Beau Vernon

Gratitude

Welcome Layla Jean Vernon – Born 12.3.16

Wow! It’s amazing how in love you can be with someone at first sight. I think it would have to be the best moments of my life when Lucy was handed our baby – umbilical chord still attached – I went and put my head on Lucy’s shoulder, we lift up the chord and realise we have just had a baby girl and Lucy says in a soft voice, ‘hello little Layla’.

Geez we are lucky!

I have been doing a lot of motivational speaking engagements lately which has prompted me to think about and do research around why some people are happier and more resilient than others.

How can I be happy despite being in a situation that I absolutely hate. I have discovered there are a number of reasons and one of these is being grateful for what you have got.

I try and put myself in a range of other peoples shoes and say, we are lucky to have a kid because a lot of people cant. Lucky I have a fully functioning brain, because a lot of people don’t. Lucky I was born into a great family, because a lot of people aren’t. Lucky I live in a great country like Australia. Those things are luck but to think about how lucky I am to have them is my choice.

Yes my legs and fingers don’t work and that’s just the beginning and it’s bloody tough at times, but everyone has their own challenges in life. If it is true that you only live one life then I am going to try and make the most of it no matter what situation I am thrown.
So when you are struggling a bit in life, think about the things you do have in life and continue to remind yourself on a daily basis.

I am so grateful for the beautiful new girl and for my strong, loving wife who breezed through pregnancy. I try and put myself in other peoples shoes who cant have babies and feel so lucky, and when Layla is up all night and can’t sleep or is having a tantrum I will think that at least I have the opportunity to have a kid with someone I love, because not everyone can.

Written by:

Beau Vernon – Living with Quadriplegia since June 2012

Baby on Board

I am hoping to start back up my website and keep it regularly updated. I thought of no better way to kick things off then to let those that dont know, Lucy and I are expecting our first child in March!!! Yay, I feel so privileged and excited, Lucy is going to be the best Mum and I can’t wait for the next chapter of our lives.

Lucy got a call on a Saturday, we were playing away at Bairnsdale, and at half time she gave me the thumbs up from a distance, I wasn’t sure if this meant she had won netball, or well done to me (we were up by about 10 goals at half time and the team was playing very well), or she was pregnant. haha. It was the latter, which I didn’t find out until a couple hours later.

We are currently 23 weeks pregnant, that is a photo of our 20 week scan. We didn’t find out what we are having but the dry cleaner man told us we are going to have a girl….. So he must know! haha

Not knowing what we are having makes for more time trying to come up with names. I seem to have a special knack for ruining every name we come up with. I think my name game will work best like my homework use to… Last minute.

Lucy has been very fortunate that she has had no morning sickness and her energy levels have been quite good. She played in the B grade netball Grand Final which they won (Go Leongatha) when she was 13 weeks pregnant, she had to be moved out to wing defence because she couldn’t get off the ground to rebound in goal defence. She blamed this on being pregnant but I blamed it on Lucy thinking she could eat as much as she wanted as soon as she found out she was pregnant.

Open Mike – Fox Footy

For anyone that has asked me for a link to the open mike interview, here it is.
Thanks

Channel 9 news story

Senior Football Coach of Leongatha

I’m really proud and excited to have been announced as the senior coach of the Leongatha Football Club.

I’ve always been one to study the game and have probably always know that one day I would coach. If it wasn’t for my injury I would probably be putting my hand up to coach the side now as a playing coach. And why should being in a chair change that.

Europe Vacation

Over the winter University holidays Lucy and I went to Europe for a month. We did a week in each of Ireland (mostly Dublin), London, Amsterdam, Paris and 2 days in Dubai. We had an absolute ball, none of which

was captured on camera due to our terrible photography skills.
Im not sure what my favourite place was, probably Dublin as it gave us a chance to catch up with a couple of our best mates who live over there.
Accessibility wise it wasn’t to bad, we knew we were going to have difficulties and if your prepared for that then its ok. Hardest thing was probably finding disabled toilets. Im very fortunate I am able to get around in a manual wheelchair as a
lot more planning would need to be done if your in an electric chair.

Wedding

After 10 years together in March this year Lucy and I got married.
The weather turned out a treat, overlooking San Remo back beach for the ceremony and a cruisy cocktail reception at the back of my parents house.
We had the best time imaginable with family and friends, but the day goes by so quick.

I’m so happy and grateful to have someone in my life that I connect with on so many levels, we have so much fun together and I couldn’t of dreamt of a better wife.

Just like to thank everyone who helped celebrate and also set up the wedding. Especially Melissa at Shmik Event Design who organised and set up everything and made the reception and ceremony look so amazing. Would highly recommend her for any event.

Article in the Age

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/possibilities-not-disability-after-lifechanging-accident-20140620-zsgrq.html

Nice article  on me in the age done by Emma Quayle.
Cheers