Life in Tenerife

When we came on holiday to Tenerife, I said that I wanted to move here because I wasn't happy with my life in England. All I did was sit at my computer and talk to people on msn and the weather wasn't very nice most of the time.

So I explained this to Mum and Dad, I knew that Mum had always wanted to live in Tenerife.

Dad asked me why I wanted to move to Tenerfe, I said its nice wheather and I can go out most days. He said I he didn't wanted to move over, he had got too many commitments in England.

We saw Lin on the Sunday and told her our news. She said would help us look for places to rent while we looked for a place to live.

We saw some villas. Lin took us round a few and we booked two for 2 separate weeks in Callao Savaje where Lin lives.

We saw Gary the next day, I could hear his voice, before I went into Wendy's new bedroom. Lin and her mum were in the process of moving house. Gary was helping them decorate. I had told him something and he said that when you come over I'll give you a big cuddle so he did.

That night, we all went to the chinese, we had a good time.

We all went to Gary's apartment to give him, his money for doing my web sit. Gary asked me if I was hungry, I said yesso we all went into Las Galletas for something to eat.

While we were waiting for the food to come Gary asked if I wanted to work for him, I thought he was joking so I didn't answer him

.In the everning we went to the Mexican for a meal.

On the last day, we helped Lin and Wendy moved house, Gary helped too.

After they loaded one load, Gary went to pick up Dannii.

We all had some toast, Dannii fed me mine.

After the 3rd load, we all went to Lin's new place. We had chicken take away.

The next day we were due to go home, again we had to get out of the appartment at 10. We went to Lin's. Gary and Dannii came over and we went for something to eat a nearby bar.

We went back to Lin's for a while. When it was time to leave me and Mum didn't want to go and we were very upset. Gary sat on my knee and gave me a big cuddle.Nearly broke my knees.

When I talked to Gary on msn, I asked if he was joking about me wokinng for him, he said he meant it.

We told eveyone that me and Mum were going to move to Tenerife and people were shocked.

I was supposed to go to Sam's hen night, I didn't go because I didn't feel very well.

The day before Sam's wedding, Sam invited me to go for a meal at Ma Hubbard's. Sam's friend, Sara and Josh went too. Then we went for a drive in Sam's car. We went back to Sam's for a couple of drinks. Mum came to pick me up.

We went to watch Sam and Dale get married, I was glad we were there. We went to the reception. We were there all night.

Peter came with his girlfriend, Jo.

I got an appointment to go for a CT scan because on the X ray, the rod looked broken and they wanted a better idea of what was going on.

In the mean time, Mum was looking at places to rent, we went a week earlier because I couldn't wait to get out again.

A letter came from the hospital, to see Mr Feeman, he said that the CT scan showed that the rods didn't look broken on th X ray it did. He said what do you want to do, he said you have got to choices either leave it how it is or have another opeation. I said I wanted the opeartion. He said ok.

He said the waiting list is about 4 months. Mum said we are going to Tenerife to live, it would help Dawn relax before the opeartion. Mr Freeman said you need to put weight on.

I had a leaving party, Sam arranged it and we went to Ma Hubbards then into town for a few drinks.

The day we flew Sam, Dale and Josh came to say bye.

Dad drove us to the airport, I was very upset althogh I wanted to go, it was a big thing to move to a differant contry with out you family.

When we got to Tenerife, Gary was at the airport waiting for us. We got the hire car went to the villa in Chayofa.

When we got to the villa, Lin arrived. We dropped off the bags and went to the Chinese.

Gary drove back with us in his car, to make sure that we got home safely. He came for a coffee before he home.

Gary poped round a few times to see us.

We moved villas a few times and Gary helped.

The fourth villa we moved into was a friend of Lin's.

On the Saturday, Mum got a call from my Dad saying that a letter came throgh the post saying that the hospital wanted me to go for a pre op assessment on the 5th of September and have the opeartion on 25th. Which was STM birthday.

We only got the villa for one week and since we were going back to England on the Tuesday, Gary invited us to stay at his. It ment I had the chance to spend sometime with Dannii before we went back.

Gary stayed somewhere else for those few nights.

On the Saturay, Gary came into the bedroom that I was staying in, he said I can't wait to get your hair off.

I told Gary, what the hospital had done to my hair last time and he said I will shave your head if would like. He kept asking if I still wanted it done for a month.

Tri came over to take out Dannii's dreadlocked

Gary took a chair out of the kitchen and sat me on it. He got his clippers out, he stood in front of me. He went straght down the middle of my head and he turned it off said do you still want it off

Gary helped us look for a place to live and he got his friend to look at villas for us. We found one on the golf. All that needed to be done was the bathroom turning into a wet room. It took Tri and Mum 4 hours to take Dannii's dreadlocks out then Tri cut Dannii's hair.

Monday night, it was our last night so the 8 of us went the Camal Park Restaurant, When we arrived, we were the first there. When Lin, Wendy and Sam came they were shocked because they thought me and Gary were joking about it.

The day we went back to England, Mum went to look at apartment in Los Cristianos. I stayed with Gary, I was on Dannii's computer talking to Peter.

