Please help make the future look brighter

Many of you wont be aware, on Tuesday 21st March, my Brother in law (my Sister Carissa’s Husband, Kyron & Brodie’s father – Jakob & Rohan’s Step-dad) was in a horrific motorbike accident just metres down the road from their farm at Cooran, just weeks after becoming a grandfather for the 1st time. We still don’t know exactly what happened on the road that day.

This is what we do know:

Dave was taken via ambulance to Sunshine Coast University Hospital at approx 1.30pm where he was conscious and seemingly moving all 4 limbs and reported in the newspaper that he was stable. Upon his arrival he became agitated and went into spinal shock where he was he was placed in a medically induced coma to protect him from further damage. Later that night he was air lifted from the Sunshine Coast Hospital to the PA hospital in Brisbane due to the severity of his spinal cord injury – so the damage could be assessed. From a severed spinal cord, broken neck, punctured lungs, lacerated kidney, lacerated Aorta, Bruised Heart, every rib broken, Broken Clavicle, Broken Scapula, Brachial Plexus Injury, Ruptured spleen and so much more – this is where the journey begins.

Since arriving at the PA hospital, Dave has had a number of surgeries, from surgery on his anterior artery by way of insertion of 2 stints to ensure they could get the blood flowing through his arm , rods placed in his spine from T2-T10 to stabilise his vertebrae, a chest plate inserted to start repairing his dislocated sternum to allow him to breathe and more.

Sunday 26th March, the Doctors tried to wake him, however his body didn’t react in the way they needed, though on Monday 27th they were a little more successful when they lowered his coma medications and upped his pain medications to assist with the pain levels. Dave was able to follow with his eyes and also stick his tongue out when asked (no surprises to us that a cheeky gesture was possible). The news was broken pretty quickly that Dave wont walk again, though it seems he has feeling in 1 arm at the moment, and no signs of brain damage – We are eternally grateful for this news!!

Whilst Carissa hasn’t slept much over the last couple of weeks (as I’m sure anyone reading this could imagine), she has spent a lot of time researching costs and planning their future that looks extraordinarily different to the life they had planned. What she has found is one of the best Spinal Hospitals in the world – in Chicago. She has found exoskeletons, therapies that Australia does not offer and the list will continue to grow.

At this stage, we don’t know when or if she will be able to get Dave to Chicago, nor how much it’s going to cost to get him there, or to get the help he is needing (whether in Chicago or at home). But what we do know, is this hospital in Chicago is the BEST. . For now he is in the best Spinal Unit in Qld but we will not stop him from maximising his rehabilitation chances. His body is strong as he has survived thus far such an horrific ordeal that could have definitely been even more tragic, his mind needs to remain his friend and he needs all of us to support his journey.

Dave has spent much of his life being supportive and giving to others. He is kind, generous, loving and the wave of support which has followed this incident is a testament to who he is a human being. They say that the good ones are always the ones impacted the most by these catastrophic events and this is proof.

So this is where you come in. If you can spare $5, $50 or even 30 seconds to share this donation link – every single cent is going to count to help with the recovery.

From the bottom of our hearts, we appreciate every little bit of help that you’re able to offer my family right now.