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How Uniting Helped Maureen to Walk Again

on Wednesday, March 28, 2018

It’s a scene many of us wouldn’t give a second thought to, jumping in our car and driving to a bridge club. But for Maureen Heslop it’s something that has taken months and endless energy to achieve.

When Maureen felt severe back pain in July 2016, she accepted it as part of growing older. But then suddenly she started struggling to walk and collapsed from the pain in her bathroom.

“My doctor worried I’d had a stroke and sent me straight for an MRI at hospital. It was there they discovered an enormous abscess on the base of my spine,” explains Maureen, 76 of Bonner, ACT.

“Within two hours of arriving at hospital I was sent for a seven hour operation to remove it. It was terrifying.”

The abscess, known as Cauda Equina Syndrome, was pushing on the spinal nerve roots, and restricting Maureen’s mobility.

“I was in hospital for three months. The crushing on the nerves had affected my legs and feet so much that I had to learn to walk all over again,” says Maureen.

“I started using a walker with little wheels on the bottom and I feared that was as good as it was going to get for me. I’ve always been so active that it was devastating to think I would never go anywhere by myself or walk without an aid again. I kept thinking, I’m too young for this.”

That was until in July 2017 when Maureen was doing some research online and found information about a Short Term Restorative Care program, run through home and community care provider Uniting.

A physiotherapist visited her house three times a week and helped her start to gain her strength, work on synchronising movement between her legs and start to walk more independently. Slowly she started taking steps without a walker and learned to ride a three-wheeled bike to get about.

“It was wonderful to have a goal and start to work towards my dream of being independent,” says Maureen.

“Uniting was so supportive, they even bought me an exercise bike so I could strengthen my legs between sessions. It was wonderful to know there was a team of people cheering me on.”

Maureen bought and modified a car so it can be hand controlled. As well as being tricky to adjust to, Maureen had to train with her physiotherapist how to load and unload her walker.

Finally in February 2018 she was ready and able to go to her bridge club in Gungahlin by herself.

“It was an odd feeling that first week. I was pretty scared of being by myself, after all for the last 18 months I had never done anything by myself,” explains Maureen.

“But then a huge sense of achievement flooded me and I realised I had made it. I hadn’t given up and I’d finally got my independence back. It’s something I’m still accepting now. I’m so proud of myself and grateful to those who have helped along the way.”

Uniting offers an eight week package of Short Term Restorative Care to regain mobility skills such as showering, getting dressed, light housework and cooking meals.

This package of support can provide physiotherapists, occupational therapists, registered nurses amoung others. etc. The program runs throughout NSW and ACT.

Uniting is a not-for-profit community service provider which offers a holistic approach on services ranging from Early Learning Centres through to Independent Living retirement villages and residential aged care homes.

Anyone wanting to learn more can contact Uniting on 1800 486 484 or email homecare@uniting.org

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