We had celebrated at our besties wedding, slow danced, sang at the campfire with our family and friends then went to bed happy. A simple fall in the night completely changed our lives forever. Jason’s injury left him an incomplete quadriplegic, just hearing the words are scary but learning what they mean is beyond overwhelming.
We were suddenly lost in change, sadness, tears, anger emotion, loss, and fear. The grief was staggering, and the guilt was unexpected and scary. My thoughts were scattered. I wasn’t sure how to take care of my husband or myself. We lost our old lives and our besties. Family and friends were slowly slipping away, some had their own lives to take care of, some I think felt awkward, some were never really our friends to begin with and the few good friendships I had grew deeper and stronger. With a spinal cord injury, you really find out who your friends are. I was now a full-time caregiver without the knowledge on what that really was and what that meant.
It all felt impossible, overwhelming, and so very lonely. I had so many questions and didn’t know who to ask. Discovering Family Connections changed everything for me. The sessions taught me so much more than I expected, and the drop in is a godsend still to this day. I learned so many things that made my life easier and better.
I learned I was not alone. I learned different ways to avoid feeling overwhelmed. I learned new words for the feelings I was having and didn’t know how to express. I learned why I felt guilty, and why I shouldn’t. I learned the importance of looking after myself. I felt better equipped to deal with the daily challenges of life. I was able to breathe again. I also learned how to mourn what I had lost and more importantly, I was reminded of what I still had, Jason!
Being with people who get it, who don’t judge, who understand, is when you lose the feeling of being alone in your journey. You learn that those who get help get to a better place. Stephanie and Sheri of Spinal Cord Injury Ontario delivered the program so well and became my angels in the darkness. They and the folks in our group helped me with the things I needed help with and made me feel listened to. I am so thankful for all of them.
To Spinal Cord Injury Ontario and The Bourassa Savaria Foundation, thank you for making this amazing program available, Family Connections really helped me. It showed me there was still a life we can live and I have met new friends that understand my new life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
To sign up or find out more about Family Connections visit: Spinal Cord Injury Ontario | Family Connections
To sign up or find out more about Spinal Cord Injury Ontario Services visit: www.sciontario.org
Family Connections is made possible by the generous support of:
