Help my dad walk again
Donation protected
My name is Jordan and i am a 27 year old father of 2 children. I live on the Fraser
Coast in Queensland Australia. In 2012 i was in a tragic accident that left me
wheelchair bound. I am now a C4 incomplete Quadrilplegic.
This is my story.
On the 30th of September 2012 i was living in Blackwater working fulltime which is
where i was involved in a single vehicle accident. I was rushed to Blackwater Base
Hospital and placed in an induced coma and put on life support. I was then flown to the
Royal Brisbane Hospital Intensive Care Unit.
*My Life Change*
I spent three months in the Intensive Care Unit where i was being treated for a
shattered pelvis, broken ribs, collapsed lung, grazings & abrasions, compressed spinal
cord and fought infection after infection. At a later date i had to have a tracheostomy
put in, and a spinal fusion which is where they take a piece of bone from your hip and
insert it into your neck to suppot your spinal cord with bones and screws. By this time
i was also suffering with nasty pressure sores.
I was living day by day, minute by minute. It was touch and go for a while.
I was not ready for my children to see me in such a graphic state and i couldnt talk to
them on the phone as i had a Tracheostomy without a vocal piece so i literally could
not talk. I could nod my head, blink my eyes, and mouth words hoping that people could
understand what i was trying to communicate. This was extremely frustrating.
*Odds Against Me*
My family were told that i would be permanently on oxygen- that i wouldnt be able to
breath on my own. That i would be in a vegetive state and not be able to move from my
shoulders down. Also that i would be on food restrictions, needing formula
supplements. Living on a liquid diet.
*Dark Days*
After three long months in ICU at Royal Brisbane Hospital i was transferred to the
spinal unit at the Princess Alexandria Hospital. Which is where i experienced some of
my darker days. Learning how to manage, learning about the new me.... my new life.
Some days; well most days, i would wish that i could die. For a 24 yr old (at the
time) hardworking father to 2 children (4 and 2.5 years old at the time) to have lost
such a quality of life was extremely hard to deal with. And learning how to deal with,
how complete strangers seen me and how they would react.
I had no idea that the spinal cord also controls feeling to touch (when someone touches
me, it is sometimes painful like needles going into my skin. They call this
hypersensitive) the control of my diaphragm, ability to cough, nerve pain, the ability
to sweat, temperature control and a WHOLE LOT MORE.
For someone who had previously never dealt with depression in my life, it was definetly
a huge battle for me. I had to grieve the quality of life that i had lost.
Finally i felt it was time for my children to see me and for me to see them. I was no
longer in a gaphic state. This was the toughest day... to see their faces.. to face
them and their questions. And to tell them that i can not walk. This was gut wrenching,
but they handled it so well. My son told the nurses that they needed to show him what
to do so that he could help his daddy. He told me that he was going to be a doctor one
day so that he can help make me better and make me walk again.
During my time at Princess Alexandria Hospital i underwent Intensive Physiotherapy
every week day and i also regularly met with an Occupational Therapist. I trialled
several wheelchairs and medications to suit my needs. This alone came with its
trivialities and complications.
My girlfriend at the time, family and friends helped me get through some of my darkest
days. For that i am eternally grateful. Still to this day my family and friends are
never far away and are always looking at ways that they help me.
*Defeating The Odds* ☺
I have carers come in to help with my daily rountine. And i see an Alternative
Therapist-Healer every fortnight. I am able to breath on my own, i do not have a
tracheostomy, i can move my arms and i am seeing improvements with my strength, control
and feeling. I also do not have food restrictions but i do try and eat healthy. And
no.. i am not in a vegetive state.
*My Next Step*
It is my dream to be able to undergo Stem Cell Treatment and Intensive Physiotherapy
in an American Based facility so that i can walk with my children again. My next step
is to try and raise $60,000+ so that i can make this dream a reality. Please help me
achieve this goal.
Please like/share/comment/donate/follow my progress.
