Jacobs Second Chance

Team fundraiser

Ellie Farrow and Lewis Mansell are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of jacob smith.

Donation protected

On the 3rd October, I received a phone call that would change our lives forever.

Jacob was participating in a track day at Mallory Park where he ended up going into a wall head on and sustained horrific injuries as a result of this.

Jacob's step mum, told me he had been in a motorbike accident and that we should get to Coventry Hospital as quickly as we could.

I had no idea what would be waiting for us, or how drastically our lives would change.

I had never been so desperate to close a distance between us.

Somehow, we arrived before Jacob. As he emerged from the ambulance, my heart which had been in my throat, finally slowed.

He was conscious, he was talking and making jokes. He was covered in blood, but maybe, just maybe he was going to be ok.

There was hope and I clung onto that like it was my absolute last breath.

Jacob was sent to the major trauma unit, and we (Jacob's dad and I) were sat in a side room.

That room was like a box, just three chairs and no windows - it was like a holding space, somewhere we stayed while our lives' paths completely adjusted.

2 hours later, at 4.04pm, a consultant came to see us. And I will never forget her face when she told us he was paralysed from the chest down.

Paralysed - the word seemed to echo off the walls in that tiny room.

We were desperate to see him. I couldn't wait to hold his hand, to have him know I was there, that I wasn't going anywhere.

And that no matter what life had in store for us, we would face it together.

When we finally got that chance, we were shown to where Jacob was. He was covered in bruises all over his face and neck.

I wanted to undo the day. To wake up again, and change everything that had happened.

I didn't fully register the fact that a doctor stood by Jacob, or that he was there to deliver more news.

And that was that his injuries were irreversible, I could see the pain of which Jacob was feeling in his eyes, his whole life has changed.

Little did I know at that point, Jacob had realised this himself. He had done a uni project on spinal cord injuries, and knew, almost instantly, that his life would never be the same again.

I can only imagine how he mulled this over, alone with strangers, in the form of consultants, doctors and nurses. I can only imagine the thoughts that had gone through his head.

We were also told he had five broken ribs, a punctured lung and a fractured shoulder.

This was far from the end of the effects of the accident.

What followed was a series of additional threats to his life.

Over the next three weeks, Jacob suffered internal bleeding around the heart, blood clots around the lungs and a serious infection - it felt although we were fighting the inevitable.

But that's what Jacobs did - He fought.

He fought to survive the accident, and he fought through every aftershock that came his way.

I have never been prouder to call him mine.

In the mist of all this, on 11th October, Jacob underwent major surgery, where screws and two rods were used to restructure his spine, so that one day, he may be able to sit upright.

That is a glimmer of hope, after 3 weeks -and counting- of flat bed rest.

Jacob's struggle is far from over.

He will suffer with shakes and nerve tremors for the rest of his life, and will remain on medication for this. He will be moving to Sheffield rehabilitation Unit for spinal cord injuries, and we are looking at moving to a home in which we can manage his needs, when he finally is able to leave the unit.

Jacob has battled all of this the way you could imagine Jacob battling anything, with positivity acceptance and humour.

He makes me proud every day of this journey.

That is why I am organising a journey of a different sort.

A hike to raise money to help us fund intensive physio, and a wheelchair that will give him the independence he craves and deserves.

At a time of feeling so helpless, I am looking for answer's. I am trying to be like Jacob; finding a solution, an alternative, a new way of living.

It is no surprise that Jacob wants to be involved too.

So on the 9th April 2022, Jacob, myself, his dad and a few other incredible humans will take the up the Snowdon Push- and along with anyone else who is willing to participate of course, the more the merrier. Please just send me a message and I can give you more details.

In the meantime, it's acting as a milestone, something we can look forward too.

In the end, it will hopefully act as a helping hand into the treatment Jacob needs, and a wheelchair he'll use, in a situation he never wanted but will handle amazingly.

Anything you can donate, however small, is more appreciated than you will ever know.

Jacob, we have totally got this. Because you have me and I have you.

All my love, then, now and forever.

Ellie x