Swedish Wednesday

After a low moment last night, feeling frustrated by my inability to navigate a crowded environment, I was hoping for a quick turnaround. Attending the ‘No Limits’ amputee conference today was exactly the right antidote.

I woke up to a lovely blog post comment from my former colleague, Rosie, who thanked me for my honest in last night’s post and said it (and other posts) gave her a greater insight into my experiences as someone living with an acquired disability. I write this journal for two reasons: to help me make sense of my own world, and in the hope that it will help others going through similar challenges.

The conference began with an insightful talk by Paralympian, Don Elgin. Don, a multi-sport Paralympian who was born with different-length limbs, spoke about the greatest piece of advice he could give to other amputees and people with limb differences.

It’s the same advice given on aeroplanes: put your own oxygen mask on first before attempting to help someone else. It was a perfect thought to keep in mind, especially after my feelings of self-doubt.

I first saw Don speak last year, and even as the host again today, his stories felt fresh and authentic. He realized long ago that he had the power to inform people about disability, and that’s what keeps him motivated—a feeling I can relate to with this blog.

Another truly inspiring speaker was Adam Smith, an amputee from the NSW Central Coast. After becoming very sick in 2023, Adam had all four of his limbs amputated. He spoke about the darkness he felt while in the hospital but quickly resolved to not stay in that place. He constantly pushes himself to his limits, describing his experiences bushwalking in difficult environments and boxing with prosthetic lower arms. He was a fascinating and lovely person to chat with afterward.

I also spoke to some other people I know from the ‘Limbs for Life’ Facebook group, and had a great chat with Luke Missen, a champion tennis player from Bairnsdale. Luke, who is of short stature, is an internationally-renowned Australian player in assisted tennis—a sport played standing up, unlike wheelchair tennis, but with slightly different rules.

He told me about a tournament happening next Thursday just down the road from where I live in Sydney, and I’m looking forward to going along to watch, and maybe give it a try.

One of the great champions of this type of tennis is comedian Adam Hills. Known for hosting the TV show The Last Leg, Adam was born with limb difference, uses prosthetics, and is a prominent advocate for disability awareness, and he was there today. We connected through our shared history at the ABC, and I had a chance to get a photo with him, which was a real highlight of the day.

I didn’t quite make it to the end of the conference, coming home just after lunch, because I was feeling a little tired. but it was a fantastic experience.

When I first arrived, I was struck by how much had changed in just 12 months. This time last year, my physical state was so different. Today, I’m further along in my journey, and it was funny to find myself looking around at other amputees. Normally, I’m the first one looking for a seat, but this time I found myself scanning the room to see if someone else might need it more than me—a fascinating change in perspective.

There were some fun moments too, including a physiotherapy class led by Cathy Howells OAM | Amputee Physiotherapist, a well-known expert in the amputee space. While the stretching and lunges weren’t my favourite, we finished with some great choreographed dance moves. I suddenly realised how totally uncoordinated I am, as I struggled to follow the routines, but it was a lot of fun. At one point, I wished we could have just done a dance I already knew the steps to: “Time Warp!”