TAARIQA Archary has been through numerous challenges since she suffered a spinal cord injury seven years ago, when a drunk driver smashed into the car she was seated in. But she has faced her adversities with courage and determination.
Tomorrow morning, she will put her body through its paces when she competes in the 52nd aQuelle Midmar Mile - the world's largest open water swim - in the disabled category.
While there are a few concerns, Archary, a quadriplegic, said she would go out with a positive attitude.
"The water temperature is a real concern. The colder water causes involuntary muscle spasms. Basically certain muscles will flex uncontrollably causing my torso to tighten up, or my legs to stiffen straight.
"Then there’s the ripples of the open water. I have to swim in a backstroke fashion, so if the water gets on my face it would be more than uncomfortable. By the way, I’m terrified of having water on my face at even the most controlled of times. So this is quite daunting for me.
"But I think about the message I would like to share, by Justin Jeffery (of Adjustability Biokinetics), 'the only disability in life is a bad attitude' and this keeps me on track."
Archary, 37, an electronic engineer from Sandton in Johannesburg, said two weeks after her 30th birthday, a drunken driver hit their stationary vehicle at a red traffic light.
"I was in the back seat with my sister. She suffered a traumatic brain injury and I suffered a spinal cord injury as the rear of the car was completely crushed. At the time, I had no idea what it meant. It wasn’t in my realm of imagination. I was heavily medicated and didn’t even know how to process such information.
"I know people say it’s shocking, but I never had that. I would panic at the word ‘quadriplegic’, but didn’t really learn what it meant to be a quadriplegic until I left the hospital and life began again. Then the real challenge began.
"I was in ICU for 21 days, followed by another three weeks in the neurological high care, and then three months in the rehabilitation hospital. The rehabilitation hospital was where most of the techniques were taught, but the real progress started with ongoing rehabilitation therapy. This is where I was able to train what muscles I still had active, to be able to build the strength to do more for myself and become more independent.
"This is why I’m so passionate about ongoing rehabilitation therapy. It has made the biggest difference in my life. I meet so many amazing people at rehabilitation centres, who progressed so well, but suddenly they stop showing up. It was never for lack of motivation but always for lack of funding."
She said prior to the accident, she was "never into swimming", having only learnt to swim in her 20s.
"I started hydrotherapy after the accident as a way to maintain muscle mass and circulation. My therapist, Nicole Fish, is a Midmar Mile swimmer, and this crazy idea started from a conversation around setting a stretch goal. From there all my other therapists got on board and put together a plan to train the functions necessary to achieve this. They’re an unbelievable, passionate bunch and I owe them all so much."
Archary said she started training for the Midmar Mile a year ago.
She said Fish, who she described as "incredible", would swim with her before joining the elite race later in the day.
Archary said her husband, Hamresin Archary, as well as her family and friends were travelling from around the country and the world to support her.
She said her initial goal was to set a target to grow towards, in terms of her fitness and independence.
"But as we drew closer to the event, so many of my family and friends expressed awe of my simple goal. It’s since grown into something beyond just my personal wellbeing. I’ve been a supporter of the Trojan Neurological Trust (TNT) for a few years. TNT provides funding to those who can’t afford ongoing therapy, or the equipment necessary to live an independent life. The work they do is nothing short of saintly, hence they were the obvious choice for all proceeds collected By Hands that SSServe."
The Hands that SSServe is a non-profit organisation, which was started by her family in the name of two community leaders in Chatsworth - Sundress Archary and Steve Chockalingam.
"My father-in-law and uncle had lived a life of community service, and so Hands that SSServe was started to continue their legacy and service to the less fortunate.“
More than 12 000 swimmers of all abilities will compete in the event.