Jake Borrett's Writing Blog

This Frozen Day

This Frozen Day

My eyes flicker open as something wet licks my ears. I’m surrounded by this white powered snow. I call out but my echoed voice is muffled by the whirling flakes gliding down on me. Puffs of crystal trees shiver in the distance, trying to keep warm underneath their blankets. I just lie here on the ground, stroking the snow between my fingertips. My lungs breathe deeply, taking in the flakes tickling my tongue. No one can hear I’m sure of that. I don’t know how I got here, but I don’t want anyone to find me.

Trembling Beauty

Trembling Beauty

We sit in the field. Silence echoes.

Dad freezes high up in his chair, whilst I cross-leg

On the ground. Alone. The hay stretches for miles

But no one’s here to admire its trembling beauty.

The wind brushes up against our faces, stroking

The corners of our lips. I arch my arm, clutching

Dad’s hand and inhale his invader’s tremors.

A stranger, forever stalking our footprints.

A red butterfly sprouts out of the gold, circling the air.

Its wings flutter, floating down sapphires from the sky.

We let the gems trickle to the dirt with a sigh,

Our hands don’t let go as this beauty passes by.

The Dyspraxia Community

The Dyspraxia Community

'Hope In Darkness' concluded with the words, ‘In darkness there is always light, there is always hope’. I like to think in our most difficult of times there is always at least one person willing to listen, wanting to understand. Since being diagnosed with Dyspraxia at the age of eighteen I have received overwhelming support from family, friends and the community. In this article I hope to show there is someone there to help, because they helped me.

The Foundations

‘Dyspraxia Foundation UK’ is an amazing charity, helping improve the lives of those with Dyspraxia but also provide support to loved ones. I cannot thank them enough for the guidance and encouragement they have given me.

‘Dyspraxia Foundation UK’ is only one example. There has been an increase in the number of charities around the globe who are attempting to break the silences and taboos over our condition. Their work has been extremely important, for instance gaining media coverage for Dyspraxia from news and radio channels to television series such as Tree Fu Tom, a BBC series with a hero with Dyspraxia and special powers.

The Supporters

I have also turned to supporters in the past, those who attempt to educate others about Dyspraxia through their body of work. This can come in many forms from websites, textbook guides and picturebooks hoping to challenge the stereotypes and myths often associated with learning conditions such as our own.

There are many examples of excellent examples, including:

› Adele Devine’s Literary For Visual Learners, which is a guide offering approaches to teaching reading, writing and communication skills that support visual learners and those with specific learning conditions. Adele Devine is a special needs teacher at a school for young people with severe learning difficulties and Autism in Surrey.

› Jane Binnion’s You’re So Clumsy Charley, which is a cartoon-style book following the daily challenges of Charley, a young boy with Dyspraxia. The author Jane Binnion, who herself has been diagnosed with Dyspraxia, notes ‘The book is about dyspraxia...but we chose not to name it in the story because this book is for every child that is different.’

I have often found myself reading such guides to provide me with additional strategies to overcome any obstacles my Dyspraxia poses. When I was revising for my university English Literature examinations I found it challenging to retain critical theory and textual quotes. I followed the advice of using visual aids to help enhance my memory skills, for instance creating colourful revision posters.

The Fighters

I am pleased to say I have been extremely inspired by those individuals with Dyspraxia who achieve their dreams and ambitions in spite of their specific learning conditions. They and their loves one are true fighters.

Some of these fighters, like me, have set up writing blogs and pages to share their own experiences of Dyspraxia. The following are links to some of their brilliant pages:

› Mikey’s Wish – Verbal Dyspraxia Awareness

https://www.facebook.com/Mikeys-Wish-Verbal-Dyspraxia-Awareness-1530762927191903/?fref=pb&hc_location=profile_browser

› Natalie Williams’ The Blog With (More Than) One Post

https://theblogwithonepost.wordpress.com/

› Rosie’s Thinking Out Of The Box

http://thinkoutsideofthecardboardbox.blogspot.co.uk/

This is only a short list, and there are hundreds of other incredible individuals proving they can be fantastic as well as having Dyspraxia. Dyspraxia does not have to define them. Together we are not fighting this battle alone, but we are united as a strong community.

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The intention of this article is to show there are many people who are willing to support, listen and inspire others going through dark times. The foundations, the supporters and the fighters have helped me tremendously and prove ‘The Dyspraxia Community’ is made up of wonderful individuals.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Happy New Year!

I hope you are all having a great start to 2016 and it goes on to produce many magical moments for you all.

You may remember that at the beginning of January 2015 I posted an article titled ‘New Year’s Resolutions (2015)’. Therefore I thought it would be interesting to reflect upon the year gone by to see whether I achieved any of my goals, before I set myself a few more for 2016.

