The Personal Experience of Being a Partner to a Spinal Cord Injured Person
The Personal Experience of Being a Partner to a Spinal Cord Injured Person
I met my husband after his spinal cord injury.
We created a very realistic picture of what life would look like for us and what direction we needed to go in as a couple. Being able to have those conversations as a couple and say, "This has happened, what does life look like now?" is crucial.
Caring for someone with a spinal cord injury can be physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing. There are periods where I live with feelings of isolation and sadness, and I can forget about my own needs, which can be harmful to my emotional well-being. In those moments of high stress and chaos, I try to have a strong mind and rely on my coping mechanisms to endure those low points.
I've learned that to get support, you just need to ask for it. While it is not necessarily readily available, you must be the one to put your hand up and say, "Okay, I'm overwhelmed. I need some help." I have a therapist who acts as a sounding board for things in my life amongst incredibly supportive family and friends, which is essential because, in those peaks of high stress, when I need to do a million tasks, having that support is imperative. I need a reprieve and retain my sanity--both of us do!
My husband is a chef, so this culture of eating with family and friends is the main activity we enjoy together. You cannot always do everything you want to do, and you must think about what is feasible--in the city, it can be challenging because not every restaurant or business is accessible. Although we do have to think about logistics, we are both very family oriented. Spending time with family and close friends, and entertaining at home as a couple, brings us joy.
As a caregiver and partner, I try to have compassion and empathy when my husband is sad or pessimistic, and I try not take it personally. There are times when it can get tough to navigate the emotional ups and downs of their daily life because they encounter and feel things that others could not even imagine. Those are the things that you must be willing to talk through, and there are times where they are not going to want to talk through it, and they are going to want to feel those feelings of loss and sadness, and you need to allow them the time and the space to handle it.
Watching my husband's progression, thriving in his life and career, and achieving all the goals he set for himself is impressive and inspiring. It really is. I am on this journey with him and not for him. We help guide each other through our separate and together lives, and I am grateful to have him in my life.
A Word from Gluckstein Lawyers
It is an honour to represent our clients and their families to help them come to a resolution, and we are grateful to have played a part. Their stories of resiliency inspire us to continue advocating on behalf of injured victims. Thank you from all of us at Gluckstein Lawyers for sharing your story.
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