Support for Joe's Journey

Six months ago on June 13th 2022, Joe's life changed forever. Whilst enjoying a regular mountain bike ride with friends, Joe had an unfortunate and life changing accident. What followed was a careful extraction from the trails by the Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team and Yorkshire Air Ambulance medics, and Joe was taken to Sheffield Northern General Hospital.

We're looking to raise funds towards caring for Joe's needs as he progresses his rehabilitation and looking forward to leaving hospital in 2023. These funds will be used to go towards specialist care & equipment to give Joe the ability to participate as fully as possible in family life, starting with specialist physio treatment at home. As his journey progresses specific equipment will be purchased, for example a new wheelchair, or a specialist mattress to ensure he does not suffer from pressure sores. As we enter 2023, a number of fundraising activities will progress through 2023, watch this space!

Joe suffered a broken neck, with a break at the C6-C7 vertebrae and damaged spinal cord, and underwent a number of surgical procedures to aid recovery. He spent four weeks in critical care and with the extent of his injuries was placed in a coma to assist his recovery. Joe was unable to breathe independently so was given a tracheostomy. He was then moved to the Princess Royal Spinal Cord Injuries Centre in Sheffield where his tracheostomy was removed on Aug 8th enabling him to speak again. After 5 weeks there, Joe was relocated to Pinderfields hospital closer to home, making visits for family and friends much easier to manage. During all of this time Joe was unable to see his two young daughters as they weren’t allowed on the ward, so it was only after 10 weeks they were finally reunited.

So today we've now passed the 6 months anniversary of the accident, and Joe remains in hospital. For anyone who knows Joe, you'll know he is a strong and courageous guy, and is tackling his rehab journey with a real positive determination. The days are long and hard, very hard, but he is making progress. Whilst complications around the injury have enforced bed rest for lengthy periods, Joe makes the most of the limited opportunity to be out of bed in his wheelchair and maximise his rehab and work to be more independent with tasks we all simply take for granted.

The rehab journey is of course a long road ahead for everyone involved, and we now start preparing for the next stage of his journey. From a medical perspective, conversations are now moving towards planning his eventual discharge from hospital in the new year, including what care package will be required to look after him at home. Plans to adapt Joe's home are now moving forward, as we try to determine Joe's needs and ensure a safe, functional family environment where Joe can be at the heart of the family and participate in daily life.

All being well, this Christmas Joe hopes to leave hospital for a few hours to spend time with his loving family and this will further help guide us in terms of knowing Joe’s needs at home.

Thanks you for reading Joe's story, and for any kind support you can offer, it really will make a difference for the long journey that Joe and his family are about to embark on. Thank you.