Tell us about yourself, Becki
I’m 28 and I live at Livability Treetops in Colchester. I grew up nearby and studied music at Bath Spa University. I play saxophone, clarinet and flute to grade 8 standard and I’ve got mixed taste in music – pop, jazz, dance. I’ve got a brother who’s four years younger than me.
Had you had any health problems, growing up?
No, my health was perfectly fine before the accident.
What happened to you?
I’d just graduated university, I was feeling perfectly healthy but one day I started speaking really funny, and then I remember waking up in Colchester hospital. I couldn’t remember anything about what had happened. I tried to move but I felt stuck. I wasn’t able to do anything for myself and I needed a wheelchair. I was there [in hospital] for 11 months and progress was small. I had moments when I felt really down and low but my family helped by giving me some encouragement and talking to me. It helped me to work just a little bit harder.
After hospital, you moved to Livability’s high dependency home, Livability Treetops. What was that like?
Once I was discharged, my mum took me to Treetops. Moving there was a very daunting experience and I needed help with everyday things like the bathroom. My memory was very much a blur. But at the same time, I was very excited about the progress I could make. The Treetops staff were very friendly and they helped me do things that meant I could progress further. When I was feeling down, staff here helped me. They were encouraging and my confidence is building slowly, with all the physio and training I get.
What progress have you made at Treetops?
Speech and language is the biggest improvement and I got rid of my ‘trachy’ as well [tracheostomy, which opens up a surgical airway to enable breathing]. I had that for four years. I go to the gym once a week, with staff supporting me, and I use cardio and weight machines.
You seem a very positive person, Becki
I would like to think I’m positive in the way I see and do things. The way I see life is me slowly progressing to being able to work in an environment with other people. I’d like to see progress in all my body and be able to walk again. At the moment, my walking is not great but I’m making small steps and I have regular physio at Treetops, as well as speech and language [therapy] which helps me to read and spell. In between sessions, staff help me to practice the exercises I’ve been given. They do their very best to help me with my progress and where I want to get to in the future.
How is life now?
I’m still slightly worried about my health but progress is being made and I’m slowly but surely getting better. I’m playing the recorder again and I’ve made friends at Treetops – luckily there’s a few younger people here, around my age. At Treetops, I’ve focused very much on who I am as a person now. Staff help me to look forward and I definitely notice improvement in how I can do a lot of things.
How would you encourage someone who has an acquired disability like yourself?
I’d say – you can do it! Because if you dream big, then when you achieve a goal, it helps you take more steps forward.
Becki’s key worker, Chrissy, shares her experience on how she has supported Becki since joining Livability.
How has Becki progressed?
Becki has gone from a shy unconfident non verbal lady, hiding behind her hair, to a confident caring, funny, determined woman. Its been wonderful seeing her confidence grow and becoming more and more chatty. Since having her tracheostomy removed recently, she is now able to drink water and her goal is to have a bit of Christmas dinner this year.
How have you supported Becki to achieve progress?
As Becki moved in at Treetops during the Covid pandemic, we were together one on one for the first six weeks to settle her in, where we slowly built a bond. I have worked very closely with Becki and our physio team to help support Becki achieve her goals. We regularly attend the gym together, assisting her to build up her strength on a spin bike.
How does this make you feel about the value of your job?
Seeing Becki’s progress successfully like this over the years gives me a great sense of achievement and I feel very proud to be part of her recovery. She never gives up which makes me more determined to continue to help her where I can.