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Wednesday 14 March 2018

Don't Stop Me Now



Don't Stop Me Now

I'm havin' such a good time. I'm havin' a baaaaalllll.... Actually hate that song!

I am now back from an amazing week long holiday to Morzine, in the French Alps with my Mum, Auntie and T (the boyfriend, not the friend. However they did use to date when we were 14 which is a fun fact for you all!). Instead of staring out and seeing mountains wrapped in glistening snow, trees tipped with frost, watching the wonder of Mother Nature, I am now back to looking at a rotating washing line! Harsh turn of events. 




This last week has been really amazing for me in many ways. It was my first holiday away with my Auntie since my transplant and we use to go away together every year. It was so good to spend some quality time with my Mum and auntie on International Women's Day and Mother's Day which has made me love and appreciate them even more. It was wonderful to see T, who is fairly new to the family, bond and get to know the two strongest women in my life. If he can cope with them then he's doing well! And it was also an incredible time to look around me and witness so many people doing something they love despite their 'adversity'. 

I know many people will say how they have the most fantastic family but, sorry, you are wrong. I do! During our trip my auntie, who is outrageously ballsy, steadfast and hilarious, got drunk on several occasions and made heads turn in restaurants because of her shameless and unapologetic laugh. We played some sort of scrabble type game and my Mum, auntie and T came out with words like "big wiener, slag and fanny". I only made up sensible words, of course. And my Mum taught T how to dance the Waltz at the bottom of the Bubble lift which actually makes my heart melt. Family is everything to me and being close to people, family or not, is such an important part of life.




So I have been skiing since I was about three years old and it has always been a very family orientated activity for me. I have been away with my parents, auntie, uncles and cousins almost every year, minus probably six due to illness, studying, etc. I was away over New Year with friends for the first time and despite the flu, norovirus, a busted back on T's part and several tantrums and throwing of ski poles cause I forgot how to ski, I had a great time! 

Again, and I stress this in almost every holiday post I write because something always happens to me on holiday, it is how you just get on with things that are thrown at you, not what has actually happened. 




During my New Year ski trip to Morzine, my parents were out with my sister who brought her three girls out too (they are the most beautiful children on the planet. I'm allowed to be biased, OK!). I was helping the youngest one learn how to ski and I realised that I could not do a basic snowplough turn, Goggle it, which made me freak out hence the tantrums and pole throwing. Coming out this time I was determined to get my ski level back up and I thought it would be best to get a private lesson just to pick me up and get my confidence back. 

Side note: just because you are good at something and have been doing it for a very long time does not mean you have nothing left to learn.  




So the lovely lady at the B&B booked me for the lesson with a guy I had heard about over New Year. When I found out he was going to teach me I was thrilled. He is an instructor, obviously, has been doing it for over 20 years and has one leg!! He skis with one ski, has a metal stick as his second leg and poles with flat, mini-snowboard-like bottoms. He lost his leg, I believe, in a motorbike accident when he was 18. He is now in his 60's. AND during the Summer he teaches water skiing among other things. This guy was so cool! Wore a snap-back and washing-up gloves as his ski gloves. I mean, ripped my skiing ability to shreds but awesome guy!

And throughout the week I noticed more and more people with disabilities like his going around skiing still and I found it truly wonderful. 

On my third day I saw what looked like two slope rescue vehicles. It soon became clear that it was two young boys with learning difficulties being taken round the mountains by experienced skiers who were there to help and support the boys. What a wonderful, wonderful thing. 

The next day I saw another one-legged skier but this time on a chair about the same height as a wheelchair and another one the following day. They were two separate individuals as the chairs were different. But I just loved how those people figured out a way to just keep doing what they loved and that freedom that they have given themselves is such a joyous thing. 

A lot of holiday companies, like Crystal, offer adaptive skiing for their clients and that is the way it should be. There are so many companies now that offer safe and fully accommodating holidays for people who have both physical and learning difficulties such as Ski2FreedomBack Up and Special Olympics Great Britain. This is my favourite part about humanity. The fact that we have the ability to help others and actually do it! We are all equal and should all have the means to enjoy life in any way we want. 

I read an article recently in the Huffington Post about a man with spinal muscular atrophy who wanted to travel the world. His friends decided to carry him on their backs like a backpack for three weeks in 2016 and he has now travelled to Europe, including Skellig Michael (Luke Skywalker's new home). There is now a GoFundMe campaign for Kevan Chandler so he can see more of the world as well as a blog. I always say that you need to surround yourself with amazing people and Kevan's friends are the perfect example of how to be amazing! 

