Alex will walk again

In my leisure time from the cruise ship, myself and some friends went ashore. While one of us was getting the sunbeds, i decided to go swimming. I jumped into the sea (Baywatch Style), as I went through the water my head then hit a sandbank the weight of my body broke my neck. I knew then that something was seriously wrong as I tried to swim to the surface. I felt as if I was swimming but my arms were just floating beside me.

I could feel the heat of the sun on my back, so I knew I was on the surface but all I could do was shake my head! This drew the attention to my friends that I was in danger. (This all happened in about 30 secs).

I was brought ashore and an ambulance was called. I was taken to the closest hospital on St Maartins where a doctor from the Westerdam was sent to join me. Due to the severity of my injuries I was flown to Miami, I was then medically induced into a Coma.

Reflecting back on my coma, I remember the vivid dreams I had. On reflection these dreams related to what was happening by my bedside. Such as ………..

During a blood transfusion, Jennifer was standing next to my bed - people would talk to me all the time, throughout my time in the coma. As my blood was leaving my body and the new blood came in, Jennifer was discribing every gory detail.. but in my dreams i was laying on a table, next to her.. and i was watching her blood coming into me.

I drempt that i was in Alaska, each night i would go to bed and sleep… but about 4-5am an old indian man called X-ray would apear and get out of my bed.. he would shut my head in a foam vice, and go off ice fishing! - he would never allow me to go with him.. (i just thought the foam vice was to protect me incase of an avalanche) but as you can see from reading - the story through my sisters eyes, there is a link below (click the pages to increase size) - i used to get X-rayed nearly every day and the guy would come in around 4-5am and shout X-RAY at me.. and the bed i was in secured my head with a foam vice..

My mum would reasure me all the time by telling me “i had an accident in St Maartin, i’m in Miami, i’ll be home soon” this would really confuse me.. while i was dreaming i would be any where from India to South America, then all of a sudden i was back in Miami…?!?

I also drempt that i had got married to a very attractive young lady (Sarah Riley) we had two beautiful daughters, i had a caribean island (i was rich in my dreams) for some reason we left one there.. unfotunatley, we split - i was too busy fighting a war down in South America….. i don’t remember dreaming about Sarah before my accident - while i was in Miami Sarah would visit every Sunday, on one such visit as she left i flatlined (possibly when we split in the dream…)

there are more dream’s to come, but the reason for this section means that talking to your loved one’s while they are (at least) medacally induced into a coma, they can hear you - it may not help to much.. but they can hear you.     

Read my story through the eyes of my sister

The main way that i have of achieving regular physio at the moment is with my RTI 300 FES bike, one part of my injury i have a cyst within my spinal cord at C6 level, the exercise bike allows me to ride the bike through electric pulses directly into my muscles, so instead of my brain sending then signals, the computer does. My legs work through two pads on my quads, two on my ham strings and two on my gluteus muscles.

 The upper part works in a similar way, but i have movement in my upper torso so the computer assists my arms, through my biceps, triceps and supraspinatus muscles. I am monitored over the Internet, where they can change or adjust the settings, maintaining my legs in a good condition, the upper torso has proven to increase my strength and stamina, leading to a more independent life. ` 

I have phsyio at my home twice a week with Stephen Barwise, on Tuesday’s and Saturday’s, i pay for two weeks then my dad pays for two weeks.. i’m practising self transfers and i stand a minimum of twice a week, this helps adjust my balance and helps with blood pressure problems. It’s nothing compared to the 5 1/2 hrs physio i had in hospital, again bringing me to the sad fact that recovery stops when the money does.. the amount of progress i have made to date - and plan to do in the future, with your help alexwillwalkagain.  

I am in the process of getting a hand cycle that attaches to my chair, it has 18 gears and should make me a lot more indepenant - you don’t realise how many hills are about.. also with the use of the RTI 300 FES bike combined, (which is static) i should get a lot stronger.

I will walk again.

Miami Cure for Paralysis - This is situated within the grounds of the Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Wheels to Walk Canada - Some really intresting new research into spinal cord repair.

Standing Standing Start - Where i would like to attend, its extreme physio.

Daniel Nicholls Foundation - London based research into a cure.

The Mind Clinic - a mind based physio, proven to work through hard work

 Devils Peak Alaska.