Before my dream was to win an All-Ireland, now my dream is to be part of a group of people who are looking for a way out of the wheelchair and a cure. I suppose that's my new All-Ireland. What motivates me is the thought of pushing boundaries and achievement. At the moment my idea of achievement is very different from what I would have liked it to be. Like I say, my outlook on life hasn't really changed.
On June 28th of last year, three days after playing in the Munster intermediate hurling final for Cork, alarms bells went off for Jamie Wall when he began to lose power in his legs. An abscess had developed on his spine and caused him to become paralysed from his midriff down.
As a GAA player for Cork, Jamie played for both the minor hurlers and footballers and won three Munster U21 football titles.
A group of 4th year Mary I students under the name 'Advanced Film Prodcution' have made a documentary about Jamie and his desire to find a way out of the wheelchair. In the 20 minute film we meet Jamie's family and see him going through therapy.
He also offers an inspiring insight into his current view on life.
If it works out then that's great but if not then I like to think that I've lost nothing in the attempt because I'll have gone as far as I can go with something. It's kind of like that All-Ireland in 2010 and the Fitzgibbon in 2013, I can look back and say 'I tried, I worked hard, I did as well as I could and it didn't work out' but I didn't come away from it think 'what if I had done this?' I tried everything and I suppose if I can say that then I can be at peace with whatever the result is.
Never give up, never let up and that's what I intend to do.
It is well worth your time.
You can find out more about Jamie and donate to the Friends of Jamie Wall fund on their website.
Video: James Deegan
Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
