My Project to Walk - DMC

Back at it again

2010-04-18T13:59:00.002+02:00

Its been almost a years layoff for me, re looking at my life and starting a business. Trying to become part of normal society again.

I am now back at training with the world best biokineticis Gabbi Dekehar. I am now training twice aweek with at the university of stellenbosch sport science departement with some new equipment and a new determiination for the year.

I have had some progress over the last year and been able to us it well. I can now freestand without holding onto anything with my hands above my head and my mobility has befinaltly improved.

Back to the sweat and tears, but this time just thankful for ever bit of function I get back

Update from Australia

2009-01-21T12:22:00.003+02:00

Howzit

Just an update, for this week. The training on the lokomat seems to have turned the corner, my legs today seemed to stopped fighting the machine as much and I did last week.

I have had huge amounts of spasticity in my legs since using the machine as my body has been fighting the new patterns it is learing through the repedative motion. I have up until today been causing the machine to reset quite often as my leg spasms have been so strong.

I today did two one hour sessions where they were able to increase my walking speed and was also able to walk almost 3km of on the lokomat. So today was pretty damn good.

Dion

Video of Lokomat in action

2009-01-15T11:51:00.004+02:00

As promised - Jan's mail

2009-01-14T15:59:00.002+02:00

Hi Bron, friends and family,

I am having the fortunate opportunity to spend a few days with my good mate Dion in Melbourne. Bron, thanks for sharing your man with us and encouraging him to further his progress to walk again.

Dion arrived on Saturday afternoon and I met him at the airport. We booked into our hotel and decided to explore Melbourne at night. We found a lovely Chinese restaurant and enjoyed a good meal and caught up on each others last 8 months since we had last been together. After a few cold ones (no not coca cola but good old Aussie beers) we went back to the hotel to rest. Sunday morning I woke up quiet early and started looking around Melbourne city. I knew that Dions trip would have caught up with him and he would need a good rest. He only surfaced at 12pm and was full of energy so we decided to go to the south bank area for lunch. There seemed to be a lot going on in the city and later we drove down to the waterfront (Docklands) area. From there we drove up the coast to Brighton Beach and further north. The Melbourne coastline is in a large natural bay similar to False Bay and this reminded us a lot of Cape Town. On the way back we stopped at a small fish and chips restaurant 'FlatHead on Brighton' and we enjoyed a fresh seafood spread. On the way back to the hotel we heard on the radio how the SA cricket team ws being hit hard all around the MCG stadium whilst an Aussie rookie was doing damage. We raced back to our hotel room to catch the action. Unfortunately the SA side (beside Duminy) lost wickets quickly and admitted defeat. It was a good match to watch and Duminy gave us a little hope for a while. Thereafter, we retired to get a good nights sleep for Dions first day of therapy at the Hypermed Spinal Rehabilitation Centre.

Monday morning Dions was excited and a little nervous in the process. We found Hypermed (about 200m from the hotel) and met with Malcolm the Director (a really laid back kite surfer with a phenominal scientific brain). Dion and Malcolm discussed Dion's injury in detail and the action plan for Dion's therapy for the following 3 weeks. Dion would be going for 2 - 3 two hour sessions of Hyperbaric (compression chamber) therapy whilst breathing in concentrated oxygen. This induced oxygen under high pressure helps to regenerate nervous impulses from the brain down the spinal cord and repair spinal tissue damage. I am using layman's terms for the discussion that I overheard. In between the Hyperbaric chamber therapy, Dion will be set up on the Locomat. The Locomat is a robotic contraption that attaches to Dion's body from his waist down to his feet. Whilst Dion and the Locomat is elevated above a treadmill, Dion and the Lokomat moves his legs and simulate the walking motion correctly. This stimulates his muscle and neuron memory to walk again. Dions legs were a bit stiff yesterday when he started on the Lokomat. Unfortunately I left in the middle of his Locomat session for other meetings but Dions says that his legs loosened up towards the end and it worked really well. I did manage to get some really good photo's and video clips which Dion has started uploading on his Walk For Life website.

Last night we went out to an Indian retaurant for some good 'ass burn' curry. Our friend Craig joined us and we discussed Dion's day and the possibility of Dion joining myself and Karen on the Gold Coast for the long weekend when it is Australia Day. Dion is keen so we may look at some flights option today and book his flights. It may be a nice break for him and Karen and I would love to show Dion the Gold Coast.

