Q&A

What exactly is amputation?
Amputation is the loss of a limb either surgically or congenitally (born that way).
Mine was a right above knee amputation. 

Do you regret it?

Obviously, I regret the actions that resulted in my amputation, driving in a dangerous way. I don't regret the change in my life. I have a more peaceful and stress free life at the minute. I have no worries at all and I am a much happier, stress free Jacko.  

I miss my old life a lot some days, however my new life is much more interesting and full of the same ambitions and drive. My new life as an amputee is a blessing and I have so much hope and anticipation. I have lots of exciting ideas and my dreamworld is much easier to strive towards. 

What's the best thing that has happened to you in the last 12 months?

Apart from surviving a terrible car crash, I'd say, having two new gorgeous cousins brought into the world. I love my aunty Eve and her new baby Jack Elliot and I adore the Quach family! My Aunty Theresa and her new beautiful baby boy Xavier Ignaius ( AKA Xiggy! ) 

They are both such gorgeous little smiley boys and I love them with all my heart. 

Who are your biggest inspirations? Can be people you know or people you don't but find inspiring.
Well, I've been hunting for a young amputated girl who i could befriend and talk to about similar problems etc. however I stumbled across Amy Purdy and thought she was cool, she is a big inspiration for me at the minute. I want to achieve the things she has conquered. I want to be looking beautiful and dancing in heels as well as representing my country in the paraolympics! She is my inspiration on many levels. 

Closer to home, however, my aunty Theresa is a massive inspiration to me, she always has been and always will be. Her comforting words of advice have always been a heart lifting experience. I will always turn to her for advice and guidance and she always has and continues to tunnel me through dark patches and helps me get on track and aiming in the right direction. My angel that is always there for me and I always turn to in times of need

Can you actually polish the toe nails?

I haven't done so far, however I have seen other polished toenails on prosthetic legs. My Leonard is still in his early days, I'm trying so hard to polish up my ability to walk before I even consider decorating him with nail polish. I never really painted my toe nails prior to the crash anyway, I don't really have a thought to. 

Did the amputation hurt?

Probably. I don't remember any feeling of pain, I was dosed up for a long time and my memory is very talented at blocking out the nasty bits. I don't recall any pain at all. Although I'm sure there was, bit of a stupid question really. 

How did you get the amputation?  Did it affect your memory?

I crashed my car and it landed on top of me. I did have a pinch of Amnesia, my memory during my hospital time was pretty humours and I've heard lots of stories from visitors about my short term memory. 

You are such a new amputee, what do you have to offer other amputees, being so inexperienced (yes, a real question)?

I really don't know to be honest. I haven't really thought about it like that. I don't feel like I can offer other amputees anything but friendship. I've made friends with Tom and Rav, 2 amputees at The Maltings, my physio place. We get on well and support each other. I'm off to Limp Power events in May which will introduce me to many amputees, so I'll see how I can help them and vis versa.

Are you REALLY as positive as you portray yourself to be?

Yes, Im not one for holding back on emotions with friends and family. If I was ever feeling sad - which I honestly don't think I have - I would let them know. I'm just looking forward and working towards goals I've set myself and I'm excited about these goals and just want to stay focused and I haven't got time or energy to feel negative. 

Where do you expect this blog to take you?

I just want to get my 100 happy days down and dialogued really. I haven't really thought of what to do after that. I'm very new to the blogging world and I'm not quite sure what the craic is with it all. I'm just going to see what happens. It has already given me extra support from lovely comments from so many people on Facebook, it's amazing to see how far it's stretched through people sharing the link. 

What is the funniest comment anyone made to you about your leg?

My gorgeous adorable cousin Urban called my thigh my little leg and chanted, "you've got a little leg, you've got a little leg" I thought it was funny and waved it in the air while she chanted around me. 

Who reacts better, kids or adults?
Definitely kids!  they have no filters and are so curious!  They ask questions and don’t pretend it doesn’t exist.  I think adults are so worried about being PC or offending me that they just stare or ignore it.

Would you rather have gone through what you have OR be told you're gradually going blind with a maximum of 19 years left?

I'm partially blind in one eye anyway, and my sight is a bloody mess! SO I'd defiantly go for the gradually going blind with a maximumof 19 years left. I would have the same figure and ability to get married and have kids and see all the major important things. So in 19 years I will be 44/45 and I would then have an eye transplant or something.

What has been the best piece of advice you've received since your accident? 
Have faith in that things will work out and life will be good. Keep your head up and look forward. (Words from my aunty Theresa.)

