My Life

Today I’m going to share with you the emotional impact of spinal cord injury on my life. When I first got injured I did not understand the complexity of my situation. I had this strong conviction that everything was going back to normal. I was going to walk in no time then I’m back to my life. I sort of ignored so many details about my situation because I wanted to believe I was going to recover. I was just so overconfident which has never been a crime but it’s also not good at 1st when I was in hospital…

After a while of being home,  I was able to hire a physiotherapist by the name of Mr Musoro, who was instrumental in shaping the way for me. I couldn't pay him much, but he did his job quite well and he encouraged me a lot. He helped me face my fears and to realize my full potential. I can not speak of my recovery without mentioning his name. Unfortunately,  I couldn’t afford to continue paying for a physiotherapist which meant I had to do it alone. At home,  I didn’t have much exercise equipment. I had to find a way…

The day I got the discharge letter from the doctor, I barely slept because I couldn’t wait to leave the rehabilitation hospital. Sometimes, I regret rushing home so quickly since there was so much I wasn’t prepared for. There was a lot that needed to be done at home such as getting a ramp, a proper bed, and the right kind of caregivers. Unfortunately, none of that happened. They didn’t happen mainly because there was no money to pay for any of it. We had to find our own way around it. At home, there was my little sister, Tadiwa…

On December 21st of 2017, I was transferred by ambulance to Ruwa Rehabilitation Center accompanied by my sister Mufaro, my cousin Blessing and his wife Jane. I was scared and worried at the thought of how I would cope being away from my family. We were admitted by an unfriendly nurse which made my situation even harder. I was placed in a general female ward. I could not help but worry if my being in there was going to help me get better.  Fortunately, a patient named Plaxedes, who was a quadriplegic, warmly welcomed me. She could probably see my…

I remember forcing myself to play candy crush so I wouldn’t fall asleep. Playing games continued for many nights to come. The next day, a group of neurosurgeons came by.  They poked and prodded me. I wasn’t sure what was really happening until one of them eventually told me that I had a spinal cord injury. I had sort of guessed that on the scene of accident, so it wasn’t a surprise. It was really devastating to hear. They said that I needed to get an expensive MRI scan. My family and friends had to try to get the funds…

Much of my memory is blurry, so I will tell you what I remember. At first, the hospital said they wouldn’t admit me, or do any tests like x-rays or CT scans, unless we paid admittance fee first.  Since I didn’t have medical insurance, they wanted cash up front. Two of my good friends paid the money for me. All the while, I was groaning and crying because I couldn’t bear the pain. I remember them pushing me to my cot. When we got to the x-ray room, they lifted me to the x-ray table. The help made me feel…

The 3rd of December 2017 started off as a day well spent at home. The previous night, I had gone out with friends. Previously, we had made plans to have a welcome party for my good friend Brodgea’s girlfriend. She had come from South Africa. Having been out the night before, when Brodgea called to ask if I was coming out, I declined. On that same day, I was supposed to be visiting my parents, but I felt too tired to travel. It was as if something was holding me back. I had a strange feeling that something bad was…