Sunday, 8 May 1983 – Mother’s Day

The Day that changed my life, 39 years.

It was a Sunday afternoon on 8th May 1983. The day that my life would change forever. My brother was working up paddocks, the youngest brother sleeping in a cot and my father away sharing farming. My stubbornness got the better of me, I was supposed to mow the lawns but instead I sat in the wheelbarrow and waited till my mother went inside and I ducked off in the shed and wheeled my motorbike. Trying to start it. Was this a sign telling me that I am not supposed to go riding today! Ignoring my hunch, I continue to try and start. So, I went inside and said to my mother I promise I will mow the lawns. I just want to go for a little ride on the bike before it gets too late. My mother said OKAY and helped me start the motorbike.

So, I went down the paddock and up to where my oldest brother was working on a tractor, then I turned around and started on my way back to finish my chores.

On my way back I saw our neighbour’s sheep that had wandered across to our farm, trying to swerve to avoid them, and sheep being bright as they decided to follow me and cross my path, as a panic hit one of them after applying the front brakes which sent me flying…

After a while, I woke up and was underneath the motorbike. Feeling weak and sore, I slowly picked myself up and dusted myself down and tried to pick up the bike and start it. As I was too weak to start it, I knew something was wrong. My vision was blurred and I could see blood running from my nose. So, leaving the bike behind I took my helmet off and started to crawl on my arms and knees on my way back to the farmhouse, as I was unable to stand. I must have crawled about 200 yards approximately half a kilometre then decided to pick myself up on my two legs with a hunched back and walk slowly scuffing my feet. After walking a further 200 feet, approximately another half kilometre I got to the chicken pen, I can see my mother and someone else, a mechanic working on the combine. I was calling out to my mother… MUM MUM I am sorry … then when I saw my mother run towards me, I dropped to the ground and closed my eyes. (At times I wish I just stayed still and not move, as this would of saved me from using a wheelchair)

I can feel that someone trying to stand me and mum saying hold on Spike I will go and get the car. Can remember being placed in the back seat of a car and mum driving to our neighbour and mum saying stay awake on the way to the hospital. By this stage I knew that something was wrong as my mother was screaming and crying at me. We got to our neighbour and can remember him driving us to town and mum holding me and crying. Whilst in vehicle driving to the hospital as I was drifting off, every time I looked up I could see white clouds, then a voice calling my name.

We got to the hospital and can remember being pulled out of the car and placed on a hard table and being wheeled inside the hospital, then all I can remember is bright lights and doctors cutting my jeans off and can remember a priest. Remember doctors telling my parents we will have to fly him to Sydney for treatment. Can remember mum screaming at nurse when we got to the hospital “I left baby at home in cot”, and nurse saying “you don’t have a baby”. which the nurse called the next door neighbor to check if there is a baby sleeping in cot and to go and check and look after and to let my father know what has happened.

I can remember being at the airport, and my uncle, grandmother and parents saying goodbye to me as I was loaded into the plane. Can remember another person who also was involved in a accident (this other person turns out didn’t make it and passed on) apart from the nurse in the plane as well. Also, remember the nurse saying to my mother at the airport that the plane is small, not enough room for anyone else.

I arrived in Sydney (Royal North Shore Hospital) Intensive care unit. Can remember doctors putting breathing tubes down my throat and a nurse came in and saying your parents called and they are driving up and will be here soon. As a 10 year old I was scared being alone in hospital, and as I was laying on by back with no visual as to were I was.

I stayed at Royal North Shore Hospital for 6 months, about two months lying on my back looking at the ceiling and a further three months doing rehab.

At times I look back and think why didn’t I listen and just did my chores. I don’t blame my mother or father as what I did was my fault as I let my stubbornness get the better of me. I am sorry mum and dad for what heartache I have caused you.

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