 If you were a biscuit, what biscuit would you be?

Jaffa Cake. 

February - 28 VERY happy days

So, this was certainly a good month to start the 'happy days' project! I've struggled to limit myself to 1 photo a day! 

Day 1:

So, my first snap was taken during my visit to the O'Riordan's, my adopted family! Alice, the wonderfully talented lady, baked me this yummy marble cake. I always get fed well at the sisters house!

Love a visit to this bunch of lovely people! Momma Rose always puts a big smile on my face. I love all of them to the moon and back. Thank you for cheering me up so much with tea, cake and giggles.

You will see this bunch pop up in my 100 happy days several times. I visit my grandparents in Birmingham most weekends and a visit isn't complete without a get-together with the O'Riordans/Hogans!

Day 2: Was a photo of a father and daughter hugging, with the caption; 

A lovely quote that made me smile. I love you Dad! … Now go find me a frigging Prince!

      

   Day 3: Waking up to a snap of this little rascal, put a big smile on my face! Love this little man, Tierney. 

Day 4: My nanny J on the back of a moped in Paris! 

Day 4 was a very happy day for me, with a couple of captions which just had to be snapped. Two classic images that were sent to me by family members that day and a screen shot of my Facebook status which summed up just how happy this Day 4 was!

Day 4: Xiggy looking as cute as ever sucking his thumb  

Day 4: A caption of my Facebook Status:

"So I'm doing a smile a day for 100 days on Instagram. Today at the QE I had a total audience due to the fact that i had 1% chance that the nerve in my face would even work! They're taking me for a full on photo shoot and a video of this astonishing smile I have :D It's been said before, anytime folks."  

This status shows just how amazed everyone, including myself, was at the limited optimism as to the progress in my operation. They did try their best to restore a nerve in my face to get it working again, but 1%, it sound like it was a stab in the dark really. The strength I have inside, along with the positivity I have been able to hold, has clearly paid off. The only way is up! 

Day: 5 

A lovely few gifts from my gorgeous sister Alex, who had been to Ireland to visit mom.

Day 6: Going for a walk with my dad, walking Sammy and Sally through the park, in the rain. It's great to get out in the fresh air, progress with my walking and see these two having great time hunting in the park for left over food! Sammy the greedy scavenger!

Day 7: I was back in Birmingham for the weekend. This was a Friday night date to Nandos with 3 of my truly beautiful and heart lifting friends. Love these ladies a lot man! Elaine, Catherine and Mary, big peri-peri kisses to you three! xxx

Day 8: I was staying at Nanny Durkin's house and they had a gorgeous open fire roaring away and setting a lovely, homily atmosphere to my stay their that night. Until, all of a sudden that roaring fire sound got louder and louder, a small spark had flew up the chimney and it was smocking a lot. The chimney was on fire! So, of course the fire brigade had to come along and sort it out. After a few hours of scraping the chimney breast clear, we all sat down together in my nanny Ds living room. We had a chat with the firemen whilst they sipped a cup of tea. Astonishingly, they remembered me from my accident. They heard all about it and it was their team that were called out to save me! It turns out, they all thought I had died! So to meet me that night was amazing!

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Day 9: I went to the Cullen's house, round the corner from the Durkin's, for a Sunday lunch. It was so lovely to see Irene, Frank and Alex. Lauren was out this day, working I think, but it was so lovely to see everyone else. This put several smiles on my face! So much love for this family!

Day 10: A lovely caption I saw on Instagram, posted by my sister in law, Grace, who tagged me in it. I thought, you know what, that is me!!!! ;) 

D ay 11: My gorgeous Aunty Tee and beautiful little cousin Xiggy. Love the Quach family with all my heart!

Day 12:

There's noting better than a sleepover with your best friend, along with a bag full of these lovely treats! 

 

Day 13: I went back with Lauren to her house after she stayed over at mine, and my visit to the Cullen's is always a lovely treat! Always has been and always will be! A lovely cup of tea with a side of truffles and chocolate hedgehog. A happy full belly at Cullen's.   The chocolate hedgehog was just like the ones we used to have at school! Bloody gorgeous :)

Day 14: February 14th Valentines Day!!  My first 'single' one in like over 10 years! Crazy! A little daughnting too. However it was a smiley day for me when I received the best card EVER from my gorgeous wonderful friend, Roisin. So much love for this girl! Thank you. 

Day 15: I spent this weekend at Nanny D's, on my arrival I received a late card from my gorgeous sis. Thank you so much my darling, I love you with all my heart!  

