Blog

Spinal Support office return

May 15, 2020 By Dean

Yeaha – Finally Level 2. Spinal Support will be heading back to the Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit (ASRU) on Monday 18th May. The first 2 weeks we will be working reduced days but hope to be back full time after that.

We are still waiting to hear from the ASRU as to when the gym will reopen for the community users so will keep you posted with any updates. So at this stage, we have all been asked to still stay away as much as possible – no art classes on-site as yet, no just calling into our office for a cuppa as we slowly slowly ease back into what will be our new normal for a while. We all just need to stay safe, especially as our community is more vulnerable than most. Look forward to hearing from you via the phone, email or Facebook.😀😀

Back on Track session – Monday 11th May 6 pm Zoom meeting

May 9, 2020 By Dean

Hi All

We will be holding a Back on Track session on Monday 11^th May at 6pm via Zoom

Zoom is a free app that you can install on your phone, tablet or computer

The guest speaker will be Grant Sharman.

Grant is a mouth painter, Aucklander of the Year 2005, former Captain of the Wheel Blacks

If you would like to attend this meeting limited numbers, please just email us and I will email thru the link

Hope to hear from you.

Cheers,

Another Supporter newsletter opinion piece – Does ACC owe you money?

April 24, 2020 By Dean

Welcome the Spinal Support NZ Supporter.

Hi Spinal Support members

We received good feedback from Mike Buis’s last ACC opinion piece he had written

Attached is his latest piece – interesting reading

Enjoy

Cheers
Anita

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Does ACC owe you money

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Yet another Supporter newsletter article – I am a car park

April 21, 2020 By Dean

Welcome the Spinal Support Supporter Newsletter.

Hi All

Ready for an extra week in Level 4? Ready for your next newsletter article? This article is written by Sally Wenley – A day in the life of a carpark.

Enjoy

Cheers

Anita

It might take a few moments to load below.
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I am a carpark by Sally Wenley

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Spinal Support NZ Supporter newsletter next article instalment – President report

April 18, 2020 By Dean

What a time to have to write a report, week 3 of the level 4 lockdown.

Firstly an update on how Spinal Support is operating during the lockdown. We are lucky to have managed to have Anita and Yash working from home using laptops to remote view to the office computers and data base. This all seems to be working fine most of the time. Lee and Sally are also working from home, doing their best to stay in contact with the Spinal Unit patients, using phone, text, Skype, or other forms of FaceTime. Where this is not ideal, it’s the best we can do for now. It has been particularly hard when new patients are admitted, that we haven’t met in person yet. You can imagine how hard it must be going through the unit right now with no visitors allowed and our Peer Support is only via electronic means. It’s far from ideal. Although I must say, I did feel very relieved once the Spinal Support staff were all set up, and I knew our staff would be safer at home. The last thing I wanted was for someone to get sick, or worst still, introduce the virus to the unit.

As it is for all of us, what the future looks like for Spinal Support is still uncertain. We do hope we can still train more Peer Supporters who can operate in the community as our Buddy system used to work, just with better training, and office support. We hope our regional gathering can start up again too. Only time will tell.

During this time I have been pondering a thought I been having- Does having a Spinal Cord Impairment (SCI) help to prepare you for a Pandemic? And if so – Is it because we are more used to going through hard times? Or is it we are more used to being isolated? I can’t make my mind up. Some days I think it could be. Other days like yesterday, when the nurse is coming and she doesn’t have PPE gear yet, and I’m worried she might burst my whanau’s bubble. During these times I think it’s harder. I then try to distract myself from these thoughts by doing some painting or other hobby, or listen to a Podcast or Audio book. I must admit my headphones have been getting plenty of use lately.

What I do know is everyone is affected in some way, and we’re all doing our best to forge through.

Please Stay safe

Kind Regards Brendan Tourelle

Spinal Support President

http://www.spinalsupport.nz