This morning Dions muscles were a bit sore so we got to the Clinic early to get him on the powerplate and try and loosen up his muscles. I have been sitting on his outstreched legs to straighten them and stretch out his muscles whilst the power plate has been vibrating away. The nurse here recons that we make quiet a cute couple so you can just amagine the chirps that Dion and I had for her. At least we provided entertainment for the morning. The excersize did seem to help and Dion was more flexable when he set him up in the Hyperbaric chamber. He is now in the Hyperbaric Chamber resting for two hours watching a Jackie Chan action movie. Yesterday he was on an oxygen high when he came out of the chamber and felt really fresh and energised so I am sure that he will have a good session on the Locomat today.

I have thouroughly enjoyed my time with Dion and I will have to say my goodbyes this afternoon as I return my my gorgeous wife and beautiful children. I have snuck in a picture of Joshua riding his big bike without training wheels for the first time and Kate in one of her princess dresses. I could not resist.

Love to all

From

Jan and Dion in Melbourne causing havoc whilst we can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check out Dions blog on www.myprojecttowalk.blogspot.com

--
Kind regards
Jan van der Kwast
Bristol Decorator Centre Burleigh Heads
Mobile: 0434 623258
Store Ph: 07 5535 0100
Store Fx: 07 5520 1745

Dion doing well

2009-01-14T15:44:00.002+02:00

Hi everyone,

Well, are 3 days into treatment for Dion and apparently he is doing really well. Jan has left him an gone back home to his gorgeous family. It sounds like the two of them had a great time and Jan, you two do make rather a cute couple by the looks of the pictures !!! (sorry could not resist saying that after your comment in your mail.) :-)
Apparently Dion was very stiff and spastic on Monday when he started and he battled a bit with the Lokomat, but he did manage to get up and walk for about 600 odd meters. Tuesday was a better day and I have sent most of you the pictures. i am trying to download them onto the blog but I am not so good with this stuff !!! Dion and Jan went a little earlier to the centre and did some stretcthing and power plate etc and then the chamber and then the Lokomat and he walked for a full 1hr15 without the machine stopping - it has a safety thing that stops the machine so you do not break it etc. Today when I spoke to him briefly he said that he is feeling very stiff and sore, but all good stiff and sore !!! I am really praying very hard for a miracle over the next 3 weeks. I will forward or add Jan's mail later or tomorrow because Jan explained the whole thing really nicely and what does what etc.

Dion, we are all thinking about you and praying for you and wish you nothing but the best. Stay focused and positive my darling and remember that your mind and your will power is the most effective and powerful tool that you have SO USE IT !!!!

I will write again soon and try and add those updates as soon as possible.
Love to you all and have a good evening.
Bron
xxx

Hyperbaric Chamber

2009-01-13T10:23:00.001+02:00

Hyperbaric Chamber in Melbourne Australia

He is on the plane ....

2009-01-09T14:01:00.002+02:00

Happy New Year to everyone.
Been quite sometime since myself or Dion wrote on here, but there has not been much to report since is operation and over the December holidays. We had a good break and I cannot believe that the time come and gone and Dion is finally on the plane heading for Australia where he will hopefully realise his dream to walk again or come close enough to it !!! As I am writing this, he should be on the plane heading for JHB where he will stop over for 3 hours and then depart this evening at 19h00 for Perth, Australia. From Perth he head for Melbourne where he will be met at the airport by our very kind and loving friend Jan van der Kwast. Jan is going to spend a couple of days with Dion, get him settled into gym, get him motivated and let me know that all is ok with my hubby. :-) Thank you Jan for this.
We are both nervous, excited, sad, happy, etc all at one time - a mixed basket of emotions floating around here !! I am nervous and worried about him being on his own on the flight and changing flights etc, but I know that he is a big boy and he will be fine !! I am worried because I am going to miss him terribly but I just pray and hope that he keeps focused on his main objective - to his butt off at rehabilitation and the lokomat and the hyperbaric chamber and make this thing and opportunity work for him.
He was very sad to leave his darling daughters - Aimee said that she is going to miss her daddy very much and she was sad. I told that I know how she felt and it was ok if she wanted to cry or anything because it is good to be sad now and then. Kayla of course is not 100 % sure of what is going on and time is really nothing to her at this stage of her life, but as we walked away from Dion and were about to leave the airport, she says "bye dada" - well that was me finished.

Anyway, just wanted to update this blog site for those of you who are still interested and to let you all that Dion is on his way. Wish him luck and watch this space for updates on his progress etc..

Love to all
Bron
xxx

ON HIS WAY.....

2008-12-03T15:45:00.001+02:00

Hope everyone is having a good week.

Dion has booked his ticket for Australia and is leaving SA on the 09th January 2009. He will be gone for about 3 weeks or just over and I am very excited for my husband and for our family.