Day 16: Today was Baby Brady shower, round at Amy's house. I was excited to see Tierney this day as well as everyone else. We had a lot of giggles together and a nice little spread. Excited to meet little miss Brady in the next few days! Her arrival was only a few days off. 

   

Day 17: My beautiful baby niece Isabelle at her daddy's birthday party.  Big happy Birthday to my wonderfully ancient brother Daniel. 27! Shit you're old!

Day 18: I went to the Malting this morning, my physico place, which I should start snapping really, I do have a lot of happy times there chatting away to my new buddies in a similar situation to me. Tom and Perveen are my new mates there, we play together on the Wii fit and try and do all of the sports and stuff.  I'm sure I'll get them in here at some point before the 100 days are up! I went for a meal for my mate Zosia's birthday this evening. in a lovely restaurant in Kings Heath, Birmingham. Byzantium's. I bloody love this place! Anyway, I digress, before heading to birmgham for this meal, I had a nose on the One Black Bear website, my old job. I came across a really lovely news section that they had dedicated to me the week of my accident.
Thank you to all the wonderful people at One Black Bear.

Day 19:  Picking up a couple of treat like this for the car journey to cornwall but a very big smile on my face! We were off to the eden project for a lovely weekend by the beach.

 

Day 20: Lovely fresh air but the sea! So happy to be standing on the sandy Cornwall beach

Day 21: Getting my face painted at The Eden Project was definitely the highlight for me! 

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A few photos were taken during our lovely weekend down in Cornwall. We picked up some lovely chocolates at the Eden Project! All with an unusual kick to them, like the dark chocolate with chilli! So tasty! We also went to the Hidden Gardens of Heligan, which was very cool. I even had a go on the tree swing, which was brilliant!  I was wearing a very cool Donkey hat, which I LOVED! You can see, I put this down in my Day 22.The coolest Hat an Mitts EVER! 

Day 22:  

Day 23: Sunday at Catherine's house in Moseley, Birmingham, for the gorgeous Christina's baby shower!

Day 24: Bronagh Brady arrived!!! The arrival of this little beaut definitely made me smile! So happy for Amy and Ryan on their new perfectly gorgeous daughter! Tierney new little sister. What an amazing cute family. I also completed a very nice photo frame for my room, containing happy snaps of all my wonderful pals, and my gorgeous sister Alex in the middle, hugging me on my 24th birthday.

Day 25: Again a lovely quotation was found on Instagram, which I just had to keep myself and add it to my 100 happy days, it is a real pick-me-up picture which my Aunty Tee sent to me. Little wise words really do inspire and lift you up. Its a great way to start your day.

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Day 26: A cup of tea to start the day in my favourite mug, from my best friend Lauren. She really is my soulmate! The love of my life. Also, I sipped my tea out of this special mug of mine whilst I signed up for the Limp Power event. I'm very excited about this weekend retreat. I'll be running on a blade in no time!

Day 27: I went with Anna for a lovely back massage, eye-lash tint and curl and eyebrow waxed and tinted. What a lovely little treat.  

Day 28: Anna achieved an award for her art work, this had to be celebrated! We all went for a meal Candle lit Rioja at the Bellagio was a lovely evening with a great end to the month. Smiles all-round. Well done Anna! 

So, thats a run down of my 28 happy days of February. March, come at me! 

Thanks Dad! Hello Leonard!

So, before I crack on with this 100 happy days, it must be highlighted that this little project would have fell at the first hurdle if it wasn't for my wonderful father, Paul Jackson. This man has helped me more than you can begin to imagine. He's done so much for me during all this time of shitness, in order to make me happy and stay positive.

From trips to the safari park durning my dull time in hospital, to building me a friggin apartment to arrive home to. 

He has almost doubled in size his house in order to have a comfortable place for me to wake up in a positive mood every day. His kindness and generosity is astronomical and I love him so much.

I'm so lucky to have a dad this wonderful, I truthfully don't know where Id be right now if it wasn't for him. Thank you dad, you really are the best in the world and I love you with all my heart. 

My 100 happy days started on Instagram on 1st Feb, therefore I will collate them together each month with added commentary explaining each snap. The 100th Day falls magically 6 days before my anniversary! Day 100 is on 13th May. They call your amputation/accident date your anniversary, however my new leg has a name, Leonard. His 1st birthday is on 19th May. Celebrations will be held for this wonderful day. A far more enlightened and cheerful approach than an 'anniversary', as if someone has died. I would much rather proclaim this date as a celebratory birthday for my new loved body part, Leonard.