How was I impacted by Day One?

I met the Day One team two days into my own two week stay at the LGI's trauma ward. 

I was there to treat a complex broken leg - a compound pilon fracture of my tibia and fibia after a fall from a bouldering wall in November 2019. 

I'm now writing this in June 2020, and little did I know back then that I was facing 5.5 months in an external fixator known as an ilizarov frame, and still many more months of rehab ahead of me. 

No, at this point, I hardly knew a thing. In those two weeks my head was going in circles of anxiety and worry; for hours I would feel fine, until it came crashing back down again. Which seems ridiculous when you realise how much worse it could be. 

But for me, I'd spent the last year working to be the fittest I'd ever been,  and now my head was going in circles - would I walk? Would I have a limp? Will I have chronic pain? Will I run? Will I ever train to the level I was again? Will I be able to drive a car again? It was a lonely place to be with so many questions and without anyone to compare yourself to, which is where Day One made a lasting impression.

I was just about to tuck into my hospital grade-lunch when three incredible women from Day One paid me a visit. All who had suffered similar or worse injuries than me, and still walking! Still enjoying life! It was amazing to see and helped me realise there are literally so many people who have undergone trauma and come out of the otherside. Yes, a little bit bruised. Yes, maybe not quite the same. But that's okay.

The women not only helped me, but they made a lasting impression on my mum by giving her a huge hug when they knew she needed it. 

Meeting Day One helped set in motion me actively looking for people who would inspire me to keep moving forward in my recovery. It's so important to keep a positive mindset but how can you do that if you don't see it for yourself?

What am I doing?

So, I'm not quite doing 7 Marathons in 7 Weeks. 

As much as I'd love to, I'm not there yet and walking 4 miles a day is still something - even 7 months later - I simply can't do. 

Instead I'm doing what I can, and that's outlined below. 

I'm aiming to do all of this as much as possible without my walking boot which means using my own leg for the first time in 7 months to walk over 140 miles in 7 weeks (!!). That's not much to the regular-joe, but to me, it's a personal best every day and will be a huge part of my recovery. 

I'm aiming to increase the distance that I walk each week so that by Week 7 I might be able to do 4 miles in a day (that could be very ambitious, so I'm sorry if I let you down!) but if I find it gets easier, I'll adjust my targets. 

Week 1 (4th - 10th June): 2 miles per day
Week 2: 2.25 miles per day
Week 3: 2.5 miles per day
Week 4: 2.75 miles per day
Week 5: 3 miles per day
Week 6: 3.5 miles day
Week 7: 4 miles per day

You can expect me to share lots of photos of me walking on my Instagram over at @Sags

Who are Day One?

Day One is an amazing support service for patients and families affected by major trauma; delivered by Leeds Cares in partnership with patients, families, trauma clinicians, NHS Trusts and other organisations.

There are often complex challenges that often arise following a sudden traumatic injury and Day One helps patients connect with others who have gone through similar trauma, in order to help process that, even though the next few days, weeks, months or years will be difficult, you will be okay. 

You can visit their website here: www.dayone.uk.com

Thanks for reading!
Sarah