My name is Kim and I’m 64 years old. My husband and I own a floor screeding business which we’ve had for 40 years. I had back problems before my accident which meant I was on crutches, however I was still able to walk a little bit and I was still able to use my hands.
I can’t remember anything about my accident. My husband and I were taking my best friend to The Grange University Hospital for a scan in October. The weather was awful, there was torrential rain and all of the ducts by the hospital were blocked. Our car aquaplaned into another vehicle and I stopped breathing at the scene. Fortunately, an off-duty firefighter was behind us and he managed to save my life. However, I had broken my neck and my back, fractured my right thumb, injured my shoulders and my knees, pierced a lung and all of my ribs were floating.
I had to have a ten hour operation and the doctor told my family to say their last goodbyes as they weren’t sure I would survive. During the operation they had to move my voice box, so they didn’t know if I would be able to speak again and they were unsure whether I would end up paraplegic. After my surgery I went into recovery and my family had to wait 16 hours to see if the operation had gone okay. I was then taken to intensive care in University Hospital of Wales where I remained for three weeks, before being transferred to the A5 North spinal and trauma ward for a further five weeks. In December, I was transferred to University Hospital Llandough, and I’ve now spent a total of eight months in hospital.
I’ve had extensive physio for a number of months at Llandough which has made me stronger, and when I was able to be hoisted out of bed the nurses took me out to Horatio’s Garden Wales and pushed me around the garden. When I was fit enough, I was then given my own powered wheelchair which I could use because I have mobility in three of my fingers on my left hand. This gave me a new lease of life and gave me the freedom to come out to the garden on my own whenever I wanted. It’s so tranquil out here.
There have been emotional times when I have come outside with other patients and we’ve spoken about our injuries. We’ve broken down about it, but the garden helps us to see how far everyone has come.
When my friends visit me we have picnics on a table by the greenhouse and it’s so lovely. Everyone in my family loves being out in the garden too. I’ve got four daughters, one son and ten grandchildren from age 16 down to age three and they all really enjoy spending time in the fresh air. Every time my three year old grandson comes to visit me he says “let’s go for a walk, let’s go for a walk.” I’ve even made things for my grandchildren in the garden and they’ve all loved them. Lots of patients’ families will have a cup of tea together and talk to one another in the garden and that’s what is the best about the garden, everyone mixes.
I have made so many memories in Horatio’s Garden. I’ll always remember the people I’ve met and the good times we’ve had here. Head Gardener Owen, Garden Administrator Helen, WRAGS trainee Amy, volunteers Jill and Colin and the rest of them, they all talk to us and make us tea and cake. The memories of people I’ve met, their journeys, my journey as well as all of the crafts I have made will always be with me.
Luckily, I’ve come to the stage I am now. I am tetraplegic meaning I am unable to use my legs and my hands which has been a big change in my life, but I have started to walk aided a little bit. I’ve come such a long way from where I was months ago, it’s unbelievable. I can’t believe how far I’ve come. The physio and the occupational therapy is gruelling, but it gets results, and the garden has helped me along the way with my rehabilitation and my emotional wellbeing. I don’t really know about the future. I’d love to think that I could ding that bell and walk out of here, but if I have to go out in a wheelchair I’ve just got to live my life. I’m lucky to be here and that’s what I’ll always be thankful for.
