Spectrum 545. From water ski to wheelchair

Rights Information
Year
1986
Reference
17644
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
1986
Reference
17644
Media type
Audio
Duration
00:26:25
Credits
RNZ Collection
LOUGHMAN, John, Interviewee
Perkins, Jack (b.1940), Interviewer

The former New Zealand water skiing champion John Loughman talks to Jack Perkins, three months after a farm bike accident.

John and his fiancée Jane Barker describe how John went from an athlete to a tetraplegic. The interview takes place at Johns bedside in Middlemore Hospital.

John describes his spine injury which resulted in paralysis from the chest down. How he now has severely limited use of his arms, shoulders and his lower body is paralysed. Jane explains how the farm bike accident has changed their lives.

Jane describes how she has spent all her spare time at Auckland’s spinal unit helping the staff to care for John. John’s progress was good until a few weeks ago when bladder problems forced an emergency visit to Middlemore Hospital and resulted in complications. How mentally and physically this was a severe setback and it resulted in further weeks of John remaining flat on his back. The nurse explains the type of exercises John will need to do and describes the variety of accidents which have happened to patients in the spinal ward.

John describes in detail the accident on the farm and how he survived. Jane recounts the trauma of arriving at the hospital to find John’s mother and father already there with news from the doctor that John’s chance of survival was 60-70%.Jane describes going in to see John for the first time.

John explains how he is coming to terms with the accident, the emotional process of questioning, denial and acceptance. Having only been in a relationship for two months prior to the accident, they explain the impact of this on their relationship, from fertility to how this may impact their future.