Sam's Story - Re-building Life
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On 17th February 2017 my life was turned upside down after suffering life-changing injuries which very nearly cost me my life as a result of a motorcycle trackday crash in Spain.
I lost control of my bike while braking for a corner, and within a split second I crashed into the gravel trap at high speed, and landed from a height on my back. The result was 5 broken vertebrae, 14 broken ribs, multiple punctures to both lungs, 3 pelvic fractures and ligament damage to my right ankle, and was instantly paralysed from the mid-chest down.
I was airlifted to the Val D'Hebron spinal hospital from the track where I underwent surgery to fix my spine, with two rods and various screws along a good length of my middle back.
Following the surgery the doctors gave me the news that my spinal injury was 'complete' I.e. no sensation or movement below the level of injury, and statistically I'd have a 2% chance of walking again, and any form of slight recovery was incredibly slim. Despite this news, I was adamant I would continue to work towards getting better and with the intention of one day walking again and prove them wrong. This would start with many hours of gruelling Physiotherapy learning firstly how to cope with life in a wheelchair, and learn the necessary skills required to go about daily life.
My family and girlfriend Vicky ensured that someone was there at my bedside every single day of my stay in hospital, even when out in Spain. This was huge for me as the feeling of isolation out in a foreign hospital is horrible, and I'd have struggled to cope had I been alone. Vicky even had to temporarily shut down her business to make the time to be there with me, which is an amazing commitment that I'm massively grateful for.
Daily phone calls and text messages from friends also helped keep me on the straight and narrow. When you realise that everyone is on your side, rooting for you, and keen to do anything they can to help, it's again a huge spur of encouragement. Some of my friends really got stuck in and helped to sort things out behind the scenes, visited and kept my spirits up. It's the little things that go a long way sometimes

After 3 1/2 weeks in the Spanish hospital I was repatriated back to the UK via a private plane with doctors onboard in case I took a turn for the worst.

Whilst in hospital I was put into a rehab programme to maintain flexibility of the joints and start to rebuild my new life which is me being permanently in a wheelchair with no signs of any change to my condition to-date. During my stay at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore I learnt a lot about my condition, how to manage my everyday needs, and essential wheelchair skills to overcome everything from uneven ground to staircases!
I also picked the brains of the top physiotherapists who are well educated on the latest developments in spinal repair and recoveries, and discovered that electro-stimulation of the muscles below the level of injury to maintain muscle had shown very positive results in patients regarding future recoveries, so I went about sourcing the same piece of equipment that I'd used at the hospital, at the crazy cost of nearly £6000! I am determined to throw everything at my recovery that shows any sign of helping me get back up and walking again.


The scar...

The electro-stimulation device in use at home:

Once out of hospital it was necessary to get a decent wheelchair of my own to make life as easy as possible. With a very small contribution towards one from the local council wheelchair services I ended up having to find nearly £3000 on top to purchase the one below! It has made a huge difference to life, but all this has come at a cost and I've had to borrow money to fund these purchases.
As well as getting to an accessible gym that I've managed to find locally, I would love to purchase a hand bike attachment to turn the wheelchair into a hand pedal bike to allow me to get out and stay active. I used to love running, so this is kind of a close replacement for me! Only trouble is, it's another £1800 :(

Below, a welcome home party following my rehab discharge thrown for me by my incredible girlfriend who has stood by me throughout the entire journey, and continues to do so now

Throughout everything I've maintained a very positive outlook on life, and have just got on with things, accepting that firstly, after the accident I'm still alive, and secondly that life isn't really that bad; just different now, but it hasn't stopped me doing much
Getting out and about down to Swanage pier for my dad's 60th

Corfe Castle on the same trip:

My reason for fundraising is to raise money to pay for the expensive items above, and to help with day-to-day living expenses. I have a house I cannot live in due to inaccessibility of the bedrooms and bathroom which are all upstairs, and I'm awaiting a very limited chance of some funding from the council via a grant to help towards potential adaptations to make it liveable, although the amount of work required would far exceed the available grant. I'm also still off work, and aiming to return in a few months time; part time to begin with, but sick pay doesn't cover my outgoings.
I would also like to get into alternative therapies - using the power of the mind to assist in healing - but the costs of seeing therapists are preventing me doing this. Money raised would give me more options to try alternative things, and help with rehabilitation costs now I've been discharged. I hate asking for help on this, but a number of friends have suggested this idea.
Any donations would be hugely gratefully received.
Thanks,
Sam
I lost control of my bike while braking for a corner, and within a split second I crashed into the gravel trap at high speed, and landed from a height on my back. The result was 5 broken vertebrae, 14 broken ribs, multiple punctures to both lungs, 3 pelvic fractures and ligament damage to my right ankle, and was instantly paralysed from the mid-chest down.
I was airlifted to the Val D'Hebron spinal hospital from the track where I underwent surgery to fix my spine, with two rods and various screws along a good length of my middle back.
Following the surgery the doctors gave me the news that my spinal injury was 'complete' I.e. no sensation or movement below the level of injury, and statistically I'd have a 2% chance of walking again, and any form of slight recovery was incredibly slim. Despite this news, I was adamant I would continue to work towards getting better and with the intention of one day walking again and prove them wrong. This would start with many hours of gruelling Physiotherapy learning firstly how to cope with life in a wheelchair, and learn the necessary skills required to go about daily life.
My family and girlfriend Vicky ensured that someone was there at my bedside every single day of my stay in hospital, even when out in Spain. This was huge for me as the feeling of isolation out in a foreign hospital is horrible, and I'd have struggled to cope had I been alone. Vicky even had to temporarily shut down her business to make the time to be there with me, which is an amazing commitment that I'm massively grateful for.
Daily phone calls and text messages from friends also helped keep me on the straight and narrow. When you realise that everyone is on your side, rooting for you, and keen to do anything they can to help, it's again a huge spur of encouragement. Some of my friends really got stuck in and helped to sort things out behind the scenes, visited and kept my spirits up. It's the little things that go a long way sometimes
After 3 1/2 weeks in the Spanish hospital I was repatriated back to the UK via a private plane with doctors onboard in case I took a turn for the worst.
Whilst in hospital I was put into a rehab programme to maintain flexibility of the joints and start to rebuild my new life which is me being permanently in a wheelchair with no signs of any change to my condition to-date. During my stay at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore I learnt a lot about my condition, how to manage my everyday needs, and essential wheelchair skills to overcome everything from uneven ground to staircases!
I also picked the brains of the top physiotherapists who are well educated on the latest developments in spinal repair and recoveries, and discovered that electro-stimulation of the muscles below the level of injury to maintain muscle had shown very positive results in patients regarding future recoveries, so I went about sourcing the same piece of equipment that I'd used at the hospital, at the crazy cost of nearly £6000! I am determined to throw everything at my recovery that shows any sign of helping me get back up and walking again.
The scar...
The electro-stimulation device in use at home:
Once out of hospital it was necessary to get a decent wheelchair of my own to make life as easy as possible. With a very small contribution towards one from the local council wheelchair services I ended up having to find nearly £3000 on top to purchase the one below! It has made a huge difference to life, but all this has come at a cost and I've had to borrow money to fund these purchases.
As well as getting to an accessible gym that I've managed to find locally, I would love to purchase a hand bike attachment to turn the wheelchair into a hand pedal bike to allow me to get out and stay active. I used to love running, so this is kind of a close replacement for me! Only trouble is, it's another £1800 :(
Below, a welcome home party following my rehab discharge thrown for me by my incredible girlfriend who has stood by me throughout the entire journey, and continues to do so now
Throughout everything I've maintained a very positive outlook on life, and have just got on with things, accepting that firstly, after the accident I'm still alive, and secondly that life isn't really that bad; just different now, but it hasn't stopped me doing much
Getting out and about down to Swanage pier for my dad's 60th
Corfe Castle on the same trip:
My reason for fundraising is to raise money to pay for the expensive items above, and to help with day-to-day living expenses. I have a house I cannot live in due to inaccessibility of the bedrooms and bathroom which are all upstairs, and I'm awaiting a very limited chance of some funding from the council via a grant to help towards potential adaptations to make it liveable, although the amount of work required would far exceed the available grant. I'm also still off work, and aiming to return in a few months time; part time to begin with, but sick pay doesn't cover my outgoings.
I would also like to get into alternative therapies - using the power of the mind to assist in healing - but the costs of seeing therapists are preventing me doing this. Money raised would give me more options to try alternative things, and help with rehabilitation costs now I've been discharged. I hate asking for help on this, but a number of friends have suggested this idea.
Any donations would be hugely gratefully received.
Thanks,
Sam
Organizer
Sam Doble
Organizer
