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Haruto's Spinal Injury Recovery

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日本語は英語の後に Japanese to follow】

Haruto Morishita – also known as ‘Harry' or ‘Mori' – is a 22-year-old, keen surfer, skater, photographer, and our good mate. Originally from Japan, Haruto came to Sydney as a working holiday worker earlier this year. Despite still learning English, he has quickly found his feet in the Northern Beaches, and had just started working at Coffee Supreme in Brookvale.

On the evening of 27th October, Haruto suffered a severe spinal injury after diving into the rock pool at Dee Why Beach. After hitting his head on the bottom of the pool, he sustained a fracture in one of his vertebrae (in the neck), causing a displacement that severely damaged his spinal cord.

Although conscious, he was unable to move his arms or legs, and was transported in a police-escorted ambulance to Royal North Shore Hospital, where he underwent an emergency operation to align and stabilise his broken spine.

On behalf of Haruto and his family, we express our utmost gratitude to: the local Northern Beaches community who did not think twice about helping our dear friend at the pool, the NSW Ambulance paramedics, the Northern Beaches Police officers, the Narrabeen Station firefighters, the Fire and Rescue NSW specialists and anyone who was involved in the rescue and transport. And of course, to all the doctors and nurses at Royal North Shore Hospital who have given and are giving their all in treating Haruto.


  • Haruto’s Condition as of 7th November:

Haruto is still in care at the Intensive Care Unit. He was successfully taken off life support and is now able to talk, but he still has much difficulty breathing on his own. Due to the damaged spinal cord, he has very limited arm movement and is unable to move his fingers. At this point, he is paralysed from the chest down.

We’ve been advised that the chances of his body movement returning to what it once was are close to zero, as damaged spinal cord cannot be repaired. But our Haruto, despite these traumatic events, is in good spirits. "When can I start physio?" was one of the first things he asked since becoming able to talk.

After applying for emergency passports, Haruto’s parents were able to fly in from Japan immediately and have since been with him. They must fly back to Japan on 9th Nov to get their affairs in order to come back again when they can.

At this stage, it is too early to know what Haruto's recovery road would look like. He could be hospitalised for 3-months or it could be 9-months. The good news is that the team at Royal North Shore Hospital is one of the best in spinal injury treatment, and we know that Haruto is in good hands.

  • Our current concern:

As Haruto is not a permanent resident nor an AUS citizen, he only has access to a short-stay, overseas visitor health insurance cover. At this stage, we are not sure how much his health insurance will cover for his road to recovery, which we anticipate will be long and expensive. Haruto's family is checking with the health insurance as we speak. To add to that, it may take months until his condition stabilises enough to be able to travel back to Japan for further medical attention.

  • For Haruto:

Any funds raised from this campaign will go directly to Haruto and his family, to cover the fees for his rehabilitation and any upcoming medical treatments; any travel and accommodation costs involved for his family; and any other needs he may have in the future. We understand that many people may not be able to afford to provide financial assistance, but every little bit would help him.

We will continue to post any updates here.

We thank you for all the support.

With love,
Haruto's friends


------------------------- In Japanese below -------------------------


【脊髄損傷を負った友人ハルトにご支援を。】


森下晴斗(ハルト)は僕たちの友人であり、サーフィン、スケートと写真に熱心な22歳です。ハルトは生まれも育ちも日本ですが、今年のはじめにワーキングホリデーで横浜からオーストラリアのシドニーにやってきました。
つたない英語でも、あっという間にシドニーのノーザンビーチズにてローカルとして馴染み、ブルックベールのカフェで働き始めたばかりでした。

10月27日の夕方、ハルトはディーワイビーチのプールに飛び込んだ際に、プールの底に後頭部をぶつけてしまい、脊椎のひとつ (首) に骨折を負い、脊髄に重傷を負いました。

意識はありましたが、腕や足を動かすことができず、警察が護衛した救急車でロイヤルノースショア病院に運ばれ、そこで骨折した脊椎の緊急手術を受けました。

まずはハルトと彼の家族を代表して、現場で親愛なる友人を助けてくれた地元のノーザンビーチズのコミュニティ、NSW州の救急隊員、ノーザンビーチの警察官、ナラビーンの消防士やレスキューチーム、救助と輸送に関わったすべての人、そしてハルトの治療に全力を尽くしているロイヤルノースショア病院のすべての医師と看護師の皆様に、心から感謝の気持ちを述べさせてください。


  • ハルトの現在の状況 (11月7日現在):

ハルトは今も集中治療室で入院中です。無事に人工呼吸器は外すことができ、今では話すことができますが、自力で呼吸することはまだかなり困難です。
脊髄を損傷した為、彼は腕を満足に動かす事が出来ず、指は全く動かすことができません。現時点で、彼は胸から下、下半身が麻痺しています。

お医者様の見解では、損傷した脊髄は修復できないため、彼の体の動きが以前の状態に戻る可能性はゼロに近いと言われています。
トラウマ的な出来事が起きたにも関わらず、ハルトはいつもと変わらずポジティブで前向きに振る舞っています。会話できるようになってからすぐ「いつリハビリ始めていい?」とドクターに聞いていました。

ハルトのご両親はパスポートを緊急申請し、日本からオーストラリアに入国することが出来ました。日本での仕事もあるため、一旦11月9日に日本に帰国され、可能な時期にオーストラリアに戻ってくる予定です。

この段階では、ハルトの回復の道がどのようになるかを知るのは時期尚早です。3ヶ月の入院になるかもしれないですし、9カ月の入院になる可能性もあります。幸いなことにロイヤルノースショア病院のチームはオーストラリアの脊椎損傷の治療において優秀ですので、ハルトが信頼出来る治療を受ける事が出来ます。


  • 現在の懸念:

ハルトはオーストラリア国籍や永住権を持っていないため、短期滞在の海外旅行者向けの健康保険にしか加入していません。

現在加入している保険で、治療の費用がどれだけ補償されるかまだわかりません。まだ保険に確認中です。ハルトが飛行機に乗って日本に帰国できるぐらいに身体の状態が安定するまで、数ヶ月かかる可能性があります。


  • ハルトのために:

このキャンペーンで集められた資金は、ハルトとご家族に直接送られ、
彼のリハビリと今後の治療費、彼のご家族にかかる旅費と宿泊費、そしてハルトが将来必要とする事に使わせていただきます。

多くの人が経済的支援を提供する余裕がないかもしれない事も理解していますが、どんなに少額でもハルトを助ける事に繋がると思っています。

今後もこちらのページで、治療の状況など定期的に更新していきたいと思っています。

皆様のご支援、誠にに感謝いたします。

友人一同
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Donations 

  • Frances O’Connor
    • $50
    • 7 mos
  • Frank Vo
    • $50
    • 7 mos
  • Mark Lynch
    • $250
    • 8 mos
  • Bailey Brebner
    • $50
    • 8 mos
  • Anonymous
    • $20
    • 8 mos
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Fundraising team: Haruto's Friends (3)

Tony Fry
Organizer
Dee Why, NSW
Haruto Morishita
Beneficiary
Jun Aoki
Team member
Kentaro Yoshida
Team member

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