Go to my gofundme page 'Help My Dad Walk'
Thank you
Coast in Queensland Australia. In 2012 i was in a tragic accident that left me
wheelchair bound. I am now a C4 incomplete Quadrilplegic.
This is my story.
On the 30th of September 2012 i was living in Blackwater working fulltime which is
where i was involved in a single vehicle accident. I was rushed to Blackwater Base
Hospital and placed in an induced coma and put on life support. I was then flown to the
Royal Brisbane Hospital Intensive Care Unit.
*My Life Change*
I spent three months in the Intensive Care Unit where i was being treated for a
shattered pelvis, broken ribs, collapsed lung, grazings & abrasions, compressed spinal
cord and fought infection after infection. At a later date i had to have a tracheostomy
put in, and a spinal fusion which is where they take a piece of bone from your hip and
insert it into your neck to suppot your spinal cord with bones and screws. By this time
i was also suffering with nasty pressure sores.
I was living day by day, minute by minute. It was touch and go for a while.
I was not ready for my children to see me in such a graphic state and i couldnt talk to
them on the phone as i had a Tracheostomy without a vocal piece so i literally could
not talk. I could nod my head, blink my eyes, and mouth words hoping that people could
understand what i was trying to communicate. This was extremely frustrating.
*Odds Against Me*
My family were told that i would be permanently on oxygen- that i wouldnt be able to
breath on my own. That i would be in a vegetive state and not be able to move from my
shoulders down. Also that i would be on food restrictions, needing formula
supplements. Living on a liquid diet.
*Dark Days*
After three long months in ICU at Royal Brisbane Hospital i was transferred to the
spinal unit at the Princess Alexandria Hospital. Which is where i experienced some of
my darker days. Learning how to manage, learning about the new me.... my new life.
Some days; well most days, i would wish that i could die. For a 24 yr old (at the
time) hardworking father to 2 children (4 and 2.5 years old at the time) to have lost
such a quality of life was extremely hard to deal with. And learning how to deal with,
how complete strangers seen me and how they would react.
I had no idea that the spinal cord also controls feeling to touch (when someone touches
me, it is sometimes painful like needles going into my skin. They call this
hypersensitive) the control of my diaphragm, ability to cough, nerve pain, the ability
to sweat, temperature control and a WHOLE LOT MORE.
For someone who had previously never dealt with depression in my life, it was definetly
a huge battle for me. I had to grieve the quality of life that i had lost.
Finally i felt it was time for my children to see me and for me to see them. I was no
longer in a gaphic state. This was the toughest day... to see their faces.. to face
them and their questions. And to tell them that i can not walk. This was gut wrenching,
but they handled it so well. My son told the nurses that they needed to show him what
to do so that he could help his daddy. He told me that he was going to be a doctor one
day so that he can help make me better and make me walk again.
During my time at Princess Alexandria Hospital i underwent Intensive Physiotherapy
every week day and i also regularly met with an Occupational Therapist. I trialled
several wheelchairs and medications to suit my needs. This alone came with its
trivialities and complications.
My girlfriend at the time, family and friends helped me get through some of my darkest
days. For that i am eternally grateful. Still to this day my family and friends are
never far away and are always looking at ways that they help me.
*Defeating The Odds* ☺
I have carers come in to help with my daily rountine. And i see an Alternative
Therapist-Healer every fortnight. I am able to breath on my own, i do not have a
tracheostomy, i can move my arms and i am seeing improvements with my strength, control
and feeling. I also do not have food restrictions but i do try and eat healthy. And
no.. i am not in a vegetive state.
*My Next Step*
It is my dream to be able to undergo Stem Cell Treatment and Intensive Physiotherapy
in an American Based facility so that i can walk with my children again. My next step
is to try and raise $60,000+ so that i can make this dream a reality. Please help me
achieve this goal.
Please like/share/comment/donate/follow my progress.
Go to my gofundme page 'Help My Dad Walk'
Thank you
Organizer
Jordan Grant
Organizer
Walliebum QLD