He has very kindly been offered accommodation with a school friend of mine - Rachel and Pieter van der Merwe - thank you guys, it really means a lot to him and to me and it is very kind of you to open your house to him. I am sure that he will be really tired after each day at rehab so hopefully he won't be too much of an annoyance !!! :-)

I will be sure to give more details and get Dion to write more about his program etc over there so that you can all keep tabs on what he will be doing and what he is doing while he is over there, but until then, i just wanted to share our exciting news with you all.

enjoy the rest of your week and lots of love to you all. Again Thank you !!!

Love Bron

TO RECEIVE A DREAM ....

2008-11-30T16:50:00.002+02:00

Hi everyone,

We hope that you are all well and having or had a good weekend. I know that Dion and I have most certainly had a GREAT weekend. My brother Rob and his wife Kelly were visiting from the USA and they have been with us from Wednesday until today, I have been off work since Tuesday enjoying a break before heading into my new job starting tomorrow and we received the BEST gift that we could ever have asked for.

As you know, we are busy raising funds to get Dion to Australia for his rehab treatment in Melbourne. Having not checked our bank account the whole of last week, Brandon, who is the signatory on the account and who checks our balance for us every Friday arrived at our house on Thursday afternoon with an updated statement and WOW what a statement it was !!!

Someone, who is truly an amazing, humble and very generous person, gave Dion a VERY substantial donation and this is has set us and him up to head out for a month's treatment in January 2009. We do not know who this person is and they would like to be kept anonymous as there was no reference on the statement, all we do know is that we are eternally grateful to them and pray that they are blessed with all the happiness, health and joy in the world - them and their family. For one person to be so selfless and generous is truly beyond words. I am still sitting during the day now and then thinking about this donation and I actually keep having to check the bank statement to make sure that I am not dreaming.

In saying this, we are still a little way off our full target and the full amount, but as mentioned above, we have managed to raise enough to date that Dion will be heading over to Melbourne for 3 weeks treatment. We have discussed and debated and finally decided that the sooner he is able to get over there, the better and why not use the money that we have managed to raise to date to enable our dream to start coming true - GOD WILLING THAT IS.

In closing, we need to once again THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU for your constant support, love, guidance, generosity and friendship. Without any of you who have done this for us, none of this would be possible. Words are really not enough or powerful enough to express our thanks, but it is the best we have considering that most of you do not live near us - I sincerely hope and pray that you all know how much it means to us and just how much we appreciate it all.

God Bless all of you and your families. I will write again soon letting you all know of the plans and when Dion will be heading down under. until then ......

Love the McCafferty Family

xxx

Hello everyone

2008-11-24T12:30:00.001+02:00

Hi, I hope that you all had a good weekend. We certainly did although has been and is still recovering from his surgery that he had almost 2 weeks ago. considering that he is not supposed to sit or anything for 6 - 8 weeks after this sort of surgery, but with him having not much choice about the matter, he is really do well. He is a bit sore and still feels the pain but he is recovering nicely. We are going to have his staples removed today and will see what the Dr has to say and how the healing is coming along.

Just a note to say to everyone that has supported us and that is supporting us and a big thank you again. Also to remind everyone to keep sending those sms's: WALK to 39055 - we are almost at 1000 sms's and would really like to see it hit 1000 sooner rather than later.

Dion and I have some other things that we are thinking about and will share with you all soon. I promise that you will all be as excited and amped as we are !!! Keep watching the blog for another update to follow.

Have a good weekend and God Bless.
Love Bron, Dion, Aimee and Kayla
xxx

7th Operation in 21 months a success !!!

2008-11-14T10:10:00.002+02:00

Good day everyone,

I hope that you are well and glad that it is Friday - I know that I am !!!
Just to let you all know that Dion's back operation yesterday was a success. The L4 & L5 discs were pinching a rather major nerve in his back and so the Dr has fixed this problem and Dion seems much happier.
I have just come from visiting him and he says that he does not have the pain that he used to have - the reason for having the operation - and he is recovering well. They are moving him from High Care to a normal ward today and the Dr is very happy with is progress. He is getting his back brace today too so that he can get up and sit etc - which of course he has no choice about really !!! :-)
His legs were also straight and relaxed which has been a very rare thing for them over the last couple of months so he is very happy and seems WAY more relaxed and seems happier. He has also said that he is really going to take it easy before "rushing" back to gym which is the first time that this man of mine has actually acknowledged that he needs to let things heal before rushing right back into gym so that he does not mess it up again !!! (his elbow rings memories of this not being the case the first time around ..... but hey, he is a man so need I say more ?!?!? Just joking all of you men out there because you know that we love you guys.