Before we left Gary shaved my head again because it has grown.

We all went to the airport, we said bye to Gary and Dannii.

We got back to England, as we got to the arrivals, Dad saw me and throught aah poor girl got cancer, second throght was she got a talker like Dawn, third throught it is Dawn.

Dad said what the hell have you done to your hair, I said that Gary shaved it off for the opeartion.

When we went to the hospital, we went up in the lift a nurse from the ward was in there, she asked me what I had done to my hair and I told what I had happened.

I had the same tests done as last time, saw loads of people. Mr Hine, one of Mr Freeman's team, explained what was going to happen this time.

Sometime later Meline, the nuse, who we saw in the lift, said I'm sorry to tell you this but we aren't going to do the electrodes on you this time because the area that we are operating on doesn't need spainal mounting

I told Gary that they weren't doing it, he said we had a laugh doing it
. The day I went into hosspital, I rang Gary to make me lagh and to make me feel better.

The opeartion was done and I was in there 3 weeks because I got 3 infections. I was very poorly.

I had a lot of vistors that came to see me and one came from London. That was Jenna, it made my day.

I had to back into theatre so that the could put a line in my neck because it was a faster way of getting drugs into me.

We found out the reason I was called back so quickly. Mr Freeman was going to live in Australia. He wanted to finish what he started. I throught it was nice of him
. I went to see him 6 weeks after my opeation. He said you have done well to recover after the infections you got. He said there is no reason for you to see anyone else. I have done everything that I can for you now.

I asked if I could have a photo taken with him.

He said pop across if you get the chance.

We were supose to drive back to Tenerife but the van that I brought wasn't ready and I didn't want to stay there any longer than I had to.

We got back on the 6th Noveber. We went to the apartment then went to get something to eat.

We saw Gary and Dannii the Globe bar for a drink, the day after we got back.

We took Dannii to the Mexican near Las Galletas, to talk about when she would start working for me.

Mum went back to England to fetch the van, I stayed with Dannii.

We had a terrible first christmas because the electric went in the apartment so we had to bin all the food. So we went to meet Gary and Aunty and Uncle in a restaurant so that we could have something to eat. Then I went back to Gary's for a bit.

The next day, we met Tri in Las Galletas for coffer. We went back to the apartment so that they could fix the electric.

Peter came on New Years Eve, It was nice to see him. We had fun.

I started working for Gary just before my birthday. I love my job, thanks to Gary.

We went to Totem, for my 23rd birthday

That's where we met Gary's new girlfriend, Sabrina.

Then we went to the Globe bar for a few drinks and cake.

When our friend, Sallyann came to stay, we went into town a lot. Mum and Sallyann wennt to Amercan Dreams and made friend, his name was Peppe.

A while later we met Charline.

When Sallyann went home we carried on going into town, One night Mum met 2 men, called Pete and Steve. They had a bet on, what Mum's name was. Steve won it.

Wum went out twice and them he came back with her

. We spend time with him. It took me a long time to accepted him.

One night, Peppe rang Mum up and said I want you to speak to my Italian brother, this voice was talking in spanish and then he asked if she could speek Englanish, Mum said yes and the man said so do I. It was Pete.

2 days before we moved, we were given a 6 month old puppy called Luna because Peppe couldn't look after her. He works long hours.

We moved to the villa, on 6th of May. The day after Pete went back to England.

Mum went back to England for a week to stay with Pete. I sayed with Dannii.

When they came back, it was Kev's leaving do. He was renting the bar. He was working me.

I used to stay with them for one night a week.

When we moved we lost the telephone line and were on the waiting list, we waited 2 months. Pete and Mum kept ringing them up. I need the internet to communicate with the outside world. Pete said why don't chain yourself to their doors until they do something

. They day that we went up to Santa Crus to Telefonca's head office, to protest my rights. We rang Island Connections newspaper to see if they wanted to cove the story.

We got there, we had to go up some steps to get to the offices, Pete put on chains and shoke them to show them that we wasn't going anywhere.

After a while they invited us in, they tried to sort it out for us, it took 2 hours for them to do it.

That night I stayed with Kev and Dannii.

When Kev and Dannii took me home that night. Pete said to me that I was on the fount page of both newspappers and Telefonca were coming that evening to install the phone line and internet.

To see to see the full story go to visit Island connections!

In October, I did the walk for life in my walker. I did a trail walk, it took me 50 minutes to do it. I was very tired when I had finished it.

Peter rode the rote in my wheelchair and broke the arm in the process.

The day I did the walk, was very hot.

I went round collecting sponse money.

There was another walk in Santa Crus the following week. I did that as well.

As you can see I have done a lot in my short life and a disability doesn't stop you from enjoying your life to the full.

I didn't turn out like how the doctors said I would be like.

I would like to thank all the people who that have helped me be the person I am today so thank you, you know who you are.

I wrote and design this web page with Gary's help and encouragement, so thank you mate.

Marco and Lucy arrived on the 20th of March. It was good to see them after all that time.

I have talked about my Cerebral Palsy. For moreinformation go to vist Cerebral Palsy!