After 100 surgeries, Wendy was on so many painkillers she couldn't get out of bed or string a sentence together. Sport pulled her back from the brink.
Wheelchair sports helped pull Wendy out of a 'deep, dark hole'. But participating isn't always an easy processAfter 100 surgeries "cutting off bits" of her leg at a time, Wendy Passfield was on so many painkillers she couldn't get out of bed or string a sentence together.
"I was taking so many painkillers I couldn't get out of bed, I couldn't put a sentence together, I couldn't do anything," she said.Ms Passfield was determined to regain the love of sport she's had her entire life — but when she was well enough to find a wheelchair sport, she realised "there was nothing out there".
Ms Passfield said NDIS funding can't be accessed until an individual has already committed 12 months to playing the sport.Despite her sporting commitments and work with charity Sporting Wheelies, Ms Passfield said she struggled to play without her own customised sports wheelchair — having to borrow somebody else's old one for games — and said the process for applying for funds was long and drawn-out.
Dane Cross said there is still a long way to go to ensure sport in Queensland is inclusive for people of all abilities.Ms Passfield said it demoralised the self-image of young children and plus-sized athletes who can't find a chair to fit.Mr Cross said he often heard how playing sport changed the lives of participants like Ms Passfield."They can get into this deep, dark hole of depression, inactivity, and isolation — whereas sport welcomes people back into the community," he said.
The duo believe early investment — from individuals, corporations, and all levels of government — on a grassroots level can help, with positive impacts to flow on to the public health system in the long run. Mr Cross said people with disability were nine times more likely to have chronic disease as a result of inactivity.Ms Passfield counts herself "luckier than most" because she can spend a lot of time on the court through her job.She said her mental and physical health had improved greatly because of the sport, boosting self-confidence through her social connections.
Wheelchair Basketball Sporting Wheelies Wheelchair Parasport Paraplegia Disability Sport Community Sport Community Support Sporting Community Pain Killers Accessibility Sporting Participation Access To Sport Inclusion In Sport Sport Inclusivity Surgeries Post-Surgery Wellness NDIS Funding Specialised Wheelchair
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