It害羞草研究所檚 been nearly a year since Christa Akins was struck by an SUV while cycling down Cawston Avenue害羞草研究所檚 multi-use pathway.

害羞草研究所淚 was on my way home and a green SUV turned out of the alley and hit me,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淣ow I害羞草研究所檓 paralyzed and in a wheelchair害羞草研究所� in five weeks it will be a year since I害羞草研究所檝e walked.害羞草研究所�

Akins was always active. She was featured in a cycling magazine and had completed the Ride to Conquer Cancer in Seattle before the July 5, 2017 incident that left her without use of her legs and she害羞草研究所檚 determined to walk again, spinal injury or not.

To build the strength needed to reach that goal, she said, Kelowna General Hospital害羞草研究所檚 therapeutic pool has been indispensable.

害羞草研究所淭he pool deck comes up and I害羞草研究所檓 able to transfer from my wheelchair to a chair害羞草研究所� then the pool floor goes down to a level and I can challenge myself to walk,害羞草研究所� she said, adding that the temperature is 35 C, warm enough to stop her muscles from seizing.

If the water level is chest height, she can walk. If it drops an inch below her chest, 害羞草研究所済ravity sets in害羞草研究所� and she buckles, as she would on land.

害羞草研究所淚t really gives me hope. It keeps my brain engaged and my muscles working,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 can do things in the water that I can not do out of the water.害羞草研究所�

That hope, however, may be taken away.

Kelowna General Hospital is limiting use of the therapeutic pool害羞草研究所攚hich has already been closed for months害羞草研究所攖o those who are in line for or recently recovering from joint replacement surgeries of varying kinds.

害羞草研究所淭heir excuse is that the community took up so much pool space that there害羞草研究所檚 no longer space for inpatients to use the pool,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淚n the 11 months I害羞草研究所檝e used it I害羞草研究所檝e not once waited. It was not once overfilled. Another woman who has used it for 30 years was not once turned away for too much use.害羞草研究所�

That said, an acquaintance of Akin害羞草研究所檚 pays for a membership at the Y to use the pool for therapeutic purposes and she害羞草研究所檚 been turned away due to capacity issues a number of times.

害羞草研究所淚 need medical support, I don害羞草研究所檛 need to play in the water,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 a pool therapist at the pool that help with floats and exercises 害羞草研究所� you don害羞草研究所檛 have that in a public pool.害羞草研究所�

It害羞草研究所檚 not just patients who are paralyzed who are feeling the loss.

害羞草研究所淭here are people who have ALS 害羞草研究所� There is one lady who was walking with a cane and since the pool closed, she害羞草研究所檚 back in a wheelchair,害羞草研究所� said Akins.

害羞草研究所淎nother guy has said he was down to 10 pain pills a day with pool use, and since it害羞草研究所檚 been closed he害羞草研究所檚 back up to 19害羞草研究所� the medication is a bandaid and the pool is a solution.害羞草研究所�

Lova Hope Witiak wrote the Capital News this week and said since she害羞草研究所檚 lost access to the pool she害羞草研究所檚 suffered greatly.

害羞草研究所淚 have had two hip replacements, sustained two fractures, as well as two arthritic knees and spine. This exercise facility has given me better enjoyment of old age at 77 years old,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 cannot walk without my walker. Can anyone convince the Kelowna General Hospital rehab pool to reconsider cutting services to seniors with limited mobility so we can enjoy our golden years with less pain?害羞草研究所�

Akins said it should be a no brainer.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a community funded pool paid by our health dollars that all working people pay into,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚t should be used by people who feel better using it.害羞草研究所�

On Saturday Akins started a petition and it害羞草研究所檚 already garnered 100 signatures. In a week, she害羞草研究所檚 going to bring them to meetings she害羞草研究所檚 set up with the mayor, MLAs and onward.

害羞草研究所淭his is not right,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭here are a lot of people who are suffering that have no way of getting into another pool without handrails or parallel bars. It needs to change.害羞草研究所�

To learn more about her petition, contact Akins at positivedifference@shaw.ca.

Interior Health has yet to respond to questions.

To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com.

kmichaels@kelownacapnews.com
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