FESTIVE TRIUMPH

FESTIVE TRIUMPH

At this time of year, during all the hustle and bustle of the festive fun, I like to look back and consider all the postive and not so postive challenges I have experienced within the year. 

Looking back, one of the biggest lessons I have learned is to never give up.

Never give up on yourself, even when when your body is sore after several hours of intense physiotherapy sessions. 

Never give up, even when you are told by someone you can't do something, even when your head tells you no - you can! 

Never give up on yourself, even when you are not feeling like you can be bothered going to the gym to get stronger with an injury.

Breaking through the pain barrier either at the gym or physiotherapy is well worth it, the sacrifice and determination to reach your ultimate goal - to be physically and emotionally strong. 

Ultimately, it is going to get harder before it gets easier. But it will get better; you will get stronger - you just need to get through the tough part first. 

No matter what has happened in the past or what may lie ahead in the year to come, it will get better - it may not happen straight away. But it will.

And when it does happen, you will know all your hard work to triumph over injury will be worth the early rises, late night, sacrifices with grit and determination.

The Reinvention Team and I would like to thank everyone who has shown support and love throughout the year.

For all the members who have reached out to the Reinvention this year - I want to say thank you for inspiring me and showing me not to give up on my own dreams and goals.

If you are looking for support or advice with injury please do not hesitate to get in contact with thereinvention1@gmail.com 

You can and will triumph over injury and The Reinvention is here to help you every step of the way. 

2017 can be your year of Reinvention.

Love Angela x

E: thereinvention1@gmail.com

THE REINVENTION IN ACTION

THE REINVENTION IN ACTION 

I have begun my journey of spreading The Reinvention word around various Ayrshire hospitals and soon received a call on behalf a young person who had been involved serious road traffic collision, suffering serious injuries to his legs. 

My contact at the hospital had shared my story with the young person and he was happy for them to contact me so he could chat to someone undertaking a similar experience as them. 

To hear from the local orthopaedic nurse that The Reinvention could potentially help a young person overcome a serious accident is amazing, exactly why I have started this charity.

As I drove to the local hospital that day I began to put myself in their shoes and remembered how I felt when I awoke in a hospital bed and realised that I had been in a serious accident. It is a life changing moment, when you realise you are there having suffered life-changing injuries from a road traffic collision. The feeling of helplessness and sadness can be overwhelming and scary.

However, in those moments of darkness there is still always some light and when my older brother, James, told me I had been in a serious accident but “I will walk again” this gave me strength to begin the fight.

To this day, these words have not left me and still help encourage me to fight in moments when I feel worried or scared.

I went to the hospital hoping to share such affirmations to this young person.

As I arrived at the hospital door, I felt so nervous. 

Nervous not to say the wrong thing. 

Nervous not to say too much or too little. 

Yet, my heart I knew I had to just be myself and share my story of my injury to triumph and listen to his story too and answer any questions he may have. 

After all my nervousness - the visit was amazing. 

We shared our stories and the worry of what may lie ahead for the future as well as what is next with living a life with an injury. 

So many questions and yet so many possibilities.

The best piece advice that could share from my own personal experience is that physiotherapy and gym training is king. 

No matter the vision you have for your future with injury, your recovery programme is key to your success. 

It is the one thing that will get you back to your fitness, and when taking the advice correctly it could even help take your strength to a whole another level than before.

That is the physical side but for the mental aspects of recovery, having someone else to talk to who has been in the same position as yourself is critical. 

Just one person, or even a team, who can understand what you are going through to share and discuss ideas on the road of recovery can turn any anxiousness into real hope and determination.

I was truly inspired to meet our new member of The Reinvention, his courage and unwavering spirit to overcome this situation was so inspirational and will be such an asset for him going forward.

The reason for our injuries may differ but the process of the physical and emotional journey are just the same. Sharing that experience; the knowledge, tips and help, can truly go a long way. 

