Life throws us curve balls all the time. It’s all about how you deal with them. I didn’t want to be right about this one.. but it could change everything for me and how I perceive my future.

Well it’s been an eventful week here in Southern NZ. A snap lock down with next to no warning, races cancelled and everything went virtual. Here’s how this amputee is spending her time!

Yep.. it seems to be a theme. I’d just like someone to take a look and tell me whether I should be worried or not. Anyhow, on an aside, a walking triumph or two this week despite all the dramas.

This week I collected a new foot, new limb cover and we started on a new bike leg. I also picked up a few new (amputation related) medical issues along the way. 😣😒

Being someone that is permanently disabled, my Covid risk category is the same as the elderly and I have thus been called up to get the first of 2 vaccines. Also, this weekend saw my second go at the winter Duathlon (1km walk, 10km bike, 1km walk) the last one being the 27th June. Here’s how I went this time - and it wasn’t without its challenges!

In this week’s update:

* Ways I am prioritising self care - because I need to be in a good headspace in order to deal with the rehab challenges that come with an amputation

* The real - technology limiting challenges all amputees face: it’s crunch time.

* Walking on the beach: the first time with no crutches and an artificial foot.

This was a question I was asked today. I was a little surprised to be honest, I don’t engineer my actions for the benefit of others, I don’t deliberately intend to be inspiring, I’m just doing all I can to make my best life. Here’s why, and how.

Matariki signals the Māori New Year and has connections with the lunar calendar. From next year it is being added as a New Zealand public holiday for the first time. This week I have been working hard on self belief, getting past mental barriers.. and of course.. still trying to balance (but I have adopted an entirely different approach this time!)

WATCH AS A VLOG: https://youtu.be/DMSA9HzK8Jw

This was mentioned by my therapist at a session this week. She introduced it to me as a possible treatment for the psychological trauma associated with my amputation. As you can imagine, I was curious to find out exactly what it was!

Lots has happened this last few weeks. We have been working hard to figure out the best way to make a bike leg (and try to make the bike work for the bike leg!) In addition to that I started getting phantom pain (😬🤯) and went to a formal dinner for the first time as an amputee!