Reflecting On 2015

In 2015 I set myself the following New Year’s Resolutions:

› To develop ‘Jake Borrett’s Writing Blog’

› To raise lots of awareness for Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Dyspraxia

› To do a tandem skydive

› To complete a number of other ‘bits and bobs’

Let us start off with the negatives. Unfortunately I have yet to complete a tandem skydive. I have set this goal since my dad did one in June 2009 in aid of Multiple Sclerosis. This year I promise to fulfil this goal. I should have more time in the summer as I will be graduating at University of Hertfordshire in September 2016. I will do a skydive in aid of ‘Crohn’s and Colitis UK’ and ‘Dyspraxia Foundation’.

Moving onto the positives, I would like to think we have developed ‘Jake Borrett’s Writing Blog’ together, and have raised lots of awareness for Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Dyspraxia. As a team we have taken part in ‘World IBD Day’ and ‘Hats on for Christmas’.

With your amazing support the writing blog has received over 30,000 views and there have been over 1,000 Likes on the Facebook Page. Thank you so much.

I have been lucky enough to appear on my local radio station ‘Radio Verulam’, where I have shared my poetry and hopefully have broken some silences over our disabilities. Also the health website ‘Patient’ has been kind enough to allow me to publish my articles ‘Support Soars Higher Than Mountains’ and ‘Five Ways to Tackle Inflammatory Bowel Disease At Christmas’ on their website. Ultimately thank you all for your wonderful support.

Additionally I carried out a number of other ‘bits and bobs’ throughout 2015. Some of my highlights include visiting Shakespeare’s Birthplace at Stratford-upon-Avon and spending a week away with my cousin and friends in South Wales.

The Year Ahead: 2016

So what are my resolutions for 2016?

Here are some of my possible goals:

› Continue developing ‘Jake Borrett’s Writing Blog’

› Raising even more awareness for Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Dyspraxia

› Tandem skydive in aid of ‘Crohn’s and Colitis UK’ and ‘Dyspraxia Foundation’

› Getting further involved with ‘Radio Verulam’

› Graduating from the University of Hertfordshire with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing

› Acting and writing for my local theatre group, ‘Abbey Theatre’

› Developing my own writing projects, in prose and poetry

› To watch the films ‘Frozen’ and ‘The Lion King’ and the television series ‘Games of Thrones’

Yes, believe it or not many of my friends are shocked to learn I have not watched The Lion King. It was therefore a good thing I received the film as one of my Christmas presents.

Ultimately, I want 2016 to be a year filled with happy moments. Thank you for being there for me. I hope the year ahead is incredible for you.

Brighter Future Days

Brighter Future Days

We are coming to the end of ‘Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week’, which has taken place between Tuesday 1^st and Monday 7^th December 2015. As I sit in my bedroom typing away on a laptop with a bad stomach ache I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect.

Some of the memories with Crohn’s Disease which will stay with me include the following:-

› From age nine to thirteen ‘Doctor One’ branded my symptoms of Crohn’s Disease, including that of abdominal pain, diarrhoea and stunted growth, as ‘imaginary’ and a product of an over-anxious mother. He was wrong though, my mother is not over-anxious she is brilliant. She fought for a second opinion where I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease.

For further details on this memory please do have a read of the article called ‘More Than Just ‘Imaginary’’.

› After a number of tests including a colonoscopy and endoscopy I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at the age of thirteen in November 2007. Unfortunately the way ‘Doctor Two’ delivered his diagnosis was unfortunately rather inappropriate.

Have a read of the articles ‘Next Stop: Colonoscopies and Endoscopies’ and ‘A Six Letter Diagnosis’ if you wish.

› Many with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis know that we are put on an assortment of medicine to help control our condition. Some of which I have been given include Pentasa, Prednisolone and Azathioprine. However the one which many will remember is that wonderful taste of laxative.

› Post-diagnosis I went on the ‘Modulen Liquid Diet’ for nine weeks hoping to settle my stomach. This is a challenging task as food is a big part of our lives, but it is additionally tricky over the Christmas period.

› On the 22^nd July 2010 I had surgery to remove the inflamed section of my small intestine.

› Over the number of years with Crohn’s Disease I, like others, have experienced a number of flare-ups. One of which I was taken to hospital in an ambulance in the middle of the night. One of the most difficult however was in October 2013, which involved bleeding. I was admitted into hospital for nearly a week, but this led me to defer my second year at the University of Hertfordshire. I am in my final year now so I got there in the end.

Whilst some of the experiences of my Crohn’s Disease have been emotional I believe they have made me a stronger person. What I have come to realise though is that I would not have gotten through any of this without the incredible support of my family, friends and the community. I truly admire the determination of those with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, but I also appreciate those who care about us, those we can reply on.

I came across this quote by Stephen R. Covey on the internet the other day:

I have been lucky that over the years I have met so many who listen with the intent to understand. I hope with this incredible support we can all have brighter future days. Stay strong everyone.

Pages

This Frozen Day

Trembling Beauty

The Dyspraxia Community

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Brighter Future Days