Back On My Feet – Olivia Ong

‘What happened to you?’ she asked me at the end of her initial medical assessment. Her question carried no trace of pity or discomfort. Shirley possessed that rare quality of genuine curiosity that cuts through professional barriers. The carefully maintained boundary between physician and patient instantly dissolved. As I shared my story, Shirley’s eyes held more than sympathy; they reflected recognition, understanding and a profound appreciation of the unique perspective I brought to her care.

‘No wonder you’re so different. You got me right away, doc.’ Her words struck a chord so deep it momentarily suspended my clinical composure. In the silence that followed, I realised that my own journey through spinal cord injury hadn’t just changed me – it had equipped me with an understanding that no medical textbook could provide. Shirley’s recognition of this reminded me that sometimes our greatest professional assets emerge from our personal challenges. After that, when I spoke to patients, I became increasingly aware of a deepened feeling of connection.

My presence in the wheelchair seemed to bridge an unspoken gap, allowing me to empathise with their vulnerabilities in a way I never had before. Discussions with families were often emotionally charged, and my visible resilience inspired trust. Many commented, ‘You must really understand what it’s like’, and I could see how this shared experience eased their anxieties. * * * I returned home each day physically drained but emotionally fulfilled.

I was blazing a new trail, learning to balance the physical demands of working in a wheelchair with the intellectual and emotional challenges of practising rehabilitation medicine. Each patient interaction, each clinical decision, each shared human moment reminded me why I had chosen this path. I wasn’t just coping, I was growing, and my disability was only deepening my capacity for empathy and resilience. But my work didn’t end there. As soon as I got home in the afternoon, I transitioned into my second job: working on my own rehabilitation.

I’d change into my training gear and dive into therapy, whether it was strength work with Gavin, hydrotherapy or targeted support from my carers. I approached these sessions with the same intensity as my medical work, knowing that every ounce of effort brought me a step closer to my ultimate goal of walking full-time.

This ebook contains the following accessibility features which, if supported by your device, can be accessed via your ereader/accessibility settings: Change of font size and line height Change of background and font colours Change of font Change justification Text to speech Page numbers taken from the following print edition: ISBN 9780733344015 1kitap1.com/en DEDICATION To my parents, Daniel and Agnes, who shaped the person I am today. To my brothers, William and Andrew, who have always been there for me.

To my husband, John, for walking with me through both joy and hardship. To my children, Joseph and Jacqueline, whose hopes for the future inspire me to turn dreams into reality. 1kitap1.com/en CONTENTS Note to Readers Dedication Prologue: Self-triage 1 Becoming a doctor 2 The accident 3 The operation 4 Becoming a patient 5 Rebuilding 6 Faith in the unknown 7 Coming home 8 Back to work 9 Doctor on wheels 10 My second job 11 Project Walk 12 Mindfulness and connection 13 Learning to trust again 14 Giving back 15 Up on my feet 16 A new kind of doctor 17 Walking paraplegic 18 A small miracle Epilogue: A crooked seam of gold Afterword Cover symbolism Acknowledgements Photo Section About the Author Copyright 1kitap1.com/en PROLOGUE Self-triage Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre 10 September 2008, 2.50 pm ‘Code blue in the carpark.

Code blue in the carpark.’ I heard the words blasting from the PA system of the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre and a chilling realisation washed over me. I was the code blue. Code blue is a medical emergency. Code blue means a life-or-death situation. I was lying on the pavement on my left shoulder, curled in a foetal position, trying to piece together what had just happened. My senses heightened, I took in every detail.

The fluffy clouds in the clear blue sky. Enormous eucalyptus trees on my right. Number plates, tyres and hubcaps looming at eye level. Scanning my surroundings, I registered the muffled voices and concerned faces of several onlookers who must have witnessed the incident. They seemed to be some distance away, as if scared to come closer. Perhaps they were afraid of doing something to harm me further. The pain radiated out of my body in relentless waves. The epicentre, a searing intensity in my lower back, felt like a fiery knot pulling everything inward.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

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