Help DRIVE his independence

Hello, my name is Tamara, (Nick’s partner) and I truly appreciate you taking a moment to read Nick’s long heart-warming story.

In 2002, Nick at just 20 years old, woke feeling incredibly unwell and after being turned away for help from the first responders, the second responders realised he had contracted meningococcal septicaemia (life-threatening bacteria that enters the blood stream and damages blood vessels, skin and organs). Nick suffered 3 heart attacks before his body shut down trying to fight the infection and ended up in a coma for 10 days and almost died. He was given a 2% chance of surviving. Due to the aggressive nature of the infection, Nick had to have both of his arms (below the elbow) amputated and both lower legs (above the knee) amputated. Unfortunately he then had to have several other operations on his limbs removing more bone and tissue.

Not only did he suddenly at such a young age have major surgery of limb removal, skin damage from dead tissue and relying on the use of a wheelchair, complications from the infection caused so much damage that both of his kidneys ceased working. Namely, acute renal failure. Because of this, Nick requires dialysis 3 times a week for 4 hours each time for the rest of his life. Dialysis is a way to clean your blood if your kidneys are no longer working. Hemodialysis treatment involves taking your blood from your body and pumping it through a dialysis machine for cleaning. It may not seem like a lot of time, but if he doesn't attend dialysis, he will die. The time it takes to pack up and arrive at the centre is time, the setting up is time, it's then 4 hours on the dialysis machine and then packing up to go home if no complications arise. Dialysis is very tiring on the mind and body, being strapped to a machine for so long each time. Time spent after dialysis is essentially gone as the body is so drained from the process. The alternative to this would be if Nick were to receive a kidney transplant.

Before the infection, Nick was an active young man who played sport, was studying and working hard to develop his future. Nick had to adapt to his new life and went on to start playing wheelchair rugby in 2004 and in 2007 represent WA in the National Wheelchair rugby league with the West Coast Enforcers wheelchair rugby team and won the league’s “Best New Talent Award” as well as winning the Wheelchair Sports W.A. “Rookie of the Year Award”.

In 2006 Nick was able to receive his first kidney transplant. He took 6 months to recover from the transplant and he continued his wheelchair rugby career. In 2009, Nick made the Australian Paralympic wheelchair rugby squad but tragically his body rejected his new kidney and Nick had to withdraw from all forms of rugby and sport. At this time, Nick almost died, again. Due to how transplants work, his chances of receiving another kidney transplant are slim to none because of antibodies that build up in the body and will most likely reject any new transplant. Leaving him to rely only on dialysis.

With dialysis taking up so much time in Nicks week and the tiring effect it has on his body he is very limited by how much he is able to work in a week. Not only that, but finding employment as a quadruple amputee who uses a wheelchair is very difficult. He has been very fortunate to find employment working at an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 2.5 days a week. Nick strives to do the most he can with his life. Being on the disability pension means he doesn’t have to work but wants and chooses to. Nick is an amazing, dedicated father to a 10-year-old boy, 14-month-old girl and a 7-week-old baby boy, he is also a fur dad to a very handsome Rottweiler.

Nick is able to drive a modified vehicle as it has specialised controls to enable him to use the steering wheel, accelerator and brakes. This has been perfect to allow Nick to be independent, get to work, many medical appointments (and dialysis), transport his children to and from school and appointments, help his elderly mother get to her medical appointments, grocery shopping and live a life. However, the manufacturer of the modifications has reported that they can no longer be repaired, and the vehicle is beyond economical repair.

NDIS has been pretty good to Nick and funding is available for the purchase of the modifications to the vehicle, however they will only modify a new and mechanically sound vehicle, so this means Nick must purchase a new vehicle (less than 5 years old) and one that is able to be modified to have a low height to allow Nick to get into the vehicle and lift his wheelchair into the vehicle.

Nick needs to buy a 2023/2024 Kia Carnival SLI/Platinum (this car has electric doors and boot which Nick needs as he has no hands) so it can be approved by NDIS to become a custom modified wheelchair accessible car with hand controls and rear hoist. NDIS will only (on application) pay for the modifications to fit out this vehicle, but Nick needs to purchase the $64,190 vehicle to start the process. We are asking for $40,000 so he can buy a car with the money raised, his savings and worst case, support of a loan if he can’t raise it all. 

Unfortunately, these kinds of funds that are needed are beyond his earning capabilities. If he could, he would try to buy a much cheaper car to get around, but because of the type of car he needs due to his disability means he has to get something much more expensive. Nick has been working and trying his hardest to save as much as he can, but needs the support of his community to raise further funds to continue being independent and supporting his family.

Nick is a very shy and often a reserved young man. He doesn't want to ask for a hand out as he thinks he is not deserving and there are people more deserving than him. He has had to overcome so much tragedy, both mentally and physically. He amazes everyone around him at how much he can and has achieved so far. I know Nick would be beyond grateful for any amount donated to help him purchase a vehicle to be modified. Even sharing his story will help him further his reach and support basis. All funding raised would go directly to the purchase of a new car. If you aren't able to donate at this time, please pass this along to other people in our community. Much appreciated. No donation is ever too small <3