Gone ... Flying

Nothing felt freer than flying. Being one with the wind and the sky, and going anywhere you wanted to go. Jayda thought she would fly forever, and she was well on her way until her accident. Well everyone said it was an accident, but deep in her heart she knew it had been deliberate. Let’s start from the beginning.

Growing up next to an airport since birth, Jayda has lived with the sounds of the engines since she was bought home and it seemed to calm her down. She would spend hours in the garden laying under her favourite pear tree, on the grass watching aeroplanes take off and land as they roared to life. I will be up there one day she promised herself. Every birthday she asked for the same thing, a tour of a plane or to visit an airport anything to get her close to the winged vehicles of her dreams and researched subjects she needed at school and high school. Fast forward to her fifteenth birthday she pretty much bounded out of her bed and ran to the local flight academy as she was legally able to apply to get the Student Pilot Licence to start pilot training.

The next three years flew by as she worked towards the requirements to get her Commercial Pilot Licence and gaining as much flight experience as she could. Her parents supported her career aspirations by letting her stay living at home as long as she needed to focus towards her goal. The day she had been working for her whole life had arrived, she had submitted application after application to various airlines to get her foot in the door and after a long drawn out process she was accepted at Virgin Australia, she was over the moon to get her wings officially. Her life was coming together as planned, the only thing that wasn’t working was her boyfriend Luke’s attitude to her flying. He was ok with it, but continued negatively suggesting that maybe she should keep her feet on the ground and that not many females make it in the airline industry.

They had met at the flight academy in the early stages when she was sixteen, but where she had thrived and grown, he had lost interest and failed the medical tests and now worked as a baggage handler at the airport. Jayda was slightly annoyed at his lack of passion and even though the love was still there, she felt like he was holding her back. One day while having lunch with her mum, she raised her concerns about Luke and how she thought of breaking up with him. Almost immediately her mum had intercepted and replied, ‘Jayda, that boy has been there for you. Give him a chance. He is just jealous you will get to fly, that’s all’.

‘I don’t know mum, it feels more like resentment to me. Maybe I am better off without him.’

‘It’s up to you darling, but I think that is the wrong decision.’ Her mum had replied, ‘how about you go for a walk to clear your head?’

Nodding, Jayda heading out the front door, she knew the best place to clear her head. The airport and now she had her wings, she could get up close to a plane to help her think.

Half an hour later, she was standing in the maintenance bay, there was a massive Boeing 777 in dock for repairs and a smaller helicopter nearby that she didn’t recognise, but seeing as it was an airport it wasn’t out of the ordinary.

‘Jayda?’ she heard her name being called, running footsteps came up to her.

‘Oh hey Luke, what are you doing back here?’ she asked.

‘Not much, was looking for you. Your mum said you were out clearing your head or something’.

‘Oh ok, what else did she say?” Jayda said, damning her mum in her mind, why can’t she keep things to herself.

‘Nothing else. Why?’

‘No reason. Luke I am glad you’re here, I have something to say.’ Jayda began.

‘Just wait’ Luke interrupted, ‘I have something to show you’ he grinned.

He turned and walked over to the helicopter, Jayda followed.

‘Get away from there Luke, it’s not safe for you’ she yelled.

Not responding, Luke hopped up into the cockpit and randomly pressed buttons. Jayda knocked furiously on the door.

‘What the hell are you doing? This is not a toy’.

No response again, he couldn’t hear her over the engine and rotors. Not thinking she turned to find someone for help. As the sound got louder behind her, she turned but it was too late, than everything went black.

Jayda woke three months later from a medical induced coma that doctors had put her in to deal with the injury and the shock.

Not looking where he was going, Luke had rammed the helicopter rotor into Jayda as she turned, and it had cleanly amputated her right arm at the shoulder by the blades. Her career was over. What was she going to do now?

Adapting to life after losing her arm was not easy for Jayda. The once vibrant and ambitious young woman now found herself grappling with a multitude of physical and emotional challenges. As she slowly regained consciousness in the hospital, the reality of her situation began to sink in. The absence of her right arm was a constant reminder of the life-altering accident that had shattered her dreams.

In the days that followed, Jayda struggled to come to terms with her new reality. Simple tasks that she had once taken for granted now seemed daunting and overwhelming. The simplest actions, like brushing her teeth or tying her shoelaces, now required careful planning and coordination. Frustration and despair threatened to consume her as she grappled with feelings of helplessness and inadequacy.

However, Jayda was not one to back down from a challenge. Despite the immense physical and emotional pain, she was experiencing, she refused to let her disability define her. With the unwavering support of her family and friends, Jayda embarked on a journey of self-discovery and adaptation.

One of the first hurdles Jayda faced was learning to navigate the world with just one arm. Occupational therapists worked tirelessly with her, teaching her innovative techniques and providing her with specialized equipment to aid in her daily activities. With patience and determination, Jayda slowly but steadily regained her independence.

Simple tasks that once seemed impossible now became achievable milestones. With practice and perseverance, Jayda learned to write, cook, and even drive using only her left arm. Each small victory filled her with a sense of accomplishment and fueled her determination to overcome the obstacles in her path.

Yet, it wasn't just the physical challenges that Jayda had to overcome. The emotional toll of her accident weighed heavily on her soul. Dreams of soaring through the skies as a pilot now seemed like distant memories, taunting her with what could have been. Feelings of grief and loss threatened to engulf her, but Jayda refused to succumb to despair.

Instead, she found solace in her passion for aviation. Although she could no longer fly, Jayda remained deeply connected to the world of aviation. She volunteered at the local airport, offering her expertise and assistance to aspiring pilots. Sharing her knowledge and experience with others brought her a sense of purpose and fulfillment, reminding her that her love for flying transcended the physical limitations imposed by her injury.

In the midst of her struggles, Jayda also found unexpected allies in the form of fellow amputees. Connecting with others who had faced similar challenges helped her feel less alone in her journey. Together, they shared stories of triumph and resilience, inspiring each other to keep pushing forward despite the odds.

As time passed, Jayda gradually came to terms with her new reality. Although her life had taken an unexpected turn, she refused to let her disability define her. With courage and resilience, she embraced the challenges that lay ahead, determined to live life to the fullest, one day at a time. And though she may never fly again, Jayda's spirit remained unbroken, soaring high above the clouds, a testament to the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity.