This item first appeared as a LinkedIn post
If I had asked my 18-year-old self what I would be doing at 35, I would have said I would be spending days climbing or kayaking and then working with children and adults with disabilities in an outdoor setting.
f I had then asked my 21-year-old self (after the accident), I would have said I would be ‘existing’ getting by day to day and hopefully walking without carers doing things for me.
Now at 35, I am not existing but thriving in new avenues I never imagined at 18 or 21. I have been at the NHS Confederation conference with National Voices and spoken about the importance of appliances and devices such as PEGs, tracheostomies, continuous glucose monitors, dressings and stoma bags being prescribed in a person-centred way that prioritises the individual’s needs.
Next week I am attending Shropshire Council ‘Celebration of co-production, engagement and collaboration’ before taking a short break to visit family.
I no longer exist. I use my voice to represent others like myself and have a ‘support’ team who are also some of my biggest cheerleaders rather than a ‘care’ team because my life may look different from what I projected but does that diminish its significance? Not at all.
There's more about Katie in her LinkedIn profile.