And that is that for today. I will give you all an update after the weekend and once he is home again - not sure when that will be but will be sure to let you all know.

Have a great weekend and speak to you all again soon. Remember, keep those sms's coming when you remember - WALK to 39055 !!! We cannot loose the momentum that we have going so come on, send another one or a few more and let us do this thing !!!

Love always.
Bron and family.
xxx

7th Operation in 21 months a success !!!

2008-11-14T10:10:00.000+02:00

Good day everyone,

I hope that you are well and glad that it is Friday - I know that I am !!!
Just to let you all know that Dion's back operation yesterday was a success. The L4 & L5 discs were pinching a rather major nerve in his back and so the Dr has fixed this problem and Dion seems much happier.
I have just come from visiting him and he says that he does not have the pain that he used to have - the reason for having the operation - and he is recovering well. They are moving him from High Care to a normal ward today and the Dr is very happy with is progress. He is getting his back brace today too so that he can get up and sit etc - which of course he has no choice about really !!! :-)
His legs were also straight and relaxed which has been a very rare thing for them over the last couple of months so he is very happy and seems WAY more relaxed and seems happier. He has also said that he is really going to take it easy before "rushing" back to gym which is the first time that this man of mine has actually acknowledged that he needs to let things heal before rushing right back into gym so that he does not mess it up again !!! (his elbow rings memories of this not being the case the first time around ..... but hey, he is a man so need I say more ?!?!? Just joking all of you men out there because you know that we love you guys.

And that is that for today. I will give you all an update after the weekend and once he is home again - not sure when that will be but will be sure to let you all know.

Have a great weekend and speak to you all again soon. Remember, keep those sms's coming when you remember - WALK to 30955 !!! We cannot loose the momentum that we have going so come on, send another one or a few more and let us do this thing !!!

Love always.
Bron and family.
xxx

2008-11-12T08:46:00.001+02:00

Good Morning friends,

I hope that you are all well. Tomorrow is D day for Dion and his operation. He is going in at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning and I am certain that things will go smoothly and all will be ok. Please keep us in your thoughts tomorrow and I will be sure to give everyone an update of how things went etc.

As you can see, Dion has added some new video's of his rehab and what he has been able to achieve to date - pretty amazing if you ask me. I am very proud of my husband and I really hope that this operation eases some of the pain that he has been having the last couple of months.

Just to say a very BIG (HUGE) THANK YOU again to all of you that have sms'ed and given donations. It is truly amazing to see so much support and to receive so much support and love from our family and friends - and people we have never met before.

I hope that you all have a fantastic day and will be in touch again soon.

Love Bron
xxx

Dion update 03rd Nov

2008-11-03T09:33:00.003+02:00

Hi everyone,

We hope that you are well and had a good weekend. Dion, myself and our girls are all well and had a good weekend with family and friends.

Just a quick update - Dion has finally got his calipers for his legs which seem to be doing the trick and he is able to stand for longer periods etc and they are really a great assistance to him and support for him.

Also, just to let you all know that Dion unfortunately has to go for yet another back operation. There are two discs in his lumber area that have slipped slightly and are pushing against his nerve which is causing him much pain and discomfort. All of these due to one person driving recklessly with another person's life in his hands !!!
Anyway, Dion will be going into hospital on Thursday 13th November for the operation and will be in hospital for 2 - 3 days. After this he will be allowed to resume his gym and get up and going again. The sooner he does this the better. There are a few healing processes with an operation like this that Dion of course cannot stick to 100 % - like not being allowed to sit for 6 weeks etc. Of course Dion has no choice but to sit so .... but with the help of his new "legs" (the calipers) he will be able to stand for certain periods etc.

Please could you all pray that the operation is a success and that Dion finally gets rid of some of the pain that he has been dealing with for a few months now. I will write again to let you all know how it goes and what the outcome is.

Thank you again for all of the love and support and I pray that people continue being so generous and helpful.

Have a good week and lots of love to you all.
Bron, Dion, Aimee and Kayla
xxx

LIFE CHANGING EVENTS - My story

2008-10-27T09:15:00.001+02:00

16th February 2007 was the day that our lives were to change forever.

Dion and I have been married for 7 years this year and we most certainly have had our share of life's challenges - more than any one person or any couple should have to deal with in their life time.

01st February 2003, we lost our first baby girl - Caelan Paige McCafferty. Born to this world at 24 weeks, she was a fighter for 3 weeks and it was just too much for her little body. Following this huge challenge and loss, was a hard time but we got through it. Almost 2 years later we were blessed with another little girl who recently turned 4 - Aimee Leigh McCafferty.

