John’s story in his own words –
I broke my neck in 2003, aged 21 on a Greek island called Zakynthos near the end of a lads’ holiday. The accident occurred during an 18-30 boat trip, having swam into a cave, through an underwater two metre long tunnel that led to a beach. I could see sunrays and people’s legs as I swam to the other side but with my exit impeded, hit my head on the edge of the cave as I came up. This could have been the start of a prolonged fracture – despite seeming fine following this initial knock, I later developed a significant headache which can indicate a spinal injury
The next day was a blur as I lost two weeks memory, possibly from the trauma or the medication used to place me in an induced coma. Waking up in St. Thomas’ Hospital London with a tracheostomy pipe in my neck connected to a C-PAP machine used to help me breathe, I was told that Ide shallow dived in waist height water on Laganas beach and didnt come back up so was dragged out of the sea and resuscitated by friends. I could barely move for a few weeks in ICU because of spinal shock reducing function, nerve pain and couldn’t talk due to temporary vocal cord damage
Having become a C5/6 complete tetraplegic with limited control of core balance and arms, I was in hospital and spinal rehab for eight months learning to live in a different body and then moved into a nursing home for two years until suitable accessible housing was found. I have lived in a housing association bungalow since 2006 with a care support system in place funded by health and social services. Since then I’ve studied two university degrees and work part-time as a CEO for an accessible arts charity.
I initially took every day as it came with very small progressive ‘steps’ through levels of denial and anger. I reached acceptance after meeting a five year old wheelchair user who asked me to race him and gave me a beating. Greenery and plants have always put me at ease. The organic structure and pace of nature has a positive effect on my mental health when reflecting on my own growth and observing it’s ever-present appetite for survival to produce and consume. Parts of us die and are reborn all the time, hope and insight remain.
