Showing posts with label quadraplegic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quadraplegic. Show all posts

When Pigs Fly

Posted by bucky | 11:30 AM | , , , ,


A film about a quadraplegic woman and her 20 acre pig sanctuary. Lory Yazurlo was injured in a truck accident and now uses a power wheelchair. It is a very realistic look on her life with the muddy swine and her struggle with her former employer over her worker's compensation case. There are highs and lows, ups and downs, and the film shows all of this. It's not meant to make you feel sorry for Lory, or to glorify her as a hero. It is simply a realistic perspective on one womans struggle to deal with her situation.

Lory was always an animal lover so she was happy to get a single little pig from her sister. As her love for swine grew, so did her herd. Starting with just one, it quickly grew to hundreds that live on the 20 acre Pig Tales Sanctuary.

However, the film seems to focus just as much on Lory's mom, Charlene, as it does Lory. Much like Lory does for her muddy little friends, Charlene is the primary caretaker for Lory. The film shows her struggles to keep Lory healthy while she rides around in the muck taking care of her babies. She is also highly involved in the ridiculous struggle with CSX Corp. over Lory's worker's compensation case.

Feeding and caring for hundreds of pigs isn't cheap. The film shows Lory sinking deeper and deeper in debt and depression as she awaits her final settlement from CSX Corp., which she plans to put right into the sanctuary.


The Hollywood Reporter says: "Bottom line: An unflinching portrait of how a woman chooses to live after a devastating injury and a damning testament to the gaping holes in the workers' compensation system."

Orlando Sentinel: "Lory has this big spider living in her room, huge. [says Charlene Yazurlo, her mother] And she won't kill it. She tells me the other day, she's all excited to see this spider, the size of her fist, coming out to see her." Charlene Yazurlo chuckles at the very notion of being this committed to life, even spider life. "I don't find that exciting at all."


There are still a couple screenings coming up for this film if you are interested in seeing it.


  • Jacksonville Film Festival (May 20, 2007 @ 4pm; Jacksonville, FL)

  • Film Arts Foundation: True Stories (June 20, 2007 @ 7:30pm; San Fransisco, CA)



Official Website

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Hilary Lister is a "dis"abled woman from the United Kingdom, she has "reflex sympathetic dystrophy" a proggresive disease that has paralysed her from the neck down. She just took up sailing a few years ago, and using "sip and puff" technology was able to become the first quadriplegic to sail across the English Channel. Here is the interview I wrote her.

Ralph:Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, and congratulations on your award "Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration." That must have been very cool.

Hilary: I was the last person I expected to be nominated for, let alonereceive, the award. I really do feel very humbled. All I did was go for asail with some mates for a day. I couldn't have been more surprised,especially as my Mum had pointed out that there were steps up onto the stage(she got it wrong, she just couldn't see the ramp!) It was an amazing night.


Ralph:What is it you like most about most about sailing?

Hilary: Like most sailors, I think that it's the freedom. On the water I'm my own person, and I love the wind and water. It feels like flying!

Ralph:Do you follow the careers of any of the "pro" disabled female sailors like Jennifer French of the U.S?

Hilary: A little, but I have only been sailing for a very short period of time, and all my sailor mates are able-bodied, so I tend to spend most of my time following them.

Ralph: Do you have any plans for competition? The paralympic trials and the IFDS disabled sailing championships are just around the corner.

Hilary: I enjoy sailing on the sea, and my preference is for long-distancesailing. I haven't done much racing, but it gets crowded, and I like thesolitude you get on the ocean.

Ralph: What would you say to a young woman that wanted to get into sailing?

Hilary: Just go for it! There is bound to be a club relatively near you,even if you live far inland there are reservoirs and rivers.

Ralph: On your website you talk about sailing around the British Isles, goodluck with that and keep me informed, you really deserve that award. Till next time.__

To find out more about Hilary check out ChannelChallenge

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