This week has, yet again, proven to me that nothing should stop you. Feeling trapped must be the most awful thing but there are great people and organisations out there willing to help. All you have to do is look and just go for it! 




One final note: Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.  It matters that you don't just give up. Stephen Hawking, 1942-2018

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Sunday 4 March 2018

Back in the Swing of Things



For the last two years, almost to the day, I have been somewhat of a... recluse. I think that is fair to say.
And here's why...
Two years ago, on January 26th, a beautiful soul somewhere donated her organs and I received a gift that has changed my life which makes me Dialysis Girl on Tour no more (does a little dance!). I am now Transplant Girl - Take Two - on Tour but that is much too big a name to have, I feel.
In later posts I will talk a lot more about what happened during my time in hospital and what has happened since. All the juicy details I know all you lovely people like to read. For now, however, I am going to start off nice and light to get back into the swing of things for me and, also, to ease you all in gently before things get gory again!
I thought I would start off where I ended things last time, with a post I did not get round to publishing. It is also about being kind to people which, right now in the world, is more needed than ever.
So... here goes. Dialysis Girl on Tour, but actually Transplant Girl - Take Two - on Tour, take two. Phew!!!
"Fit an Affa Fine Quine"
(English Translation from Doric - What a Lovely Girl)
I massively believe in Karma. If you do good then positive things will happen in your life.
This is a short story about a little person who, to me, did a big thing.
Four and a half years ago my beautiful cousin married the man of her dreams in Edinburgh.  I was, like, majorly excited - I absolutely LOVE a wedding especially when it is a relation. I come from quite an extensive family so when we all come together at events, like a wedding, it's the Scottish equivalent of Hajj!!





At the time of the wedding I had been back on dialysis for just over a year and a half and was still struggling with some of the side effects of the treatment. I had also recently been told that I would have to re-sit one of my modules again for university and basically do second year for a third time so I was feeling a little.... disheartened.


Before the wedding ceremony took place, several family members gathered together in one of our rented apartments to take pictures, re-connect, chat about what their children were now doing, you know, the usual thing. Then my cousin, one of the many, came up to me and said "did you know J (the cousin in question's daughter) wrote about you for her class project?". Stunned at the sort-of-random statement, I shook my head.
"Yes. She had to write about an inspirational person and she wrote about you".
Trying to hold back the tears I said thank you and spoke about how wonderful J was, and still is (both then and now), and how grateful I felt.


You may think that is was just a school essay but to me it was so much more. To have affected someone in that way is such a glorious thing. To this day I still get a warm fuzzy feeling whenever I think about it.
The Karma I am talking about is for J. The little girl who made someone who was a bit down feel very, very happy and loved.
Recently, and this is speaking from the present day, I was in Costco buying a few bits a bobs, walking around with my pizza slice in hand, looking for the free samples cause really, that's the only reason you buy the membership! That and family sized bags of sweet potato fries.
Anyway, I digress.
During my walk I suddenly needed to pee - cause I can do that now!! - so off I go to the loo. While sitting there I thought I heard crying coming from one of the cubicles. I stayed there longer to see if I could hear more after everyone else had left. After washing my hands a lady came out of the end cubicle who had obviously been crying for whatever reason. Her English wasn't great but I asked if she was ok. In her broken English she muffled out a "yes" and I instantly gave her a hug.
I have been there. I have needed a hug from someone, anyone, when I have felt sad and alone. I have been the person sobbing in the toilets for various reasons. Mostly because my feet are sore but the shoes were so pretty I had to buy them in the 3 even though I'm a solid 4/5 (boyfriend, take notes!!!)
Anyway!!
After about 30 seconds I let go and told her everything was going to be ok before I left. I do not know who she was, where she came from or what had happened. All I know is that at that moment she just needed someone to be kind to her.
No matter how small a gesture is, whether it be a smile, a compliment about your hair, a hug or a chat with a glass of wine (bottle),  it's the tiny things that make such a difference. You can change someone's whole day and even their outlook on life by just being nice, even if it is to a complete stranger.
Peace and love everyone. 
Till next time,
Kate x
P.S. Wherever you are Costco loo lady, I hope you're doing OK.

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