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Walking Back To Health
South Africa, June 1994, and Kirsten Day's parents receive a phone call "There's been an accident, can you come to the hospital ... "
Giskin Chesterton emailed Home Truths recently to tell us about her sister, Kirsten, who, 6 years ago had been involved in a serious car crash. Their mother's words express the horror of that time, "Memories come back like a series of stills from a motion picture. Our precious clever daughter lying on the X-ray table, covered in diamonds of shattered glass ..." Kisten's head injuries badly affected her memory. At first, it was the short-term, "Where am I? What happened?" she would ask every morning. Then her worries became focused on the long-term, "I can't remember my sister's face, I can't remember her wedding. How will I ever remember what I've studied?"
Kirsten's recovery was gradual, and whilst physically she felt her former self, mentally, she felt she had not quite got through the experience. She had lost confidence. Astonishingly, she had managed to complete her degree after the accident, but it had taken it's toll with continued migraines. Deciding to take her continued recovery into her own hands she arranged go on one of the world's most demanding hikes, The 2,144 mile long Appalachian Trail in the USA. "Mentally I was very tired - I needed time to think more about my past and re-establish events," says Kirsten.
Physically it was incredibly challenging for Kirsten, but mentally it gave her what she needed, "After I'd been hiking for a week, I felt I'd reached then end of what I could think about, family, home, university, the accident..." says Kirsten, "It was panic for a few days, then as I walked my mind went into a lower gear - I just didn't have that expectation of myself to worry about thinking..."
The family, initially horrified at Kirsten's plans, realised as the letters came in that this was the best thing for her, "It was something she had to do" says Giskin "And we respect that.." With weather and visa problems, Kirsten left the trail with 1300 kilometres to go. She's about to return to complete the walk, "It'll signify the final recovery process has come to an end. There is nothing more to do to prove to myself that I can get on with my life now ..."
In what way have you helped yourself back on the road to recovery after a serious illness or incident in your life?
Why did you decide on this particular way or restoring your sense of well-being?
What did your family and friends think about your venture - were they supportive?
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