Hot Tip -- by Mark Sproxton

The engine revved and the tires squealed as the car drifted off the road. Everything seemed to be in slow motion as the car flipped several times in the air before it came to rest on its side in a flooded farmer's field. I remember everything about the accident but nothing is more clear than picking up my lifeless leg and saying: "Oh &%$#, get an ambulance." The next few hours and days were a blur thanks to morphine and shock.

When I finally awoke, I was in a hospital surrounded by tubes, flowers and fast-moving medical personnel. The worst was the worried looks of my parents as they sat helpless and afraid. "A baby with brains," someone said, whatever that meant.

The team of rehab professionals was as diverse as it was extensive. After reconstructing my spine, the doctor's main concern was my physical health. He explained that I now had two steel rods supporting my spine, and because of the extent of my injury, I would never walk again.

A rec therapist showed me the benefits of sport and how I could still be a successful athlete. An occupational therapist worked on my balance and helped me discover ways to become more independent. I learned to cook, get dressed, do laundry and shave again. The job of the physiotherapist was both difficult and rewarding. Stretching and exercising were nothing new, I was an athlete after all, but learning to use a wheelchair was quite a challenge.

The nurses were the tough big sisters of the rehab family. They pushed when I needed it and always told me the truth, as much as I didn't want to hear it at times. Without the use of my legs I was having to re-learn everyday tasks that I had taken for granted. It was like having the memories of an adult inside the body of a child; a baby with brains.

Many of the people who had a hand in my rehab shared similar characteristics. Empathy, determination and a strong sense of commitment to the healing of the whole patient seemed to be common threads. These people cared about my well being as a person not just a patient. Organization was a key skill, working in a team environment is not for everyone.

The quality of my rehabilitation is indicative of the kind of individuals who are successful in the field. I have remained an independent person because of the holistic approach to rehabilitation and the associated professionals.

(Dave Fletcher is a job developer at the Calgary Youth Employment Centre.)