Gavin
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In 2010 Gavin had an accident when he slipped on some wet decking. He was paralysed and fitted with a urethral catheter in hospital. This was later changed to a suprapubic catheter. Gavin and his wife had a baby daughter after his accident.
Gavin is married with 2 children. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.
More about me...
When Gavin returned to work, his colleagues helped and the Occupational Health Department...
When Gavin returned to work, his colleagues helped and the Occupational Health Department...
Yeah, towards the end it was, I’d built up to working three full days and, with the addition of the new care company providing my care, I was able to get to work at half past eight, nine- o’clock, and do a full day’s work. Yes, I felt very confident in what I was doing and it didn’t seem to slow my work down. I could still do what I did before at a similar speed although it, you know, it was in a different way.
Information about benefits can be hard to find. Gavin found advice from charities useful. He...
Information about benefits can be hard to find. Gavin found advice from charities useful. He...
When Gavin left hospital he had care provided by district nurses. There was little continuity of...
When Gavin left hospital he had care provided by district nurses. There was little continuity of...
It’s provided from a PCT [Primary Care Trust]. Funded through a PCT.
Planning ahead is important, including having a change of clothes in case of leaking. Gavin wears...
Planning ahead is important, including having a change of clothes in case of leaking. Gavin wears...
Gavin explains why he found a suprapubic better than a urethral catheter.
Gavin explains why he found a suprapubic better than a urethral catheter.
Gavin describes the help he got and the equipment he needed so he could father a child.
Gavin describes the help he got and the equipment he needed so he could father a child.
Get as much advice as you can. If you are spinal injured, go to your spinal unit. I’m sure they would have lots and lots of advice. Speak to as many people as you could on forums. They’re usually very experienced and got a lot of good advice. Particularly mothers that were spinal injured and gone through pregnancy and lived with a child, bringing them up even independently a lot of them. But a lot of the charities also run courses on parenting. They can give you a lot of advice. But really just be open-minded and don’t be put off by anything. Because it is worth it really at the end.
It was strange at first to have a tube coming out of his stomach. Within days, though, Gavin had...
It was strange at first to have a tube coming out of his stomach. Within days, though, Gavin had...
Most off putting thing about having my suprapubic catheter was just, one minute you’ve got a stomach there and then the next minute you’ve got a stomach with a tube coming out of it. And it’s more strange than off-putting but, within days, you don’t see it at all. So you very quickly adapt and change to suit really. And that goes with every other problem really. You quite quickly find a way round things or a different way of doing something, or not doing it at all, and doing something completely different.
Doctors decided that a suprapubic catheter would be better for Gavin because he was getting...
Doctors decided that a suprapubic catheter would be better for Gavin because he was getting...
Gavin’s wife used to do his bladder washouts when he was first injured. He now does his own and...
Gavin’s wife used to do his bladder washouts when he was first injured. He now does his own and...
Leaking can stop you from living a normal life. Gavin gives some practical advice for going out.
Leaking can stop you from living a normal life. Gavin gives some practical advice for going out.
Gavin wondered if a clip could be designed to hold the catheter tube closer to the stomach rather...
Gavin wondered if a clip could be designed to hold the catheter tube closer to the stomach rather...