Hello,
Firstly, welcome to my website! We all change by time, thing changes in our lives, people around us change, I changed in many ways. I lost some people those still are very close to my heart in fairly early stage of my life.
However, here I am now in my 50's, living in UK since 1993. I joined Merchant Marine in 1988 as an apprentice and worked my way up to Chief Officer by 1994. Reason I came here in UK, to fulfil my goal & dream to become a Captain in 1993. So, I completed my exam in 1994 as a Chief Officer, and went back to sea in 1996, after waiting two-long years looking for work.
In 2005 I started a new career, after been laid off along with nearly 200 of us in the company I used to work. I tried to get back to sea but due to hidden reason, I never managed to do even I had the support from one of my Captains. I could not afford to stay home and do nothing, so I joined the IT team of a Mobile Phone Repair Company in Norwich, Norfolk, UK. However, my health deteriorated while working there, due to my spinal injury, which initiated during my service as Marine Officer back in 1989. In 2008, I had to stop and stand down from work totally due to my ill health. That is something I was not prepared at all so the situation crushed down my confidents. I even lost interest of living my life when I had to come to the term to use wheelchair to get around by the middle of 2009. If my lovely beautiful two daughters and their mother wasn’t there next to me, I do not know what would have happened.
I always wanted to improve my photography skills and as that always has been a big part of life and have had grown in me from my mother since 1982, I got my first DSLR Camera in January 2013. Since then I wanted to expand my photography skills that has been a big help for me to keep my mind occupying in something I always wanted to do. Over time, I decided to build my own website, but it was not that easy, so I was keep going in circle until an opportunity arises in 2014. My idea was to publish all the photographs I have been taking and to share with family & friends.
Since then with the help of some very significant people my life changed in many ways. But my life is full of impediments (yes, I understand that everyone has the same more or less!) due to my disabilities and restrictions.
I started photography using my Mum’s Film Camera back in early 80’s (I think it was Yashica FX-7 or similar), but never had the opportunity to take it further to be a descent Photographer and to understand the triangle of ISO, Shutter Speed & Aperture. After researching and looking for helps here and there, I found Jared Polin, who I still follow for improving my Photography via his website and on YouTube. I bought couple of DVD Guides (Go Above and Beyond Auto as well as the Beginner Flash Guide) from his store those helped me greatly.
At the same time I came across Tony & Chelsea Northrup and learnt a lot from them and their books (i.e. How to Create Stunning Photography, Photography Buying Guide, Lightroom 6/CC). As time passed, I wanted to do something different and to involve with YouTube and to be a Vlogger.
I was looking for ideas and found Peter McKinnon. But as always, I am stuck to get involved as a YouTuber and start Vlogging.
This website created with the help of GoDaddy. It is a learning curve, but I am sure once my self-confident improves, I will be able to learn both the techniques of setting up Website alongside learning Photography & Cinematography in very near future.
I create this website mostly to learn how to setup website and to share my photographs amongst my family & friends. Please leave your suggestion/comments in the “Contact Me” section, so it will help me to improve this website as well as to become a better photographer, create beautiful cinematograph & becoming a successful Vlogger.
Although due to my disability I am very much restricted in many ways, but I’m hoping to travel all over UK as well as many other places in other countries soon to produce videography on YouTube. Once I do, I will share many photos and/or videos with you all soon!
Beside my passion towards Photography I also involve with various Charities linked to Disability in UK. I cannot thank them enough, but it is my privilege as well as I am honoured to be a part of them since 2008.
So, please feel free to look at my photos and leave your comments/suggestions so I can improve as all above.
Thank you!
Dawid Hassan Abdullah...
I don’t know exactly what to say or where to start, but as you ask here it goes! I have been working as Merchant Navy Officer (including my Apprenticeship) since 1988 at the age of 19… I had a little incident in 1989 but I brushed away and took substantial Physiotherapy to get up get going. I didn’t know nor expected that that injury would bring me this nearly three decades later. I was having problems to my spine now and then but with the medication & physio I was managing until 2008, when I had to hang my coat and retired when I was nearly 40… I couldn’t just sit on my trusty wheelchair and doing nothing, so I started working voluntarily with various Charities for Disabled people. From 2008, my marriage life came to an end, but we decided that we should wait until our girls get to High School, we won’t take that step. In 2015, that dreading moment came, and we decided to go apart. In 2016/17, I found a long lost friend and started to get to know her once again after been apart since 1995, and eventually decided to tie our knot to stop people spreading non-stop rumours in May' 2017.
