Stephen Black – Knowsley Resident

My name is Stephen Black. Nearly six years ago I had a horrific accident were I endured a sixty foot fall from a rooftop, leaving me in a coma and on a life support machine. The doctors gave me no chance of awakening from my coma and surviving without the life support machine. They told my family that it would be a ‘miracle’ if I made it through but even if I did I would not remember anyone.

Well I proved them wrong, after four long weeks I regained consciousness the hard work then began to start.

I was forced to learn everything which you would normally take for granted from scratch again including eating, washing, dressing, walking and talking. I try to do everything for myself but it is difficult. I have regained some of my independence and I am becoming more confident day by day and I am still progressing with my mobility. I complete strenuous exercise five times a week.  I do this in the swimming pool as the buoyancy of the water assists me with my balance. I walk on average one mile a day in the swimming pool and often go to the gym to gain more strength in my upper body.

I have lived in Halewood, Knowsley, all of my life apart from when I worked in Germany for 5 years. I don’t have any children and my interests include watching Liverpool football team play and watching films. My hobbies include walking and regularly visiting my family and friends on my mobility scooter.

My biggest challenge that I am faced with because of my disability is that people do not always take me seriously. I think this problem could be dealt with by using the media and giving people with a disability more responsibility in the community.

The person I admire most is my mum as she has been there for me through the bad times. I think the lives of disabled people could be improved in Knowsley by keeping everyone informed of groups and events going on in the local community.