PWN Global

Le Roseau penchant, histoire d'une merveilleuse opération

By Nadalette La Fonta Six

Once upon a time…I was one of you, a busy and active, professional woman, PWN member since 2004, board member from 2005 to 2010, manager, coach, serving communities, wife, mother and friend. But I hadn’t taken enough care of myself!

To be honest, in the couple of years before the back surgery, I was carrying on but I was exhausted, and most of you, Sandy, Margaret, Marie Claude, Marie Christine, Corinne, Malika, Blandine and others, were saying kindly, “You can’t keep going this way”. This ‘way’ was with back pain, a huge scoliosis, and difficulty walking. But I was in denial about it all.

But none of us want to leave the stage, do we? Nor see the truth.

Finally, on October 15, 2014, I had back surgery – it took nine hours to put me straight. But when I woke up, I was not cured, the bone marrow had been hit, I was a paraplegic. No hope.

I spent nine months in hospital for rehabilitation, in a tough environment, in pain, disabled, alone, despite my supportive friends visiting me and sending messages via social networks – God bless Zuckerberg!

There were some dreadful moments, like an echo from a troubled childhood, but truly the desire to live and to recover never disappeared. Never give up, I thought, and knew I needed to start caring and loving myself better.

My family, husband and daughters were there for me to a certain extent, taking on what they could bear, but such a drama has systemic consequences. And they have been also deeply hurt: loosing what they took for granted, a fully able and independent wife and mother.

There were some good moments and you may recognize a few of you when I refer to my Scottish friend, and Malika Marie-Christine, Ingrid amongst the many of you who still stand by me. I recommend you to friends from the network: whatever the problem, just ring the bell and they’ll come, bringing hope and joy.

But let us face the truth, three years later, I am standing – yes – but walking like a toddler, most of the day in neuropathic pain. I can’t walk outside without the help of a cane and the hand of someone. But now I shower and manage to do a lot of things on my own. But I am dependent and that is tough. Now I am back in Paris but still dependent!

My past life has gone, so I had to reinvent myself, and that’s great, somehow I have become a writer.

That is what this book is about, a testimonial on resilience, rebirth, choosing your destiny, authenticity , integrity and being yourself, forever, no more someone else’s desire.

In that way, Le Roseau penchant, histoire d’une merveilleuse opération is not only about what has happened to me, it is not only “what if that happened to you”, it is universal. Lessons learnt: how to rebuild yourself. For once, my practice of Meta state as a coach has also served me.

All, everything is possible. Cry with me, laugh with me! And if you buy, steal or borrow my book, please comment on social media.

Thank you for letting me share, eager to hear from you.

Nadalette La Fonta-Six

https://www.facebook.com/nadalette, or https://www.facebook.com/leroseaupenchant/