A woman who was left paralysed after a tragic accident in a swimming pool is now on a mission to help others overcome their difficulties by training to become a psychologist. Jenna Fitzgerald, from County Sligo, Ireland, suffered paralysis from the chest down following a dive into a pool during a friend's wedding afterparty in Nerja, Spain.
The 37-year-old had to undergo emergency spinal surgeries and re-learn basic skills such as talking and eating but was faced with the life-altering prognosis that she would never walk again.
In the wake of her injury, Jenna battled depression and came close to ending her life in July 2017, feeling "imprisoned" within her body. However, a turning point arrived after she woke up in intensive care from her suicide attempt, leading her to seize a second chance at life with renewed vigour.
Despite the good mental health support she received, Jenna believed the counsellors didn't fully comprehend her struggle due to their lack of similar experiences. Determined to fill that gap, she enrolled in a degree programme aiming to use her personal rock bottom experience in assisting others facing tough times.
Now dedicated to her studies, Jenna has shared the traumatic memory of the incident: "I still remember the smash as I hit the pool, then I couldn't move and I was swallowing water.", reports Gloucestershire Live.
The aftermath of the accident was incredibly challenging for her: "I had to learn how to eat, breathe and speak again but when I got back to my own apartment I realised my life was completely different. I put on a brave face, and I would laugh and smile, but I wasn't happy at all. I was dying inside."
"I felt like I had nothing left to live for. But after that, I realised I had to work on myself, take the help, and say yes to everything. There was no other plan. Now I've come so far - I know I'll never walk again but I can lead a happy life."
"I hit rock bottom and now I want to help others because I don't want anyone else to feel like that."
Jenna recounted how her life took a devastating turn while she was at a villa following a friend's wedding in September 2014, resulting in her diving into a pool without realising its shallowness. Hitting the pool's bottom head first, she shattered her C5 vertebrae and fractured the C6 and C7 in her neck.
With awareness but immobile, her quick-thinking friend dived in to rescue her. Jenna underwent several surgeries, which included stabilising her spine with a titanium plate and screws, and required a tracheostomy as well as ventilator support.
Jenna shared: "I had to learn how to breathe, eat and speak again. I couldn't speak for several weeks."
After returning to Ireland, a lengthy period of rehabilitation expected her. Discharged from the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dublin in May 2015, her new normal involved morning assistance from carers, mastering the management of her neurogenic bowels and bladder and funneling thousands of pounds into home modifications for wheelchair accessibility.
A golden retriever named Cooper became more than just a pet to his owner after a life-altering accident; he was transformed into a service dog to aid her through challenging times. She reflected, "I felt like a prisoner in my own body, I had no control. Nothing is easy the minute you leave the hospital - at the time, the support and infrastructure wasn't there."
Struggling with accessibility in her coastal village, she found daily life insurmountable and reached a breaking point on July 17, 2017. Following a suicide attempt, she awoke in Sligo University Hospital with renewed resolve, promising herself to embrace life "not be afraid."
Seizing opportunities to share her story, she visited schools and appeared on radio shows, discussing her experiences openly, and even featuring on TV programmes such as First Dates in 2020. Her journey continued as she began studying for an English and Psychology degree at Atlantic Technological University, Sligo in 2022, aspiring to become a psychologist.
With a personal understanding of struggling with mental health following trauma, she is driven to support others facing similar difficulties because she understands, acknowledging, "Sometimes there are just no words to describe how you feel unless you've been through something like this."
"I don't aim to be a disabled counsellor specifically for disabled people - but I'm proof you can pick yourself back up after hitting rock bottom. Once you reach the point where you realise you need help, and you want to help yourself, you want to be able to give other people those feelings of 'it can get better' too."
This year marks the 10-year anniversary of Jenna's life-altering accident, and she is just one year shy of completing her degree. Her living situation has greatly improved with an adapted flat and car, and the invaluable support of friends and family as she continues to forge ahead with her passion.
Jenna's goal is to raise awareness about spinal cord injuries whilst fostering understanding, compassion, and empathy towards those who are affected. She expressed: "I feel like not enough people understand that it could be you - anyone can become disabled."
"And if that happens to you, it's about finding yourself again, and finding the new you."
