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Mike Mackenzie was injured during the war in
Bosnia whilst working for an aid agency. The two people with him
were killed, he broke his ribs, collapsed lung, lost his spleen,
broke his hands, lost his left leg, gave his head a serious bash
and severed his spinal chord resulting in paralysis from chest
level.He has progressed well to the extent he has now managed
to lose his other leg! [He has since lost his other leg and is
permanently in a wheel chair.]
He is utterly inspirational, spends much of
his time working with others who have just suffered similar injuries
to show them there is life after such a disaster. Intensely independent,
his determination to show he is still a full person despite his
terrible injuries. He will take with him a spinal injuries nurse
to ensure medical cover, a very attractive girl with a lively
personality.
After 21 years in the wine trade Mike was asked
by two young but inspired brothers to join Scottish European Aid.
Dispatched to Bosnia as Director of Operations he had more operations
than anyone else! [broke his ribs, collapsed a lung, lost his
spleen, broke his hands, lost his left leg, gave his head a serious
bash and, for good measure, in breaking his back, severed his
spinal cord at chest level].
Since learning to drive a wheelchair he has
been presented with more and varied opportunities than would otherwise
have been the case. The joining fees for this exclusive club are
is quite tough and are probably not recommended. However a few
weeks after leaving a 14 month stay in hospital he was able to
return to skiing'; this time with an excuse to be on his bum!
He took part in the first and only wheelchair
push of the St James pilgrim route from Paris to Santiago de Compostela.
He has travelled extensively within Europe including an early
return trip to Bosnia where he found that a bulletproof jacket
was heavy enough to tip over a wheelchair backwards but at least
the helmet helped!
Mike spends a considerable amount of time talking
to newly injured people and their families at The National Spinal
Injury Centre, Stoke Mandeville assuring them that paralysis doesn't
stop life but merely alters the way you do things. Mike passionately
believes that opportunities abound and the adventure of Around
the World in 80 Ways is an inspiring example of what can be achieved.
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