In June Terry and I had the amazing opportunity to begin our journey back into the world of scuba diving while making some amazing friends in the process! It's been since 2004 since I've been diving and Terry had one opportunity in the pool while in rehab at Shepherd Center in Atlanta.
None of this would have been possible if not for some of the most amazing and generous people in the world. Debbie, Ben and Fed from Achilles Divers in Florida didn't know us at all but knew about us through Steve Neuman at Choo Choo Dive. Debbie and I had been corresponding for months off and on about the possibility of getting Terry and I back in the water and finally, it worked out! Since she was going to be in town, Debbie arranged for some pool time at Choo Choo Dive and she and her friends drove all the way up to share this experience with us.
Achilles Divers is a 501(c)(3) (Whoot whoot! Congratulations guys!) ..."organization founded by Fed Barona and Debbie Norris with a principle of using SCUBA as a means to open doors for those that thought it was either not possible or thought it was no longer available to them because of a disability. Family members and friends are also given the opportunity to learn to accompany their loved one underwater as an able-bodied buddy diver." Our experience with this team was amazing! Not only are they skilled divers, they are skilled in transfers, and knowledgeable about skin care, dysreflexia, pressure sores, and so many other things you have to watch out for with a spinal cord injury. It was evident that this group is on there game as they even allowed Terry to take the lead and tell them how they could assist rather than doing everything for him.
Terry could not stop talking about how great it was to re-trace the steps to preparing for a dive. Debbie coached him as he checked his tank, regulator, BC, put the equipment together, problem solved where to place equipment so he could assemble it himself, and finally took his first breath of compressed air! That was quite an emotional event for several people watching as you can see the expression of pure joy on his face. Getting into the pool was super easy because he just held his mask, basically rolled in, and we caught him. Getting out was just as easy as Debbie and Ben taught us how to take advantage of the effect being in the water has on weight.
The highlight of the day for me was watching Debbie take the time to teach Terry so many of the basic scuba skills so that he could then do them himself. He was a pro at donning and doffing his mask, opening his eyes underwater, buddy breathing, and recovering his regulator. The coolest thing was watching as he progressed from not being able to make the OK sign to being able to make it! It sounds so simple but after a brain injury you have to create new pathways in order to do everyday things. Terry hadn't really needed to do this and six years later, he was re-learning it. Very Cool!!! It's amazing that the brain is still healing even six years later.
I think that the fact that the brain is so amazing is very important to share with people who have experienced brain injuries, but more specifically, their families. Terry went from complete unconsciousness to semi consciousness in about 2 to 3 months. People don't just wake up from a coma. It is very gradual. Again the amazing thing is that once someone does begin to "wake up" there is no telling the progress they can make! Six years later and my amazing husband is still making progress. God is very good.
I also think it is important to explore ways to get yourself, your friend, or your family member back into whatever it is that you loved before your injury. After all, just because someone uses a wheelchair doesn't mean they are suddenly a different person! Or just because they've had a brain injury doesn't mean they are no longer interested or won't find joy in what they used to do. The only limits are the limits we ourselves impose on others...I don't want be a barrier; I want to break down barriers.
Well, I should have written this right after it happened so that I could give you a more "live" version but since this was only the beginning of our scuba training, there will be more to come. A few friends and I will be training to be Terry's dive partners and I hear it is intense! I need to log more dive time and bolster my confidence followed by a kind of diver sensitivity training, stress and rescue class, and who knows what else. I can't wait!!!
Shannon
