Interview with Sandra Europe
- Tell us what happened in February of 2005? Where were you living and what was your family situation?
On a cold night in February 2005, I fell down the stairs and fractured my neck at C6 and C7, damaging the brain stem and leaving me paralyzed from the neck down. Before the accident, I was leading a very full and active life in Jersey, selling designer sportswear, running, rowing and being a Mum to my two boys aged 15 and 13 at the time.
- You were given a choice of life-threatening surgery or a life of paralysis. You chose the surgery. How difficult a decision was that?
After the accident I was in hospital for several days with a steel halo traction fixed to my head to stabilise the area and try to encourage healing. It was a scary time, just being able to look up at the ceiling and drink through a straw.
I was lucky enough to have a lovely consultant who was a locum from a top London Hospital. He decided he would like to put a titanium plate in my neck to hold the two vertebrae together as the traction was not helping the fracture, but there would be a risk involved. I may die for one, and secondly I could be permanently disabled. My heart starting beating so quickly... What choice did I have I asked him? None he replied... unless I wanted to stay on my back forever!
At that point I knew I had to agree to the operation and the decision was an easy one. I just prayed that I could either walk again or die - I really did not want to be on this earth in a wheel chair needing constant care. I could not put my family through that.
- Talk us through the recovery process. How long was it before you could move your hands and feet, and then finally walk again?
After a 6 hour operation, it was declared a success and I was able to move my feet, just a little. This gave me hope that I could walk again one day and each day I was able to do a little more, exercising my arms and hands and moving my legs. Within a few weeks I managed to stand for a few seconds and improve the strength and movement in my arms and hands.
For six months I was in a neck brace and relied upon a carer to get me out of bed, wash and dress me and sit me in a chair for the rest of the day. During my early recovery I would sit for hours knitting, making music CDs, watching gardening programmes and soaps and waiting for my younger son Richard to return home. I relied on him to cook the dinner, clean the apartment, then massage my arms to ease the pain. I was in a very old woman’s frustrated body with a healthy brain that just wouldn’t connect together and I was determined to get better and regain my independence.
After 8 months, I decided to go on a yoga retreat in Spain to gain strength and help with the healing process and within a year I was able to slowly walk unaided.
- You decided to go on a yoga retreat in Mallorca. How did it help you?
The yoga retreat was actually in Pizarra in Malaga Province, Spain. It was really hard work and very tiring, but I found the strength to go through with it and was determined to gain the strength in my body that I had before the accident. The yoga helped with my core strength, balance and flexibility and all the staff at the retreat were very supportive.
- Why did you decide to move to Mallorca? What were its main attractions? Was it difficult leaving your two sons in the UK?
I enjoyed the heat and beaches of Spain so much when I went on my yoga retreat I decided to buy a caravan near Marbella where I could visit to aid my recovery, travelling back and forth from Jersey. I made lots of new friends and found many yoga centres and alternative therapists. Getting a little stronger, I then visited Mallorca a couple of times, again to find yoga centres and therapists.
Coming from Jersey, I really enjoyed the island life in Mallorca and decided that the heat was so beneficial to my pain that despite the wrench of moving away from my two sons it was worth it. I wanted to live as independently as possible and not be a burden to my family, so moving away felt like the right choice.
- How did you find life in Mallorca?
Mallorca was great, really beautiful and peaceful with a lovely sense of community. With help from my eldest son, I set up the Mallorca Ladies Club website before I left so I could meet likeminded people and make new friends. This was a great success and from a simple website, we had our first event in 2007 and has been going from strength to strength ever since. The club kept me busy and allowed me to make lots of friends which was central to my enjoyment of life on the island.
- Incredibly just 18 months after your accident you qualified as a spinning instructor. For some people, this is difficult to comprehend. How did you manage it?! What do you think your key strengths are?
Before my accident, I was in the top ladies rowing team in Jersey. We were winning lots of races in Jersey and France getting up at 6am to train out on the sea. I also had a passion for long distance running, entering in the London Marathon for my 40th birthday!
After the accident I needed something to do and something to improve my strength, co-ordination and keep in shape, so I started spinning again which I found very difficult at first. There was a course offered in Jersey to teach spinning and it was suggested I give it a try. I had a fantastic teacher who gave me the confidence and strength to give it a go and through perseverance, belief and the support of my instructor and my friends and family, I passed the exam to teach others.
I then went on to qualify on the Swiss Ball, as a C.O.R.E. Instructor, Level 1 in America which helps to strengthen my core muscles and allows me to motivate others.
- Why did you decide to move from Mallorca to the Costa del Sol? How would you describe your life there?
After a few years in Mallorca I felt I was ready for a new challenge and so moved back to the Costa del Sol to set-up the Costa Business Club. This is a networking group which offers Business Speed Networking Events which worked well in Mallorca and thought I would try it on the Costa too.
I am still finding my feet here, but have already made some good friends and my youngest son has come out to join me after he finished university to study massage. If I can make a success of my networking business and teach spinning then I am sure I can have a fantastic life out here.
If people would like to find out more about our monthly business speed networking events or come along they can visit our website www.costabusinessclub.com or info@costabusinessclub.com if they would like to contact me about spinning lessons, the best email is spinningsandi@gmail.com
- How has the accident changed you?
Before the accident I was similar to a runaway train, never giving myself time to relax, always working. I have had the experience now of helplessness then I had to let go and accept. I feel there is a lot more to life and if we just let go and accept everything that happens to us we actually enjoy life a lot more as everything does happen for a reason!
- How much of a support were your two sons throughout your recovery?
They were wonderful. My youngest Richard, cared for me when he returned home every evening, making dinner and massaging my arms which were in constant pain.
- One of your sons has moved to the Costa del Sol too – how does he find living there?
Richard enjoys being on the Costa. He is here on a massage course and also winter training as he is a professional road cyclist.
- For anyone that has gone through a hugely stressful situation such as yours, whether it be physical or emotional, what advice would you give them?
To have hope and enjoy every moment as life is so precious. Go out smell the flowers, enjoy the sunshine…. My life changing accident brought me to Spain, which I otherwise would not have done and I can now see I was not on the right path, I am now! So good can come out of bad.
I have also started to write my book about my life which will be another way to forget about my pain and also inspire others with similar disabilities.
(Dec 2010)
