What is this blog?
The blog shares how I, John Duthie, navigate life in a wheelchair with an acquired disability as a Christian.
Life isn’t about what happens to you. Life is about how you respond to what happens to you.
I would love to hear your thoughts by leaving a comment or by sending me an email.
What happened to you?
At age 44, I almost died and acquired a complete SCI (Spinal Cord Injury) at the T3/T4 (chest level). My spinal cavity developed a cyst, medically known as a Syringomyelia. This causes severe pain, and I considered death a better alternative.
Click here to read about my accident and how it affected my family.
However, life is still worth living, and I live a fulfilling and happy life—Albeit with many challenges.
Why use the domain WheelchairJohn.com?
Wheelchairjohn may not be a great way of describing me, as I am John Duthie, who uses a wheelchair, has a spinal injury and chronic pain, and follows Jesus.
However, Wheelchairjohn is easy to remember and sounds better than johnwheelchair, or johninawheelchair or other combinations.
More about Wheelchair John Duthie
My personal site is at www.johnduthie.com, and the following is a summary.
I was born on 31 July 1965 at the Queen Victoria Hospital in Rose Park, Adelaide. My parents were Alexander and Joyce Duthie, and I was an only child. I had a happy upbringing.
My education included Payneham Kindergarten, Payneham Infant School, Payneham Primary School, Marden High School, and later the South Australian Institute of Technology, where I completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Studies.
My career commenced as a junior programmer with the Department of Defence in Canberra, ACT and finished as a team leader/project manager with South Australia Police. In between, I worked at SAGASCO (SA Gas Company), ETSA (the Electricity Trust of South Australia), JIS (Justice Information System), Department of Correctional Services, and Zedz Cafe (in Adelaide Central Market).
I’ve worshipped and served at various churches, including the Salvation Army, and most recently at Rise Church, Northgate. Having Faith is essential to me, although, at times, my relationship with the church was strained, as I like to think for myself.
I married my wife in 1991, Jasmine was born in 1998, and Benjamin in 1999. Commencing late 2009, I spent 16 months in the hospital, separated from my wife in 2012, and continued living with and supporting my children. Jasmine and Ben are now married, and I live alone with a stray cat that adopted us and is called Spartacus.
