Many of us have stressful and very testing times throughout our lives and often feel that we have been dealt a tough hand. I feel I have been very fortunate so far in how life has treated me. Over the last few years I have got to know Jo through Paul’s Place (a day centre for physically disabled adults), and have heard her incredibly sad and almost unbelievable story,> I’ve drawn inspiration in how some people can be faced to endure both extreme physical and mental pain yet still somehow manage carry on and rebuild their lives for the sake of others. I’m sure you will agree with me when you read on.

 

On the 26th January 1994 Jo’s life was changed forever. When at home with her 4 children Hannah 5 months, Skyanne 2, Amy 3 and Martin 5, she was woken early in the morning by the smell of smoke. She quickly ran to investigate and found her front room ablaze and filled with acrid smoke from a fire that was thought to have been started by loose ambers from the fire. Joanne ran up stairs to grab her 5 month old baby Hannah from her cot before trying to come back down to find the other children. Unfortunately the fire escalated quickly and she was forced back upstairs into the bedroom. As the roomed filled with both flames and smoke she had no choice but to throw her baby down to a neighbour from the 1 floor window before jumping herself whilst her body was ablaze.

 

Jo was rushed to hospital with 40% burns from the waist down, but even more painful was the news she had been dreading...Hannah and martin escaped the fire without major injury, but Skyanne and Amy were not able to be saved and both died from carbon monoxide poisoning inside the house.

 

Having recently become a father I cannot fathom how that must feel, but Jo was forced to to gather herself quickly for her sake of her 2 surviving children.

 

Jo left hospital only to attend her children’s funeral, and spent many months receiving skin graphs and operations to try and repair the horrific damage the fire had caused to her legs.

 

Her life took its first positive step in a long time when she met Graham later that year. Graham became Jo’s rock and helped nurse both her physical and mental scars and they became inseparable.

 

In Feb 2001 they were given the miracle of twin baby boys Zac and Jake and more happy times later that year when they married! However Jo’s legs were getting worse, and as the scar tissue tightened it became increasing painful to walk for even a few minutes and she would revisit the hospital to have zig-zag cuts made into her scars to allow the skin to stretch.

 

Jo made a very brave decision in 2007. When informed that her legs would not improve and probably get worse in time, she once again returned for her toughest visit to hospital yet… to have both legs amputated. But yet again she threw herself into her next huge challenge and embraced her new life without legs in a wheelchair, and continued to raise her family!

 

Now these events alone would be more than any one person should have to deal with in a lifetime, but Jo’s took yet another horrendous turn when on 12th July this year (2013) she received a phone call from her sons partner who was heavily pregnant awaiting the arrival of her 1st grandchild. Unfortunately it wasn’t that she was going into early labour, but that her fiancé and Jo’s eldest son Martin had been involved in a motorcycle accident, and his injuries had been fatal. And beyond belief the bus that was also involved was travelling to Marwood school where her twin boys attended, and they had heard that there had been a accident involving a school bus, but only learnt the motorcyclist had been their big brother when they returned home after school. So Jo and her family were forced to bury another family member before their time, and the heartache of knowing her beautiful granddaughter Scarlet who was born on 7th September would grow up without her dad.

 

Jo once again has shown incredible strength and resilience that I honestly believe very few people have too somehow remain positive and continue to dedicate her life to her family and friends and refuses to allow what seems like such unfair events to tarnish her appreciation for life, and cherish what has not been taken away from her.