After they put a neck brace on me, they broke the seat (To have me lying down) they noticed I had a punctured lung. They had to stabilize me and give me blood transfusions (As I was losing blood quickly), before cutting the roof off the car to "extract me."
When I was removed from the car, I was transported via road ambulance to a local bush hospital. In the hospital, I had to a series of stitches in my left arm because I had a big gash. After I had my breathing stabilized, they must have given me cat scans and found that I "severe head injuries" with five different brain hemorrhages.
They were not equipped to handle the severity of my injuries so, I was transported to "trauma centre." (In a large Melbourne hospital) The road trip took nearly four hours, where normally it would take about an hour and a half!
On arrival to the "trauma centre", I had more cat scans and they had to drill a "burr hole" in my head to relieve some of the pressure in my head. They then inserted a tracheotomy to help me breathe.
During the procedures, I remained comatose and after a few days my pressures still weren't coming down so they decided to insert a "VP shunt."
I then remained in "intensive care" for another week and then I was moved to the "neurosurgery ward", where I remained until I was assessed by a "rehabilitation specialist."
Whilst I was in the "neurosurgery ward" I had my 21st birthday. (This was not a happy time for my family!)
I was transferred to a "rehabilitation hospital" a month after my accident. After changing hospital, I remained in a coma for a further month. (By this time, my family were starting to lose "all hope" of me, ever waking up.)
I awoke from my coma and was unable to understand it when I couldn't "get out of bed and go to the toilet!"
My Mum explained that the head injury was stopping me from walking and my muscles had become very weak, after a couple of months in bed.
I had a physiotherapist come in and lift me onto a "tilt table" every day.
About a week later, I started some "physiotherapy exercises" including learning to sit up again!
I then went over to the "physic room" and was learning to "stand up" from "sitting." My balance was terrible and my legs were weak.
About five months later, I had to have more surgery. I needed a "tendon release" operation. (My Achilles tendons had shortened due to "lack of use.")
About a couple of months later, I had the plaster removed and was able to start some serious rehabilitation. (I've never been in as much pain as having both Achilles operated on!)
After learning to stand up, I then had to "re-gain my balance." (This was very frustrating for me.)
When I got a bit of balance back, it was time to try and walk! My physiotherapist tried to get me walking using a stick. I just couldn't really get the "hang of walking again."
I made several improvements over the next couple of months and was able to start coming home on the weekends. (I'd come home Thursday night and stay until Monday morning where Dad would drive me back to the hospital, before going to work.)
I stayed as an inpatient thirteen months where I finally came home to a new building, at the end of 1999.(I had spent thirteen months in hospital!)
I had moved into a new bedroom as my old room wasn't set up for a wheelchair. The new building consists of a huge bedroom, a kitchenette and a bathroom.
After traveling back to the "re-hab centre" for a further two years (as an out-patient), I was released from there and I now have a different physiotherapist who visits my home, once a week.
I'm now 25 and its coming up to five years since the accident and I must say "I have made some big improvements but, I'm still a "long way" from being "the way I was" before my accident!
I can now walk around the house using a four point stick but, I mainly get around in a wheelchair. I still have no use of my left arm/hand.
I must say: "Over the last four and a bit years, I've put in alot of hard work and had quite a few embarrassing moments. (Having my bum wiped and even help in the shower.) I'm glad that I can do it all for myself now!
I'll just keep plodding along and "who knows", over the years I'll keep improving.
*If you'd like to chat to me, I'll be happy to hear from you
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