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Pat GuestFredericton, NB Hometown: Originally from Perth-Andover, NB Occupation: Manager of Program Support Services, NB Department of Health & Wellness Favourite food: pizza Favourite pastime: photography Favourite television show: Law & Order Favourite author: Dan Koontz Mentor: It is difficult to name only one. I have |
"Attitude is so |
Tell me about your injury and how it affects your mobility:
I have a spinal cord injury, quadriplegia. My injury is C5-C6 - an injury to the cervical sixth vertebra. I use a manual wheelchair and I have hand controls so I can drive myself in my car (you really need the independence of driving if at all possible). I can transfer in and out of the car independently; however, I do have a homemaker that comes to my place each morning and assists me with bowel care, shower transfer and dressing. The routine goes quickly and I'm ready to jump in the car by 8:00 AM and then I'm off to start another day.
Tell me about the day you were injured and what happened next:
It was the middle of summer, July 1988; it was dusk and we had just finished a large meal. I was at a camp with a group of friends. We had water skied that day, then I had barbecued for the group. I took a dive off a wharf and I was lying in the water. I knew what had happened. My friend Chris came to me to help and a nurse came from a nearby camp and helped my friends decide the next steps.
I was taken by ambulance to the Oromocto Hospital and then I was transferred to the Saint John Regional Hospital. In the Neurotrauma unit in Saint John, I remember that the doctor offered no false expectation - I wasn't going to be able to walk again. It was in the Saint John unit that I first met Dave Durepos and we became good friends. We were later transferred to the Stan Cassidy Centre in Fredericton.
As a person with a spinal cord injury, what has been your greatest challenge? What have been your greatest successes?
After my injury, I was determined to get back to work. I was not able to physically do what I did before, but I took a good look at the other abilities that I had. .
The greatest challenge was getting people to see me for my ability, not my disability. Some people focus on the chair, not the person. It's so important to educate.
The last thing I wanted to do was get a Masters degree...I didn't think that I was capable. My greatest success was my employer encouraging me to go back to school, first for my BBA and then for my MBA.
Who have been the greatest supports in your life?
My common-law partner Kathy MacGarvie is my greatest support, and of course, my family. I have a great network of friends around me - this network has been so helpful since most of my family is in Alberta. The staff at the CPA (N.B.) and the Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation have been incredible. At the time of my injury, there was a very young staff at Stan Cassidy and we all grew together and really gelled.
What do you believe are the top issues facing people with spinal cord injuries in New Brunswick? What needs to be done to address these issues?
Two key issues are employment and housing. As people with disabilities, we need to position ourselves to be employed and get back to work after an injury. In terms of housing, there is a great need for more accessible, affordable housing.
How did you get involved in the CPA (N.B.) Inc.? Tell me a little bit about your involvement?
When I was first injured, CPA (N.B.) staff came to Stan Cassidy and introduced me to their services; they were there to support me. Later, I decided to become involved as a volunteer at the Board level.
Why do you feel the CPA (N.B.) Inc. services are important?
We need a voice for people with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities and the CPA (N.B.) is this voice. They advocate for change to move forward. They help the newly injured navigate the system and bridge them back into the community.
What message do you have for someone who has just incurred a spinal cord injury or someone with a physical disability?
It's important to take things one day at a time. Life may seem unsettling, but you will see your full range of abilities. There is much life and love out there. There is so much more out there than how your hands and legs move.
After that injury, you have to get up and go.
Based on an interview with Haley Flaro, Executive Director, CPA (N.B.) Inc. on August 23, 2006.