left-handed).

    This process has been such a roller coaster - it's so easy to take your physical health for granted when you're relatively uninjured and able, but when it's not all there it feels like a part of me is missing. I'm glad to be on the road back to 100%, but I'm approaching it with a new perspective of gratitude.. I'll be savouring every achievement along the way, remembering how far I've come!

    So here's to the next 100 days 💪

    Peace ✌️

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  • Day 91/100

      10 August 2025

    Coming to the end of my 100 days of rehab and I'm pleased to report the streak is still alive 🫡 I'm coming up on 14 weeks post-op and the arm is feeling a lot better.

    I'd say my range of movement is about 90% the way back to normal, the last 10% I'm able to get to with help (if I don't use my own muscles to get there!). I've tentatively started adding some light strengthening to my ROM exercises, using resistance bands to work the external rotation.

    I've been able to get back running, getting two shorter runs and a medium run in each week, slowly upping my load to 30kms a week. I'm keeping that distance in check due to the recovering shoulder muscles and hamstring tear still healing/ strengthening.

    I see my surgeon in a couple of days and fingers crossed I'll be fully signed off for strengthening and I can start to think about playing sport again! 🤞

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  • Day 64/100

      14 July 2025

    10-weeks post-op, the sling is off and I am back!

    Shortly after my last update, I visited my surgeon who was happy my shoulder was healing as expected, and he let me ditch the sling under the stipulation that I could wear it "whenever I needed to, for comfort". I haven't worn it since 😅

    A week later and I tentatively started easing back into some running. My physio had told me to expect some discomfort and to not go overboard. Fortunately (or unfortunately), it was pretty much every other part of my body that felt discomfort on my first few Ks back. 2 months of absolutely no cardio apart from walking does that to you!

    I have new range of motion exercises for my shoulder that I have been doing 4 times daily. This will carry on until mid-August when I can get signed off to start strengthening. Now I'm back running we've also added back hamstring exercises to help get over a niggly hamstring tear from late last year.

    I want more than anything to nose-dive back into training, sign up for an ultra or jump back into competitive Ultimate. It has been pretty tough these last few weeks, watching my friends and colleagues prepping for the start of the season or upcoming races! But I know it's more important now than ever for me to build slowly back to a good baseline, or I won't give my body the chance to fully heal.

    Thanks all for the support you've given me so far, there have definitely been a few days where I've really needed that motivation to get out and get it done! 🙏

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  • Day 35/100

      15 June 2025
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    As you can see in the video, I’ve been getting out and about at lunch, mostly up Ōwairaka for the fresh air and view of the city. It takes a fair bit of mental effort to get myself out the door every time, but I’m always glad when I do.

    A big thank you to the Halberg Foundation who reached out to me after seeing this fundraiser and sent a thoughtfully handwritten card and keyring.

    I’m keeping on keeping on with my exercises, they’re still about as exciting as you’d expect, but I’m finding 5 minutes here and there every day to get the arm moving.

    Looking forward to an appointment with Adam (shoulder surgeon) on Tuesday, hopefully everything is progressing as expected and I can come out of the sling.

    I can’t wait to get running and active again! I’m genuinely excited for that first “easy” 5k when my physio gives me the green light (pls Lauren let me run). But I know I’ll get absolutely humbled due to 2 months of almost complete inactivity 😅

    Thanks to all of you for donating and following along, you support means a lot ❤️

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  • Day 14/100 (20 days post-op)

      25 May 2025
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    Firstly thank you so much to everyone who has supported me so far, either with a kind donation or a message of support. It means the world to have a great community to help right now!

    I'm now 3 weeks into sling life, and 3 weeks before I (hopefully) can take it off after a checkup with my surgeon, and it can't come fast enough. Fortunately I've been able to start seeing my physio again, and those massages have come in clutch as the pressure of the sling on my neck has been giving me constant headaches.

    Keeping positive has been tough these last couple of weeks, as life few a few extra challenges our way, but we are once again feeling very blessed and grateful to have such great friends who have been there for us ❤️

    I've been able to keep active with some lunchtime walks, and over the next few weeks I'm hoping to increase the length and frequency of these... maybe get a hike or two in! 🥾

    Thanks for following along and supporting the Halberg Foundation and my recovery 🙏

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  • 9 Days Post-Op

      14 May 2025
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    The surgery was a success 💪 the first week was a complete blur, a mixture of post-op nausea and sickness took me out of life completely for a few days. Being in a sling 24/7 (except to do my exercises) has definitely lost its novelty… and I’ve got another 5 weeks to go! 😅

    I’ve been given a few range-of-motion exercises to do four times a day to keep things moving and support the healing process. Heading to the doctors tomorrow to get the surgical wounds checked out and make sure everything’s healing as it should 🤞

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