An Introduction to Muddy Covid
Muddy Care CIC never envisaged, as no one did, that their 2020 strategic plan would have to be adapted and significantly changed so quickly. I remember in January 2020, sitting in the passenger seat, as Lee (the coeducational leader of the Muddy educational rehabilitation programme) drove us home from our Sunday Muddy rehabilitation day, as are most of our Sundays, and Lee and I turning up the radio listening to the what was then, the epidemic in China. When they highlighted who was at risk Lee looked at me with raised concern and I felt that concern for myself and all of our Muddies in the minibus. Most of us fall into the high-risk category, including myself. And that’s where we need to state as Emily Maitlis has reinforced, that COVID 19 is not a leveller. It is much, much harder if you fall into this high-risk category and we, the Muddy participants and I have tonnes of fortitude and strength of character. From someone who started the road of heart failure from damage caused by a virus, believe me, fortitude and strength of character make absolutely no difference in reference to the damage a virus can cause. To recovery, yes in part. But definitely not in the severity of impact. Viruses do not discriminate. They are hideous. They can destroy lives and damage organs and systems of the body which sometimes is irreparable. That is the reality of serious viruses. COVID 19 is a serious virus.
When it became clear that Muddy Care would have to suspend the Muddy Rehabilitation programme activity and learning days we did two things immediately;
1. We set up a daily check in protocol with all participants. They report to us if they have any COVID 19 symptoms and this is communicated as a traffic light system. They also communicate as a collective how their mental and physical health and wellbeing is. This system operates seven days a week and will do until the need diminishes. This information is transferred to an ‘At risk register’ and where necessary we will implement support from outside agencies.
I knew this had to be implemented immediately because of the nature of our participants. They are coping with so much without COVID 19 added anxiety and being high risk makes the possible outcomes of this pandemic so much more real. There are so many more considerations with the complicated medical CVs I and the Muddies (our Muddy Care participants) all have. But the great thing is we have the professional experience, skills and knowledge to implement this system but most importantly we have built a community that allows this procedure to occur with full participation, every day, because we have built a community in every sense of the word since September 2019. And within 7 days of setting this care and support system up, we had ambers (require enhanced monitoring and support) and a red (intervention of external agencies or urgent medical intervention needed). This system may have saved a life and I say that with absolutely no hyperbole attached. In fact, we haven’t had one day since implementing this system that we haven’t had at least one amber. This highlights not only how effective third-party organisations can be in supporting and caring for vulnerable groups, but how critical our presence is.
2. We were looking at the learning theme of ‘how can we serve’ at the time we had to stop physical delivery. We switched immediately to a distance learning mechanism and the participants took a lead on this project. Very soon you will see the participants of the Muddy Care mini pilot rehabilitation programme offering support in the way of tools, advice, activities, blogs, Vlogs and other mechanisms to help others with chronic conditions through this time.
When I built, designed and wrote Muddy Care, I always wanted it to be a community project that supported the NHS. I continually kept asking myself the question ‘how can Muddy Care serve the chronic condition community?’ I wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for the NHS, seriously. My team of consultants are my heroes. My nephrologist, who has worked with me since 2015 in a best practice working relationship (we listen to each other and make a plan together) has been fundamental in improving my quality of life. I try my hardest and so does he. He’s there for me when the shit hits the fan and we celebrate when things are going well. I research and implement anything I can possibly do to help my health and wellness beyond the medical model and he sees this. And we are winning with this approach.
The reality is the NHS cannot provide long term rehabilitation support for so many with chronic conditions. It cannot be funded. It’s not that they don’t want to. They can’t. The Muddy Care model aims to support the NHS services, to enhance holistic health and wellness for those with chronic conditions and we are succeeding. Our impact evidence, participant testimonials and video diaries from the mini pilot long term rehabilitation programme would indicate in a very positive way that we are doing just that. If we can help stabilise some conditions and improve independence of management of chronic conditions then we are helping the NHS and building better and brighter futures for our participants. It’s a win win.
As a result of COVID 19 we are busier than we were pre COVID 19. It is exceedingly likely that many more people are going to have chronic conditions from the damage of this virus to their bodies. Some won’t have any damage but some will. And it’s not about whether you are fit or unfit either. I competed for Great Britain for four years. I was by far not your average person who gets sick if there is such a person…I don’t believe there is now. Life’s curve balls do not pick and choose.
Muddy Care CIC has it’s own working model independent from the health and medical models. We are developing some extremely positive working relationships with health and medical professionals in mid and South Wales. We fully support collaborative working and we are demonstrating how well the part professional and experienced educationalists can play in educational rehabilitation programmes. We are not counsellors. We are not health and medical professionals. We are professional outdoor and learning teachers and practitioners with a specialist knowledge of health and wellness specific to chronic conditions. We support the medical, health and counselling services and expertise. We are a community built around education pedagogy and philosophies, authentic care and support and the direct experience of the life changing impacts of chronic conditions.
So here we are. Welcome to our COVID 19 project area. All pieces here are from the Muddy participants who all have significant and some very serious chronic conditions and this project is also being led by two of our participants.
Stay safe and remember, most underlying health and medical issues are not visible. Be kind, be thoughtful and be considerate of others.