Janine Shepherd: A lesson in the power of the spirit

Have you been reading the background stories of some incredible journeys of those athletes in the last Paralympics? So many have had to overcome incredibly debilitating conditions to even be alive, let alone perform so well.

That took my mind back to a Paralympian I had incredible respect for. Her name is Janine Shepherd and her story was featured in the book and the movie “Never tell me never”? Janine was all set for the Olympic squad, when her bike was crushed in a horrific accident. The book is about her incredible fight back, using the power of her spirit to overcome her tragedy. Janine agreed to be a famous guest in my “Who’d be a parent” book and her story was so inspirational I’d like to share a small excerpt with you now.

“Obviously in my adult life the most difficult time was my accident. The accident happened when I was out training on a pushbike for the ‘88 Winter Olympics, and it left me - well they didn't think I would survive, they didn't think I'd walk. I broke my neck and back in four places, my right arm, five ribs on my left side, my collarbone, some bones in my feet, severe lacerations on my body, head injuries, internal injuries, I lost 5 litres of blood, so I was not in a very good state. Suddenly everything that I had ever, ever valued and worked for was gone in an instant. That was terribly difficult to deal with and the loss of self esteem. I hated my body. I couldn't walk, everything I had worked hard for was gone.

But one of the most important things I have probably learnt from my accident is that I feel everything is there to teach us something. Even when things don't work out the way I want them to work out or things are a bit tough I can now step back and go, well I've made it through the toughest battle, I'll make it through this one. Tough times never last but tough people do as the old saying goes. I can look philosophically at things now and think well what can I learn from this, what's life trying to teach me now and, as it turns out, usually things work out - and sometimes you don't end up going the way that you wanted to go but you end up on a different tangent and it is usually a better one.

Life is all about the difference between an optimist and a pessimist. There is only one good thing about a pessimist and that is they are great to borrow money from because they never expect to get it back. We all need to be optimistic.

I also think that parents today provide for their children materially but I don't think they provide for them emotionally and spiritually. I think the best thing is just to be there. I think we are so busy paying off the house, paying off the mortgage, both parents are working but we've got to be there and we have to work out what our priorities are. I just think that people need to remember their emotional and spiritual development is just as important as providing for them materially.

My recovery has taken a long time. I can now look back and say well now I can see a reason for it all happening but back then I couldn't. I guess the important thing to realise when you are in the middle of tough times, other people have done it, other people have survived, you will survive. That's got to give you hope - the fact that you are not alone.

Janine, for your inspirational leadership to us all, I enthusiastically welcome you to our Humble Heroes Hall of Fame.