THE WHOLE TRUTH STEVEN’S STORY

Steven is a volunteer with SIS who had an accident 11 years ago leaving him with no movement below his neck and needing a ventilator 24 hours a day. Despite these challenges Steven is an example that no disability should mean an end to fun and enjoying life.

For six weeks after my accident I had been lying flat on my back, staring at the ceiling with no movement other than my eyes. Strangely, I still didn't feel 'disabled'. I was in denial about how much had changed. "Most people lie still in bed anyway, so this isn't THAT different". I wasn't ready to move past that stage. There were some obvious questions like 'how do I get out of bed?', but I didn't want to know. I was scared of the truth. No matter how well I was hiding from the questions, one afternoon in July I was faced with the answers.

My hospital bed was surrounded by the medical team who brought two new pieces of equipment with them. The first was a mobile hoist. It made me think of a claw for grabbing teddies in a fairground machine. The other was an empty wheelchair. It looked cold and cheap, like it should have been tucked away in the corner of a nursing home, not sitting next to my bed. Not waiting for me. It was a horrible moment of realism. There it was, the ‘thing’ that was going to confirm my disability for everyone to see. I hated it already.

You can also follow Steven's story on twitter @choose_living

They explained what was going to happen and asked if I was ready, but like it or not this was happening. I was rolled from side to side, a canvas sling pushed underneath my body and the hoist was wheeled over until it was hanging directly above me.

The sling was hooked on and the claw began to rise, slowly lifting me out of bed. When it stopped rising I was trapped in the air with my legs dangling lifelessly through the bottom of the sling.

For the first time I understood what it was like to feel disabled.