My health was slowly deteriorated, and I was struggling to manage without help. I complained to my GP that I was losing strength to my grips and the pain on my Spine was getting worse. As I was living my own and living with fear what might happen in case my Spine totally gives away, my Wife (now) & I decided to finalise our marriage soon as possible. Due to my disabilities our online marriage earlier in May 2017' Home Office advised me to go to Bangladesh to get the formalities done physically, which will help with her VISA application. We couldn’t get married online by video conferencing because I am not working and registered disabled, which would class as marriage of convenience (as per Advice from Home Office, UK). Consequently, I decided to fly out in November 2017 to Bangladesh and we both agreed to get married on arrival at my sister’s in Dhaka. Just fortnight before I was about to go to Bangladesh, my GP wanted to see me urgently. When I went to see him a week before my flight, I was told to postpone my travel as they want to do more tests. I have been complaining to my GP & Consultants about my health since I was advised in 2009-10 by one of the Associate Professors (at that time as he is now Professor) in LabAid, Dhaka, BD. All they did was to operate on Carpal Tunnel (which, I was told in 2017-18 that it wasn’t necessary, because I got problem on my Spine NOT wrist). My GP told me not to go anywhere until I hear from them by the 6th November 2017. As I didn’t hear anything from neither from my GP or Hospital, I flew out on 7th Nov’ 2017 to BD. On arrival (8th November 2017), we got married as planned. About a week later I went to see the same Orthopaedic Professor, in LabAid with my MRI report from UK. First thing he asked what treatment I received since his diagnosis & Advice? I told him exactly what have had done, and he literally threw the MRI report on the other side of the table expressing his disappointing towards the Health Professionals here in UK as well as for disrespecting his diagnosis & advice. I explained him what the problem was or what was happening at time same as I told my GP. He prescribed me the same medicines (but stronger doses) he prescribed back in 2009, alongside some of my medication here in UK. He feared about my condition and advised that if my health worsen I should see him immediately. Three days later one evening when my wife & I was going back home after visiting some relatives by Über, the driver failed to stop/slow down noticing a pothole followed by a speed-bump. The result was inevitable. When we got back and I was trying to get off the car, I realised I lost strength to my right side & finding very difficult taking step with my right leg. Later that night and since then, my wife Moni had to feed me as well as helping me with shower & other daily needs, as I couldn’t do anything with my right arm much. Gradually I was getting worse by the hour and I was having serious spasm that caused me slip down the bed. We decided to go back to LabAid again. Once we arrived & off the car, we had to cross the road to enter in the hospital. As soon as we crossed using my crutches & I was getting on the curve I totally lost the control my right side. The Doctor advised me to get back UK immediately without any further delay. He emphasised that he could operate on my Spine in BD, but I wouldn’t get any after care that I would have get here in UK.
On 6th December 2017 I flew out for UK from Dhaka, Bangladesh. I arrived Manchester Airport, UK on 7th December 2017 early morning. I was barely do anything with my right side and/or to take a single step from car to the wheelchair on arrival UK. I was admitted to Manchester Royal but due to my involuntary spasm they couldn’t do anything but giving me high doses of painkillers overnight before they transferred me to Salford Royal on 8th morning around 7am. I never been humiliated in my life as I did during my 24 hours stay in Manchester Royals. I been questioned by various Nurses why I came to UK, but not the treatment back in Bangladesh. They actually did not say Bangladesh but from India then Pakistan. I was in agony and the pain was keep worsening by the minute, whereas they were questioning my motive been admitted to the Hospital in UK, as well as my Nationality. Anyways, on arrival at the Salford Royal, they done some tests (MRI/X-Ray, etc.), which they could have done easily in Manchester Royal, instead of questioning my identity & nationality. Once they get some results in hand and decided their next step, I been taken to an observation room in the evening prior to the surgery. They done further tests Scan (CT Scan) to confirm that there were two broken vertebrae & those broken pieces (x4) were suffocating my Spinal Cord. That’s why I was losing my strength one-by-one limbs so as those scary spasms. They operated me later that night but by that time I was paralysed neck down. The exact word by the Surgeon was “your prognosis is worse than we diagnose prior to the operation”.
I was in ICU nearly a week before they transferred to HDCU for another few days. Then I was transferred to a side room in the ward. While I was in ICU/HDCU, they found that some part of my lungs collapsed on the top of everything. I was having intensive physio to get my breathing in control. As I said that I was paralysed neck down for well over two weeks since surgery on my spine (in between C3&4 and C5&6 - I think). Nearly towards the New Year, I was getting some movement back to my toes & hands. My left side started to respond in first week of January 2018. By second week I was transferred to Acute Neurological Rehab until I get a placement at Northern General Hospital, for Spinal Injury Rehabilitation. Last few days at Salford Royals with the help from their Physiotherapist & Occupational Therapists I started to walk using Zimmer frame.
I then transferred to Royal Princess Ann’s Unit, Sheffield Northern General to start my rehabilitation. They thought I was treated at a hospital in Pakistan prior to admit in Salford Royal… I was kept Quarantine for a week before they started my rehabilitation. Two weeks later they decided to discharge me so I can get home. The Consultant told me that people who goes through the ops they have done on neck, those people take at least six months before they can sit up. In my case, I was walking (part of my Physio), in 6weeks using Zimmer frame. As I was managing to move around either on Wheelchair or Crutches my own within my room or to/from Physiotherapy room, they had to discharge me with caution that I cannot be left alone at home. I stayed at my cousin in Manchester for another couple of weeks or three to get used to with the general living as by then I been in Hospital nearly three months. My cousin drove me back to Lowestoft at my Bungalow. Once he left the very next day I finally hit with the reality and was struggling. I end up with PTSD & became very depressed as well frustrated. I was feeling that I couldn’t breath and hiding myself at home. My Councillor from Mental Hospital introduced me with a group encouraging people to photography.
I couldn’t just sit around and doing nothing, so I started mending my website. At the same time I started Voluntary Work as an Advisor at our local Citizens Advice Bureau & Vice-chair for another Disable related organisation Lowestoft Shopmobility. And finally not to forget my YouTube Channel which is: I’m getting a lot of help for my Channel though! So, I’m sure you can see how important it is for me to grow my YouTube Channel, so I can do something for me and perhaps will help me to make something out of it for long run as well to help me to recover from depression…
Thank you for reading to my long winding story…
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