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Hi Folks!

Time for another newsletter. In my travels, I have met the sister of an inspirational person. The sister is inspirational too. The sister's name is Lyn Rowland. When she told me about her sister's struggle to live and contribute and grow under extremely trying circumstances, I thought that her story needed to be told. If you understand the effort it takes for the writer to write to you, you will be inspired by the words and the message.

The following introduction was written by Lyn and the poem by Maree herself. Enjoy your life. Maree does.

" On 5 May, 1994 Maree Bourke Calliss suffered a massive brain stem stroke as a result of a bad knock received during a game of netball. She was a 32 year old primary school teacher who loved sport and physical fitness. On that day, almost nine years ago, Maree became a quadriplegic with "Locked-in Syndrome" which means not only is she unable to move any part of her body but she also cannot speak.

Her stroke destroyed the bridge between thinking and doing. Her brain is brilliantly active and frighteningly astute, but her body cannot respond to her instructions. Her language comes through blinking her eyelids to correspond with a table of numbers and letters.

Maree is an intelligent, vibrant woman who chose an unorthodox recovery approach - completely drug free. This required enormous courage as the pain involved when an active body suddenly and completely stops, would be unbearable to most. Maree knew her greatest functioning asset was her brain and it needed to be protected.

It was almost three years before she would leave the rehabilitation centre in Adelaide and return home to Whyalla, where she leads an extraordinary life.

Maree manages a small team of dedicated "carers" and has recently completed designing and building her own home, which she has filled with antiques and colorful art. Pushing herself everyday to do exercises with carer support, she has kept remarkably fit and healthy. Maree is a patron of the Special Olympics, loves music, writing poetry and designing gardens. She takes an avid interest in the development of young Australians. A recent addition to her home is Caz the wonder dog who will soon graduate from dog obedience classes that Maree attends with her like any diligent dog lover.

Her story is so much bigger than these few paragraphs and is one that will one day be told for all to be touched, moved and truly inspired.

Here is a poem Maree communicated to her carer (by blinking out each letter)......

Maree is online (mbourkey@centralonline.com.au) and would love to receive a message from you. Please be aware that she cannot respond to emails but sends her thanks in advance for you taking the time to say "gidday".

My Life - In the fast lane
Carefree.. Timeless.. Ever moving.
A top end teacher,
Young.
Bold and always active.
A taste of love. Hard working,
Late study,
Clean and happy home,
Sport, action
And lover of nature.
Empty heart.
So came a stronger,
Independent woman.
Her world became private.
And time for work became plentiful.
Like finding a jewel in the ocean...
Chance meeting of two...
Fate sealed.

Love Maree Bourke-Callis

I am sure Maree would love to hear from you.

regards
Paddy Spruce

Speaker and Corporate Trainer
03 9808 8990
http://www.paddyspruce.com.au

email - paddy@paddyspruce.com.au