31/07/2026
Buckle in for a long post!
I fractured my back on Wednesday and I couldn’t be more thankful.
On Wednesday morning, while on holiday in the Lake District myself and Zack went for a pony ride Zack had a cute pony named Tommy, I rode what seemed to be a giant called Jigsaw.
I adore horses! I would ride regularly as a child / teenager so I have a little bit of rusty experience. This was a beginners riding experience just for an hour.
When I met jigsaw something felt off he wasn’t calm, we didn’t connect and I felt uneasy with him. We went on a short hack just at a walk then back to the stables and had a short trot. Jigsaw didn’t want to trot one minute I was on top of him the next he had thrown me up and off, landing on my bum. I knew instantly from the cracking sounds and the intense pain I was in trouble. Looking up at Zack’s little face full of fear I smiled and sed I am ok don’t worry, I’m just winded give me a minute, then quickly told the instructor to get Zack away and call an ambulance.
I was in absolute shock I felt violently sick and was shaking the pain was so bad I couldn’t cope. Jon was called and luckily was only minutes away, he hurried down and waited on the floor with me the look of fear in his face was too much I just had to close my eyes.
Extremely luckily for me one of the other riders was a doctor who snapped in to action he check for internal bleeding, checked my pelvis, and vital signs while communicating with the ambulance service. ETA 30 minutes away. I didn’t think I could cope for 30 minutes in so much pain but thankfully they arrived in 15 minutes.
My paramedics were wonderful. They took great care of me we managed to have a few laughs and jokes along the way as they got me to hospital safely and a lot more comfortable than I was half an hour before.
Once I arrived I was sent for a CT scan straight away. Each time I was moved from one board to another I was terrified and in agony. The doctors, nurses and everyone in hospital were all so lovely to me and made me feel safe. While waiting in A&E I was informed I had broken my L1 and stretched some ligaments, the experts in Preston who had seen my scan didn’t think I needed surgery this was a massive relief as that’s all I had been praying for since the accident.
I was moved on to a ward where once again I had amazing care. The paramedics had called the ward to ask permission to check on my condition, this broke me the kindness of two strangers that helped me more than I can explain both physically and mentally then when they had finished their shift had the kindness and concern to find out how I was getting on. So from 11:30 am Wednesday till 11pm I hadn’t been able to move until I managed to make it off the bed and on to a commode although the pain was unbearable and I almost passed out I had to be put on a drip for my low blood pressure, I was so grateful I had been able to physically stand even if it was for a brief moment.
Those hours were full of pain, anxiety, regret, worry, guilt and honestly I have never felt more vulnerable, I was laid down thinking if this building set on fire now I wouldn’t be able to get myself to safety, Jon and the kids couldn’t be with me as I was still in A&E. I cried a thousand times my eyes were burning.
Wednesday night around midnight I was put in a ward it was lovely and quiet.
Thursday morning I made it on to the commode and managed to stand for a few more seconds. I felt like I had won the lottery the day before I was worried I could be paralysed and here I was stood up. I managed a few steps, had a rest and then a few more by the time Jon and the boys arrived I was able to walk, sit and stand with no assistance. My mum and dad drove 5 hours to see me and are stopping over very close to the hospital. I had a visit from the ambulance driver that again through me off how blooming lovely of him to check in on me again.
Our cottage rental is over now we / Jon and the boys need to leave Friday morning so we have sed our goodbyes for now but at this rate I am sure I will be out in a couple of days.
So why am I thankful? Because I could have been paralysed and thank the lord I’m not, I had a brilliant doctor on scene, I had the best paramedics in the Lake District, every single member off staff at this hospital has been amazing, I have the love and support of my amazing family, my husband, sons, brother, mum, dad, nan, aunt, cousin (who was going to hop on a plane from Australia to change my bed pan 🤣), my sister in law who is an expert in pain management for the NHS, the offers of love and support of friends to drop everything to be by my side, the offer of help to keep the business running while I recover, I feel like I have been wrapped in a massive blanket of love and I couldn’t be more grateful.
I will always find a positive in every situation that’s just how I am that’s how I was brought up. Rather than “poor me, I have been through hell, I’m in pain, why me it’s not fair.”
“Lucky me, what an outcome! An accident that could have been life threatening and I have not only survived but I have found love, support, kindness, hope”. I had tears of pain and laughter…. Will I get back on a horse? Are you crazy ? Absolutely not! I’m a positive person not stupid 🤣🤣.
I have learned to go with my gut I had a bad feeling about mounting that horse and I should have listened to my inner voice screaming this isn’t right. A good friend of mine says “if it’s not a hell yes, it’s a hell no! “.
I will live by that from now on ,she’s a wise woman.
