How volunteering for Scope helped me on my journey to recovery

Ami2301

Hey I'm Ami! Country bumpkin (I'm from Norfolk). I'm 23, deaf, partially sighted, among other conditions and recovering from Transverse Myelitis. I joined Scope's online community early this year and was offered the role of a Community Champion! 

I was really anxious to begin with but really excited at the same time. I have volunteered in the past however never on a online forum. I never voiced my opinion as I was always afraid of how people would react. Scopes online community has helped massively, not only towards teaching me to accept my disabilities, but building my confidence back up too!

Unfortunately, a few days after I was offered the role, I was admitted to hospital. To cut a very long story short, I contracted bilateral pneumonia  and learnt that I have Transverse Myelitis, which means my spinal cord became inflamed. I spent 4 days in a induced coma because my body was too weak to fight pneumonia. It could have gone either way but thankfully I came through it! 

Why is this connected to my role? I had to learn to type on my IPad again because the cervical and thoracic area of my spinal cord were affected. This made me unable to control my limbs. I had to learn to reach with my arms, pick things up, sit up, stand up and learn to walk again. 

 

As you can imagine this would cause a substantial amount of stress and it broke my heart when I couldn't be involved with Scope as much as I wanted to be. When I did master typing again, I emailed Scopes' community team to ask if I could continue the role of a community champion. They kept me as a community champion all this time I had been in hospital and I was beyond elated! 

Since resuming my role a couple of months ago, I have noticed a massive change in my self-esteem and my mental health. In between having intensive Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and seeing my Psychologist, I spend the majority of my spare time on the forum, discussing various topics, welcoming new members, chatting with good friends that I have made from within the community. Every single member has helped me in more ways than one and I am forever grateful. 

My good friend, @thespiceman a fellow community champion says: 

"I like being a community champion because I can help and advise members of our community. Give them information and hope we can inspire others to talk about their illness or disability."  

We all have different reasons as to why our role is important to us. I love helping others, I know it's ironic but I am a good listener, despite being deaf *laughs*. We support each other, understand each other. Why? Because we are all equal.  

I am excited for the future, I am getting married next year and have been in contact with the fundraising team for Scope! So watch this space!   

Also, if you would like to read more about my recovery, check out my blog! 

Do you have a spare hour or two during the week? If you are interested in learning more and becoming a community champion then email community@scope.org.uk

Ami2301

Thank you so much @Sam_Scope for offering this wonderful opportunity!  ?

Sam_Alumni

Thank YOU for the fab post!

Ami2301

*does a little happy dance* ?

thespiceman

Hello @Ami2301 I thank you for sharing.   Thank you being a friend  Also being part of Team Sunshine.  As a Community Champion.  That we both can support each other.

It is what me and @Ami2301 call our selves. Because we are always doing what we can to send sunshine down the line.

Often to new members who have joined usually early morning . We the first sometimes on as a Community Champions in the morning. Welcomes and Introductions.  
I call this my favourite part of the day having just got up.

Also add to that those days like weekends give the rest of the Community Champions a helping hand . Bow and acknowledge their expertise, grateful to them learn so much.

Also having to meet new community members and their stories. Many have no where to go. Need answers. We as Team Sunshine. Only offer simple words of comfort and reassurance. Be sensitive and just see how we can help.

Many a time meet members with conditions and illness, disability. Who have no information, no advice, no idea to cope.  After all have been sometimes working all there lives and do not understand how really to cope.

So we as Community Champions go on to the net and web finding organisations and helplines regarding that condition, illness and disability.

That is my favourite part of being a Community Champion finding lifelines and sending a glimmer of hope. Getting back a simple thank you.

Maybe a Like or an awesome.

So my friends of the community. Do you wish to be part of Team Sunshine..  All are welcome and may I add it is learning as well.

Got a lot of benefit knowledge, lots of knowledge on conditions, illness, disability I did not know about.

Most of important thanks to you and those supporting the community.

Especially my friend @Ami2301 .  My butterfly friend.

Take care

@thespiceman

Ami2301

Thank you @thespiceman ?

And a massive thank you to the Scope community team who have always supported us and who are extraordinary people!

Pippa_Alumni

Brilliant post, @Ami2301! We're so lucky to have you and all our other wonderful community champions!

Ami2301

Sending a big group hug! ?

JulesA65

@Ami2301you sound a wonderful person. And you called me strong?! Look in the mirror

Ami2301

Aww thanks @JulesA65! It has been a really tough year but I couldn’t have got this far without everyone

Richard_Scope

Hi @Ami2301

What a fantastic post! We are very lucky to have you as a Champion

Ami2301

Thank you @Richard_Scope

1969

I whnt want to know if you have any jobs vacancies for i have ms and I used to work be a binman for i would love to work back in the cumety and I am disabled 49 

Sam_Alumni

Hi @1969

You can look through the jobs currently available with Scope now here.
Or if you are interested in volunteering, you can read more here.

If you are interested in volunteering with us here on the community, then please email us on community@scope.org.uk

mossycow

Hi team sunshine! Brilliant name and a fantastic post. 

Congratulations on getting married next year too. 

I agree that being able to give a bit back, however big or small helps everyone involved. Frustrating when life and our bodies get in the way... I'm not coping with that so well right now.... But is good to read yours posts

debbiedo49

Truly inspirational  @Ami2301

Ami2301

Thanks @mossycow I am sorry to hear you're struggling, it is a vicious circle when our health gets in the way but adding something positive, no matter how small or big of an impact it will have, it will break up that circle and enable life to become a bit more meaningful.

Thanks @debbiedo49 I have only done what any other person would do

mossycow

Aye, I'm really sorry. I'm being a moany git as trying to shift a chest and sinus infection I've had for three weeks.....  Somehow stuff to do with my breathing feels like scary biscuits. 

Ami2301

No need to apologise, hope you feel better soon!

I am curious as to what scary biscuits feel like!

AnkyieSpon

@Ami2301 thank you for your inspirational post. I'm a new Champion and the reason I chose to apply was because I want to give something back. I greatful for all the help and advice I've received over the years either from medical professionals or on social media. I also think it helps me to want to keep going by listening to my own advice. I have Ankylosing Spondylitis, Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis it's hard to keep going, to keep moving. I work full time and then have to find the energy to exercise, I tell myself move or you fuse ? I try to see the funny side. 

Ami2301

It's great that you're a fellow community champion! How are you finding the role?

Laughter and sarcasm is my way of coping with my disabilities