Learning to Walk (and Run on a SKILLMILL!) again – Evelyn’s Story
We have some amazingly inspiring members in our Wolfpack. From the first day Evelyn walked through our doors in late September 2021, we were so moved by her grit and determination. Director of Coach Development, Leizanne Ting sat down with Evelyn to talk about her story of overcoming the odds and learning to walk again after a serious cycling injury left her with a broken neck and spinal cord injury.
When did you start coming to CrushCamp?
“I did a trial period just before Christmas and decided I would sign up with a regular membership, but then wave five hit of COVID, so I put it on pause and didn’t start up again until April, but I’ve put in a lot of classes already.”
You definitely have. I remember meeting you at the tail end of Summer last year, and you told me about actually something very traumatic that happened to you.
“Oh for sure, a year and a half before I started here at Camp, I was just still recovering from a neck injury. I had a cycling accident. I broke my neck and had a spinal cord injury, and at the time I couldn’t move my legs. I was bed ridden and I had to learn how to walk. Everything that you took for granted was a learning process. So not only meaning, being stuck in a bed, not being active, not being used to that. That was challenging enough, but not being able to move my limbs was really difficult to comprehend for everyone surrounding me.
Somebody asked me when I was telling them about my accident, and all the trauma that happened on different levels for my family, they asked me - “Did I ever think when I was in bed and unable to move my limbs that that would be a permanent state?” And honest to goodness I hadn’t even thought of that before; that thought never crossed my mind, not even once. So after surgery, a physiotherapist came to see me, I couldn’t speak the language because I was in Europe, and he decided to get me to sit up and then I paddled my feet a little bit with a wheelchair. And eight days after surgery he said let’s give it another try and see if we can take some steps.
It took everything in my physical being, but I took 8 steps to the cheering of all of the nurses. I think it was really a surprise for everybody.
Wow, that’s super serious. We’ve been able to witness your growth and your story at the studio, At some point you weren’t even sure if you would be able to walk. And now, as everyone knows in the CrushCamp space, we don’t just walk here.
What kind of changes have you noticed in yourself since starting at CrushCamp?
“It was my daughter who encouraged me to give it a try. She thought it was something I would have enjoyed prior to the injury. She said the coaches here are really great. It was really a welcoming atmosphere coming here.
It was challenging, because it was worrisome for me to get on the SkillMill, and I remember you asking me what I wanted to do? And I wanted to come here to start getting my balance and stop thinking about every step and maybe trying to get things to behave more naturally. And what I’ve noticed as a change is: better balance, more confidence, and even more power in what I’m doing on the SkillMill.”
I’ve seen you run on that thing, and you run faster than me and I didn’t break my neck!
We’re so fortunate to see you take these steps literally and figuratively after something like that. You don’t quit and that is something that we really admire around here. We appreciate having you in the space
“You make it a welcoming space and very encouraging. For your classes, I come to a lot of yours because I find them to be motivating. You’re very clear and it’s easy to follow your instructions.”
Do you have a favourite lane?
“Right now it’s 1. I like it because I feel like I can more easily work at my own pace without worrying about bumping into somebody, and if I lose my balance I have a wall (beside me).”
Which is your favourite day to come?
“Thursday. Mondays are good, I try to make it a habit. If you want to get into a routine; I don’t have to think about what day to come or what time.“
What would you say to someone who has never been to CrushCamp?
“Give it a try. It’s a warm, welcoming atmosphere and everybody is encouraging and you work at your own pace. Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. Look at your own accomplishments. That is what coaches like Leizanne will encourage you to do.”
Thank you so much for sitting down with us. We really appreciate it.
“I really appreciate you talking to me. And I appreciate you helping me along my journey.”