Talk about a
"super quad"...
1Quadriplegic
woman sails English Channel
The Associated
Press
LONDON
— A British woman Tuesday
became the first quadriplegic to sail solo between Britain and France across
the English Channel, coast guards said.
Hilary Lister, 33, who can move only her
head, eyes and mouth, took six hours to navigate her boat unaided through one
of the world’s busiest and most treacherous shipping lanes.
“It is very emotional for me. I was
absolutely certain that once I got in the boat that I could make it to France.
I am too stubborn to give up,” Lister said after arriving at the French port
of Calais.
“I want to get able-bodied people to rethink
their views about the disabled.”
Coast guards at the southern English port of
Dover, where Lister began her journey, said it was the first time a
quadriplegic had made the voyage solo.
Her boat has been adapted to be controlled
by the “sip and puff” method, allowing her to adjust the sails and tiller by
blowing and sucking through two straws.
Lister, from Canterbury, England, was
diagnosed with the degenerative disease reflex sympathetic dystrophy as a
teenager.
Just had to throw my thoughts out here on this subject of "super
quads." I have been reading the post and find it amazing that you all do not
see yourselves as "super individuals," I certainly find you all that way.
Whenever I start to slip into a "pity party" attitude I come online and
always find a post that picks me up. I know that is not the intention of the
poster because rarely are any posts directed to me, but just reading what
most of you face and how you all deal with each issue encourages me. I
think that each and every person on this list is incredible, and in my mind
it proves the old saying "that which does not kill you only makes you
stronger" Recently, here locally and in some surrounding towns they had an
unsung hero's tribute, and I think I'd have to say that my hero's can be
found on this list. You might be surprised at the impact you have on
peoples lives that you touch. What I find sad is that most of
you are rarely told how important you are, so I did not want to miss
out on the opportunity to let you know what my thoughts are.
Penny
