News » My New York Trip
My name is Nigel Moody and I am a Trustee of Independus, I am also a service user as I had a brain haemorrhage some years ago which left me in a coma and subsequently brain damaged.
I live independently and receive Direct payments towards social activities.
I saved up my payment so I could take up the offer of a holiday in The Big Apple with my friend from Hull University whom I had not seen since graduation Day when I was starting my long road to recovery.
My holiday started at some ungodly hour for the drive to Manchester Airport, because of my limitations I had requested assistance and can honestly say I was well looked after by staff on both sides of the pond.
My friend was waiting to greet me at Newark and it was an emotional reunion as the last time we were together I was unable to communicate, I made up for that by using every chat up line in my repertoire!
New York, a massive, vibrant, entertaining, vast almost overwhelming city, where buildings rose further than my neck could double back and where people look like ants along the boardwalk.
We visited the Rockefeller centre, a Mets games, watched a Tornado reek havoc then went out to count all the uprooted trees.
I shopped in Mace’s, Visited New York Zoo, caught a Broadway show (Phantom of the Opera), ate hot dogs , ate in the Hard Rock Cafe, climbed to the top of the Statute of Liberty (knackered!) and had an amazing experience.
For me this is what Direct Payments is all about, living life my way .