A Lifeline – And A Family
Iwas a theatre nurse in the Queen Alexandra Army Nursing Corps,” explains Alison Grant. “While visiting my family in Geneva in 2004, my car was hit by a drunk driver and my neck was broken. I spent over eight months at Stoke
Mandeville
Hospital, and almost a year at two militar y rehabilitation centres. Fifteen years on, I now can walk a little bit, but I only have about 10% use of my hands.
“During my recover y I did a law degree, which helped me with my 7½-year fight for compensation for the accident. I was ultimately successful, allowing me to look after myself with the help of caring assistants and a personal assistant.
“One of the welfare officers from
Blesma, the charity which suppor ts limbless and injured veterans, contacted me when I was at Stoke Mandeville, and I became one of the first veterans with spinal injuries to become a Blesma member for loss of use of limb. I became more fully involved with the organisation in 2008, and through them have since done all sor ts of activities which reflect the person that I was before my accident. I have been skiing, sailing and even skydiving. I have acted in a play, taken up photography and gone into schools to talk to children about resilience, too. I am now also learning to fly. “While Blesma has looked after my ‘adrenaline junkie’ needs, being
with the organisation has also brought me invaluable camaraderie. I have made so many amazing friends over the years and there is always liked-minded peer suppor t between members. Two years ago, I also became a Trustee and I now help behind the scenes with some of the welfare work.
“To me, Blesma is an amazing organisation. It is a lifeline. It is family.”
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, is dedicated to assisting ser ving and ex-Ser vice men and women who have suffered life-changing limb loss or loss of use of a limb, an eye or loss of sight in the honourable ser vice of our countr y. For more details visit www.blesma.org