Alison Paradoxx

LET’S TALK ACCESS!!!!

Firstly, some wonderful catch-ups, the other week, with the FABULOUS Meg Wright (Red Wallflower Photography) 🤍🤍 at Three of Cups Teahouse ✨
Now access!
Anyone who wishes to find access revues for various locations I visit in my electric wheelchair, please do give me a follow on IG 🤍

(Here is a snippet of this one, to illustrate what aspects I cover)…

✨🧁THREE OF CUPS 🫖✨

ACCESS: 5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Absolutely excellent Access. I could not fault this beautiful venue! Entrance into the Myer Centre, and up lift to level 2 is seamless. The shop itself has been carefully designed to ensure accessibility and inclusivity are key, with displays, chairs, and tables, well spaced. A very large door has been installed, and a column knocked out of the original venue, to allow great access for the change room, and ample space for wheelchair-users. Speaking to the 2 owners was a true delight! Their extremely hard-working ethic to create a space that is truly accessible for all is testament to the exquisite venue they have created.

IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS:

1: Exterior of shop ‘Three of Cups’
2:Signage on exterior window, with open hours and workshop information
3: Beautiful lamps, and giftware inside store
4: Magical tree, surrounded by gorgeous pink-painted wooden chairs
5: One of the fabulous owners, with an exquisite cane, crafter, varnished, and gem set, by themselves.
5: Close up of delicious scones with jam and cream, and tea
6: Close up of delicious scones, and tea
7: Alison holding her tea, cocking her pinky finger “posh-style!”
8: Meg and Alison with their tea, and scones

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, but as 2023 draws to a close, it’s probably quite an appropriate, (and poignant) time to say the following words…

2023 has been the most harrowing, and traumatic year of my existence.

I spent around 9 months of this year hospitalised. A month ago, I suffered a brain injury, due to medical negligence in over-rapid correction of my sodium levels. I was in a completely terrified, and delusion state, was unable to recognise Matt, and lost a large chunk of time, where I became completely unresponsive.

At this point, the doctors informed Matt I had 24-48 hours to live. 😞

I credit the incredible angels of ward 9F for saving me - (both mentally, and subsequently, physically.) If I had not have been transferred back to “my familiar home”, where I had spent the best part of this year, I honestly think my state would have deteriorated, and I would not be here today.

There are negligent practitioners in the system, but there are also fabulously kind, generous, caring, and compassionate people.

Thank you, nurses, PSSSA’s, and cleaners, of 9F. I love you. With all my heart, and gratitude. 🤍

WHAT I WISH TO END THIS ON :
is, despite how 2023 has turned out for you personally, I wish you only happiness for the year ahead.

I learnt some tremendously huge lessons this year - a newfound respect, and honour for those closest to me, an eternal gratitude to still have the luxury of being on this planet, and joy that I have some days left.

I remembered to cherish the sun on my skin, the breeze in my hair, the smile of a stranger, but most importantly, to tell those I love “I love you”… because tomorrow things may not be the same.

I know I don’t have long left here, but I am determined to at the very least make these last days, happy days.

I hope to see a bunch of my most treasured friends, whose love I have neglected in recent times, in 2024. My mobility is poor, but I will get there, come hell or high water!

If you would like to low-key catch-up, please do contact me.

MUCH LOVE, ALWAYS. 🤍🤍
May the coming year be kind to you, and loved ones… 🤍🤍

Image : Sensational flowers gifted to me by a wonderful neighbour.

Hello… I’m still alive. 🤍

To say the past five months has been one of the toughest times I’ve ever had to endure in my life, would be a massive understatement. I’ve basically spent half of 2023 in hospital.

A serious blood infection, heart infection, hypoalbuminemia, fluid on my heart, fluid on my lungs, a leaky heart valve, pneumonia, 9 blood transfusions, my weight below 23 kg… countless albumen Infusions, copious x-rays, scans, ultrasounds, echocardiograms, and multiple day procedures. Tubes here, there, and everywhere… 😞

Each day, bringing a whole fresh set of complications and traumas.

I cannot be more grateful for the efforts, and patience, of the wonderful nursing staff, doctors, and specialists at the RAH. How blessed we are for free public healthcare, of such a calibre. 🤍

Thank you to all those I know who donate blood. You have saved my life, and many others’ countless times. Massive respect. 🤍

To for surprise roses. 🌹 🥀 🌹
To all those who sent well-wishes, in all their forms… 🤍

And to my partner, and best friend in life, @5000.ad. Thank you for always remaining my constant, during unadulterated chaos.
I love you all the days. 🤖🤍👽

If you see me around… I would appreciate that we don’t talk about all of this. I have yet to process everything emotionally myself, and would much prefer to focus on our lives outside chronic illness. (*tell me about your best doggo, or kitty-cat, or your art, or ANYTHING OTHER than how traumatic this year has been… please!*)

Much Love. 🤍🤍

🖤LEAKY HEART🖤

Counting the days in hospital, I now reach 105.
Cardiologist confirms Infective Endocarditis.
A fancy way of telling me that my heart is infected with an unknown bacteria.
There is fluid on my heart.
And lungs.
I breathe a sigh of saline tears.
•~•
Internal bleeding from a leaky heart valve.
Cardiologist says it will be a lifetime of management.
Echocardiograms, and blood cultures.
ECG’s and antibiotics.
Future infections a possibility.
My yo-yo-ing home that is hospital to remain a constant in my existence.
•~•
Heart skips a beat through a
Trans-Oesophageal Endoscopic Ultrasound.
•~•
Bittersweet news that… at least I don’t require open heart surgery…

for now…

My naso-enteric monkey on my back keeps dragging me down.
•~•
I’ve been teaching myself origami.
The art of patience.
1000 paper butterflies adorn my cell like Sadako’s handiwork - though the bomb that iradiates me comes solely from level 5’s Radiology suite.
I’m on a first-name basis with the orderlies.
•~•
Hypoalbuminemia.
Oedema.
I swell, and shrink, and p**s out half my body weight.
Unexplained bruises appear on my face.
No time to rest here. My days are filled with fancy procedures, complex care plans, and a confusion of contradictions.

A Chinese whisper game of ‘he said, she said’…

after all, I am on an ITO.
•~•
Day 105. I pace slowly on a treadmill of Groundhog days.
My autonomy now replaced with machinery that drip-feeds me, medicates me, and controls my internal functions.

Day 105, and no sense of knowing what 106 will bring…