taking a tumble …

Rwanda, country of a thousand hills, is beautiful. Chaeli was invited to speak at the 2022 Commonwealth Youth Summit (ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) in Kigali. The first takeaway is how wonderfully hospitable Rwandans are and the second is how accessible everything is in a super hilly country!

All round a beautiful experience with many meaningful conversations, entrenching existing relationships and forging new friendships. A very full, hot, fulfilling four days of networking and advocating for inclusion in the middle of Africa. And then homeward bound …

We arrived at Kigali Airport with relatively few bags: one big suitcase for clothes, 2 laptop bags and Chaeli’s carry-on bag. As Fulgance, our driver, started freeing Chaeli’s support straps ahead of disembarking from the accessible van I scurried in and out getting our bags onto the pavement. I smiled at a large group of friendly travellers sitting a few metres away on the pavement. Huge heavy purple suitcase – done. Laptop bags – en route. My mind was already on getting the pad and pen out of my laptop bag to get Fulgance’s phone number so I could share the pics we’d taken. A dangerous distraction coupled with unnecessary haste never ends well …

In rushing the bags to the pavement I forgot to lift my left foot high enough (I kid you not!), kicked the pavement, lost my balance, staggered forward a metre and in trying to ‘roll’ to save myself from a face-fall ended up on my back in a bed of flowers. Fulgance rushed to my aid and as he helped me up I heard my knee squish and squirm. Eish …

After a six-hour flight back to the Mother City my knee, back and neck were not doing well. As usual the other passengers departed and we waited for the Passenger Assist Unit (PAU) to arrive so that Chaeli could be popped into the slipper chair for safe transit from her seat to the PAU where her wheelchair awaited her. In preparation for the arrival of the PAU assistants I undid her safety belt, moved her from the window to the aisle seat, ensuring that both seat hand rests were down for added security. I then moved to the seat behind her so that there was enough place for the PAU assistants to do their thing. Chaeli spasmed, lurched forward, tried to brace herself against the hand rests, slipped and slow-motion torpedo-dived floorwards between the two rows of seats.

Wedged in. Laughing hysterically. Chaeli – not me. The PAU assistant who always works with Chaeli came towards us with the query: “Michaela, why are you lying on the floor?”

Welcome home, Mycroft Girls, welcome home …