Never Say Die

Never Say Die
Lynne Barrett-Lee

Melanie Davies

On a Saturday morning in May 1980, Melanie Bowen, a pretty fifteen year old, ran down the stairs of her parents’ home in Port Talbot, grabbed her leather jacket and crash helmet, yelled a goodbye, and then walked out of the front door into the sunshine for what was to be the last time in her life. Never Say Die is the true story of what followed…Since the motorcycle crash that left her paralysed from the chest down, Melanie's life has been one of extremes. On the down side, she has endured 5 horrific months of despair and indignity in rehabilitation, undergone a colostomy at 23, been in another serious car crash, suffered syringomyelia and the terrifying prospect of full quadriplegia, been diagnosed with breast cancer and broken several bones.On the plus side, however, she's won medals in athletics for Wales, been humbled and inspired by Falklands veterans at RAF Chessington, raised thousands for charity, become a major disability poster girl in America, dabbled with the film world and been screen tested for a movie, met the Queen, and set up her own rehabilitation charity, whose patrons include the acclaimed actor Michael Sheen, Dame Tanni Grey Thompson and former Welsh Rugby captain, Gwyn Jones.She has also, against all the odds, found lasting happiness, having fallen in love with and married the surgeon who 25 years earlier told her she would never walk again.

Never Say Die

Melanie Davies and Lynne Barrett-Lee

The True Story of An Exceptional Life

Foreword (#ulink_54269ee8-fea4-5a06-a228-36c553acb68f)

by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE

I first met Mel in the mid-1980s, when we were both competing in South Wales. Right from the start, it felt as though I had known her for years. She is one of the very few people I’ve ever met who can talk more than me! She is always positive, no matter what may be happening in her own life, and it really seems that nothing will stand in her way, mostly because Mel just won’t let it. She always shows an infectious optimism, confidence and gritty determination, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable adversity. It is that incredible stubbornness that is evident in everything she does and makes everyone around her think that they should be doing more.

For some, this book may be an uncomfortable read at times. Melanie certainly pulls no punches in describing in detail the everyday problems encountered by many wheelchair users. It is also an uplifting experience, a bit like meeting Melanie herself. It takes twenty years and a lot of heartache until she feels she has control of her life when she launches the TREAT Trust charity.

Time and again throughout the book you will find yourself wondering what else fate can throw at Melanie, and although she has had to deal with more than most, there are parts that made me laugh out loud as a fellow wheelchair user because I understand some of the experience. And what could be better than a fairytale ending to rival that of any Mills & Boon romance?

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE

November 2008

Table of Contents

Cover Page (#u4025da88-ee9e-595b-85f6-0949aabb2219)

Title Page (#udff55209-2a57-5771-a802-10e0cdfbb51c)

Foreword (#ued042ca4-592a-5328-b984-8e1efc7b431a)

Part One (#u8093389c-dce1-5d4b-b157-5826931fba05)

Chapter 1 (#u60076ca7-3eb3-5b02-baea-46939f36fb2d)

Chapter 2 (#ud1b70694-c85a-56d2-829b-8944b3c39abf)

Chapter 3 (#u7e6cbede-092e-53ca-bb97-29d79b29d411)

Chapter 4 (#uc6ac4694-ad8c-5b4d-bf71-a324ce23163e)

Chapter 5 (#u313a0824-aaee-503b-9a2b-74f883ace2cb)

Chapter 6 (#u6616d4f9-da0e-5512-beff-41d63b11a717)

Chapter 7 (#udca9f864-6753-5afa-b2a0-cefda845831e)

Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)

Part Two (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 20 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 21 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 22 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 23 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 24 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 25 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 26 (#litres_trial_promo)

Part Three (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 27 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 28 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 29 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 30 (#litres_trial_promo)