I was so happy and excited when my Mum said we were going to be going skiing in January. (I have not skied in over 6 years now. Once my life, I ski raced, I did race training and was on the slopes whenever I could. I moved to Canada to pursue my dream career). I forgot all about my leg and the small issue I have with walking. I was so excited at the prospect of getting back on the snow back doing what I love.
Then it hit me.
I have a leg that doesn’t work properly. How the hell am I going to be able to ski?
(last time skiing in Les Saisies having the time of my life)
Being me I was determined my leg was not going to stop me. I went straight onto the internet and was looking up the Ecole de Ski Francais to find out about para skiing. Still excited about the prospect of being on snow again.
Then first frost hits and I find the icy conditions a major challenge with my leg. Walking is even harder than it previously was. I had a few bad falls which mostly bruised my ego as I felt so embarrassed being a young person falling over doing the simple task of walking. Combined with this I had a bad chest infection which hit me hard mainly mentally rather than physically.
It hit me mentally as it brought back memories of that last bad attack and how hard it was on me and my family. I started to have all of these what if scenarios. What if….
- I have a bad attack out in France and I end up in the same state again.
- I have a fall skiing and it causes me a chest injury compromising my breathing
- I have a fall skiing or someone skies into me and I don’t realise my leg is badly damaged
- I get unwell out there
- I get stuck going into the village and cant get myself back
- I end up hating skiing because I cant do what I used to as skiing was my life
- I get jealous of all the others out skiing all the runs I should be skiing but Im not because I am having to rely on other people to get me about
I just had all these what ifs. Some of them really trivial things and some of them more serious.
It took me a long time but I decided I really cannot risk going out to France in the state my body is in right now. I am not going to be going out with my family and instead staying here at home.
Im not sure what had hit me harder the fact that I am not going away with my family or that I have myself accepted that I cant do something and have backed down. I normally always try and find a way around my limitations find a different way of doing things or through pure stubbornness just get on with things. I feel weaker now. I feel like I don’t have the energy to fight myself to find those routes I used to. It scares me that I am in this position now.
I am going away up north for Christmas looking forward to getting away and recharging, taking stock of everything and making a plan for the future as life really has changed a lot.
(Skiing with my Uncle Rob in the back bowls of Whistler. Enjoying life. This was the last time I skied. It was about 6 years ago).
ANONYMOUS-ASTHMA 