Moving to Cape Town in May 2006 was one of the best things that we as a family have done and had happen to us. We were blessed again before the end of this year with yet another little bundle of joy to make an appearance in the June of 2007. Wow, what a happy, exciting and wonderful time for any family and couple. Little did we know of the change that would cripple most couples and families.

Kayla Anne McCafferty was born 5th June 2007.

Dion was involved in a car accident on the night of the 16th Feb 2007. (I was 5 1/2 months pregnant with our second daughter). Being the passenger in a car is not always the best thing to be - as we have found out. Dion broke his back T6/7 in the accident and badly damaged his spinal cord. Luckily he did not sever the cord, but he bruised and damaged it badly enough that he has been left a paraplegic with an incomplete injury from this accident - the driver you may ask, he walked away with NOT a scratch, scar, cut or scrape !!!

Spending 4 months in the UCT Private Academic Hospital, undergoing a number of operations on his back, neck, arms and hands - all complications and breaks that needed to be repaired or stabilized from the accident. We have been in and out of hospitals and operating theatres on a number of occasions this last 18 months. Never mind the affect on Dion and I - what about our two daughters ? Having dad there, then he is not there for a few nights, then home ..... But our girls are amazing and we have a very strong family !!!
We have been told, since the night of his accident, that Dion will never walk again and will probably be in a wheel chair for the remainder of his life.

Not accepting this and of course not wanting to be in a wheel chair now and forever, Dion has the courage, determination, strength and the ability to walk again. I am very proud of my husband and his determination to "beat" this challenge in his life. Having two small girls who think that you are the best thing in the world and their hero, I think, is his saving grace and his pure drive to get up in the morning and do his utmost to beat this. Of course, there are many downs, more so than the ups, with trying to stay positive and motivated, but Dion and I have a bond that I do not think many couples have - although I pray to God that everyone out there does have this kind of relationship and bond.

We do our best to keep each other going and when he is down I am up and vice verse. I am no psychiatrist or head doctor and believe me it is really hard to understand and sympathise with what Dion has to deal with, but somehow we manage and we seem to be getting through.

He has been doing rehabilitation since his accident and he is doing things that his Doctor's believed he would never do again. He is able to walk with a walker, leg press, do calve raises, cycle on a stationary bike and swim !!! Totally amazing and boy is it hard work. Dion slogs away daily, sweat, tears and guts is all that he has !!! I wish that I was able to support him more and encourage him while he is doing his rehab, but having a full time job (not just being a wife and mother) it is really hard for me to co-ordinate my day. I just pray and hope that he feels me in his heart and soul and knows that I am with him through and through.

He currently attends the Sports Science Institute in Cape Town, where he works with the Bio-Kinetics department. He is really astounding them and the other members of the gym.

I think in life, we all have dreams - dreams of wealth, travelling, health, happiness, job satisfaction, etc - however, my ONE and ONLY dream is for my husband, Dion, to be able to walk along the beach holding the hands of his daughters. I want to see him running with them, throwing them in the air, holding them and not on his lap, picking them up and swinging them around. I want to feel his arms around me and put my head of his chest - my safe place !!! I want to slow dance and not be sitting on his lap while attempting to do this and most of all, if I can help make this a reality for my family by raising the money that we need to send him overseas for medical treatment, this would the GREATEST GIFT THAT I COULD GIVE TO MY FAMILY.

You love, help, assistance and support in this effort would be the greatest gift that anyone could ever give to me.

Love Bronwyn

IF YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE

2008-10-27T09:02:00.007+02:00

Hi all,

Should you wish to contribute to help us get Dion up and walking again, your generosity and contribution will be greatly appreciated.

There are two ways that you can do this:

SMS - Cost R15.00 per sms
Number: 39055
Keyword: Walk

BANK DETAILS:
Nedbank Parklands
Acc Name: Project Walk
Code: 120710
Type: Savings Deposit Account
Acc No: 220 701 7214
International Bank Code: nedszajj

The McCafferty family - Dion, Aimee, Kayla and Bronwyn - would like to thank you for your generosity and help in making their dreams come true. May God Bless you and your family now and always.

Love Bronwyn

Medical History Since my MVA

2008-10-26T09:03:00.005+02:00

I have a spinal fusion at T6, T7, T8 (T= Thoracic spine) which are basically 4 metal pins holding two rods together that stabilize my back. To give you an idea this is approximately your nipple line on your chest
I have metal cage in my neck at C6 (C=Cervical spine)this is a disk that needed to be replaced after i started loosing the function in my hands
I have had Carpel Tunnel releases done on both my hands
I have had my bursar removed from my left arm because I keep falling on my elbow.