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Terry LeavittSt. Stephen, NB Occupation: Produce Clerk, Atlantic Superstore Favourite food: pizza Favourite pastime: watching sports, drawing, Favourite television show: Yes Dear Favourite music group: AC/DC Mentor: my grandfather. He had a heart condition |
"Live every day |
Tell me about your injury and how it affects your mobility:
I have a spinal cord injury - quadriplegia. My injury is C3-C4 - an injury to the cervical third and fourth vertebra. I am not able to use my hands or my legs. I use an electrical wheelchair to get around and I can drive it on my own with my headrest. I use personal care workers to help me with the activities that I can't do such as getting up in the morning, getting dressed, catheterization, bathing, stretching and other things. I use a robotic arm to get drinks of water, put my hat on, and put my glasses on and off and I use my mouth to draw. .
Tell me about the day you were injured:
It was June 15, 2001, four days before my birthday. I was a normal 20 year old.
I went swimming with friends at Canal Beach in Lake Utopia near St. George. I had been drinking and I misjudged where the drop off was in the water...I was running so fast that when I dove in, I hit the sand bar and my neck kicked back. As soon as I hit I knew something went wrong. I was in the water and I was drowning. It was a minute before someone turned me over.
A friend who was training to be a paramedic brought me to the shoreline. He held my neck and called 911. The police were there first and it took the ambulance a half hour to get to me. One of my friends had a camp nearby and they had a party barge boat and they came over and the paramedics put me on the boat. I remember seeing the sky.
When I got to the ambulance they worked to stabilize me. I told them that if they were taking me to St. Stephen, I had a better chance on the sidewalk so they took me to Saint John. I just remember telling my friend to call my parents. Then I blacked out.
I stayed in ICU for four weeks and then I was transferred to the Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation in Fredericton. I had it in my head that I needed to be on the oxygen all the time. When I got to Fredericton, they told me that I needed to learn to breathe on my own or I would go back to Saint John. I learned to breathe on my own.
I was in rehab at the Stan Cassidy Centre for 6 months. My physiatrist is Dr. Leckey. He's cool - he's not like most doctors. It is just like a family in there. You don't forget people like that.
As a person with a spinal cord injury, what have been your greatest challenges?
I get bored easy. It's not as easy to get up and say I am going some where. You have to plan a day or two ahead of time so your workers can get you ready.
Another challenge is just getting around this town. There are not many accessible buildings and the sidewalks are not all that great.
What have been your greatest successes?
I have been back to work. I have my limits but it makes me feel like I am contributing to something again.
My attitude has also changed a lot. I don't take anything for granted. I'm back into school and I am taking courses to help me get into an architecture program.
I also go around to the high schools and give speeches...I talk about my accident and how alcohol can alter your state of mind. I teach them safety through my personal story. Sometimes people need to see the guy in the wheelchair.
The success I am most proud of is my accomplishments with drawing. When I am finished a drawing I look at it and it looks pretty nice to me. I didn't think I would ever draw again. I can draw with my mouth just as good as I could have with my hands.
Who have been the greatest supports in your life?
...my mom, Dad and sister. They all practically drop whatever they are doing to help me out. Mom left work for two years to take care of me by herself. Whenever I had doctors appointments one of my parents would take the day off to take me to the appointment. My sister is constantly asking me to do things like play cards, watch movies, get me out for a drive...
What do you believe are the top issues facing people with spinal cord injuries in New Brunswick?
Accessibility to anything. Some of the larger cities are better but the small towns and older buildings are really difficulty to get around.
I find a lot of people judge people in a wheelchair before they get to know them. All they see is the disability and they stare and they don't know what to say...they don't realize that you are the same person you were before the accident; you have the same mind set...it's just that I have a physical disability and can't move.
In my life, the disability helped me with my personality. It gave me a better outlook on what life is really about. Before, I really didn't know where I was going. You get a good glimpse of life when you almost lose it.
What needs to be done to address these issues?
We need more awareness...we need to have people in wheelchairs go around and talk to people. Physical disabilities have been around for a long time but people still don't get it.
How did you get involved in the CPA (N.B.) Inc.?
I heard about the CPA (N.B.) Inc. through the Stan Cassidy Centre in 2001. They helped me look at funding options for equipment I needed to help me get home. They also helped me get hours for my personal care workers to help my mother get back to work. They helped me get my son-mother relationship back as opposed to mom having to care for me all the time.
Why do you feel the CPA (N.B.) Inc. services are important?
They give people hope. They are willing to fight to help people get what they need to live. The CPA (N.B.) staff try their hardest to help and it means a lot to people like us.
What message do you have for someone who has just incurred a spinal cord injury or someone with a physical disability?
You have to take it one day at a time. It's not the end of your life; it's just the beginning. Once you get over the initial hurdle, you'll find your true self. Don't let anything get you down. Think of the happy times.
If an injury happens by an accident...an accident is an accident, it could happen to anybody. You move forward. If you don't accept it, you'll feel sick all the time. The faster you accept it, the faster you can move on.
Based on an interview with Haley Flaro, Executive Director, CPA (N.B.) Inc. on August 23, 2006.