My meeting at the hospital today reinforces the reason why I wanted to create The Reinvention - to inspire, support and help all those who need help to move forward with injury. 

No matter how big or small the journey that lies ahead. You are not alone. 

You will triumph over injury and The Reinvention community is here to help every step of the way.

Love Angela x

WHY CREATE THE REINVENTION?

WHY CREATE THE REINVENTION? 

Put simply, it is a charity that will offer the support, guidance, and strength needed for those coming to terms with injury. 

During the early stages of recovery I had one thing on my mind - escape. 

Escape the 24-7 life of lying in that, small colourless hospital room. Escape the feelings of frustration, anger, upset and confusion. Escape that isolation. Escape from the sadness and pain. 

I had so many questions racing through my mind - what is expected of me? How do I cope with this? How do I return to normal living? And what lies ahead of me? 

All these questions, all that uncertainty, knocked my confidence but I soon found the solutions began with physiotherapy. 

And so the sessions commenced. Daily work on the bars, willing my body to move just a minuscule and each day inching forward that little bit more. 

Did I often feel defeated? Yes, I did.

Did I often weep at the frustration, that my body was not healing fast enough? Yes, I did. 

Did I keep getting back up overtime when I stumbled or fell? Yes, I did. 

I just knew deep in my heart there was an amazing life out there beyond the hospital walls and I was determined I would keep on fighting and get out. 

However, those feelings of hurt, frustration and sadness while on the journey of recovery are the reasons why I have set up the The Reinvention. I do not want anyone who is going through this journey of recovery to feel you are alone. I know from personal experience that you will feel a mixture of emotions while on journey to recovery. Yet having someone close by who understands your journey can make the path to recovery so much more easier. 

The Reinvention is here to offer support, guidance and inspiration needed for those coming to terms with injury. Either for the individual who has the injury, to offering supporting and guidance for their family members and friends during a time of uncertainty for all. 

The biggest lesson I have learned while on my own journey of recovery and living with injuries - there is nothing in life I cannot do that I couldn't before. I may have to plan ahead or do master things a little differently yet you can overcome anything. Go at your pace. Master your own injuries with training at the gym. Do let anyone or any injury hold you back to living and experiencing the life you want. 

The Reinvention is here to offer support, guidance and strength needed for those coming to terms with injury.

This blog, and all other information and advice I will share via social media in the coming months, will be your handbook to triumph over injury.

Love Angela x

E: thereinvention1@gmail.com 

TRIUMPH OVER INJURY

''You may never walk again"

Those five words brought me into my new reality - one where I had no feeling throughout my body expect for a little wiggle of my fingers.

Familiar family voices echoed around the hospital room yet my vision was nothing more than a blur of people and machines. 

In 2001 I was the victim of a horrific hit and run collision by a driver high on drink and drugs.

In 2001 I lay in that hospital bed which was to be my home for over 12 months, a shattered version of what I once was.

In 2001 my older brother James leaned over to me and said:

''Angela - you will walk again.''

And so began my reinvention. 

The journey of my reinvention was a long, often difficult journey. One filled with challenges to overcome, fears to be conquered and re-learning many basic skills that we take for granted. I was strengthened by my brothers reasurring words and my increasing belief that I could triumph over my injury.

I realised on this journey that you are not defined by your injury, you are defined by the journey of reinvention you take thereafter. It is only the beginning. 

I am setting up this community, The Reinvention, to offer advice and support to those looking to overcome whatever injury they be enduring.

The Reinvention will give guidance and support on key steps to triumph over injury as well as useful information for family, friends and collegues and the insights and inspiration from the professionals helping you along the way to that triumph. 

It is a community, which will be your handbook to get through the difficult times and celebrate the better days together.

You are not alone in this journey and support is here, no matter the time scale and no matter the type of injury.

We are here all the way and beyond for you - you will triumph over injury. 

Love Angela x 

E: thereinvention1@gmail.com

Angela McShane, Founder of The Reinvention