SO PROUD

Recently I told you the story of my daughter Sally and her patient/friend Nathan who had undergone a full lung transplant  here.

Today we were greeted with this news headline in the Gold Coast newspaper.

 

Gold Coast physio wins national award

 

It was accompanied by this photo.

 

 

‘I ♥ my Physio’ competition

 

 This brave young man had nominated Sally to enter this first time award by the Australian Physiotherapy Association and she has won it !!!

 

Woo Hooo!

 

 

 

This is what he wrote in his entry.

“My name is Nathan and I suffer from cystic fibrosis. At the end of 2011 my disease had progressed to the terminal stage. My only option was to receive the gift of life, a double lung transplant. I received that gift on 13 of March 2012. None of this would have happened if it wasn't for my dedicated physiotherapist, Sally .

She never gave up on me, even at my worst and always kept my hopes high. Sally would be beside my bed, day after day, giving me at times painful treatments to get me across the line. And that she did, and for that I thank her. My life has now changed dramatically.

With the continuing persistence of Sally, I have now found a new love for exercise without oxygen and severe coughing fits; and recently I completed my first ever 5.7km fun run at the Gold Coast Marathon in June with Sally by my side.

The past few years have been a financial struggle as well, as I have not been able to work. If I win this competition, I would put the proceeds towards a new bike to complete my first ever triathlon.”

 

The organisers of this competition had this to say:

World Physiotherapy Day is an opportunity to recognise the work that physiotherapists do for their patients and community.

This year the panel had its work cut out, with more than 250 impressive entries from around the country and across many different fields of physiotherapy,’ APA President and judging panelist Melissa said. “Nathan’s story is inspiring for us all; it was really touching to see this young man overcome a terminal diagnosis and develop a new love for exercise and life.

We were very impressed by the professional and personal  commitment demonstrated by his physiotherapist. Sally went above and beyond her normal daily duties to support Nathan during his illness and recovery and is now competing with him in fun runs - that is dedication! Nathan’s story highlights the benefit of clinical excellence, a positive attitude and the right support.’

Isn't that great?

 

As I said,

 

So Proud !!!

 

Edited to add:

Both Sally and Nathan have won an iPad and $1000 prize money.

 

A HEARTWARMING STORY

I don't know that I've mentioned this before but my daughter Sally is a physiotherapist and the area she specialises in is lungs.
Mainly she works in Intensive Care or Cardio -Thoracic wards in a large hospital.
In her job she sees lots of people in dire straits - the results of traumatic injuries or illnesses and one of the diseases she helps her patients battle on a daily basis is cystic fibrosis.
This heart wrenching illness has given her many very sad times as she has lost patients who have become friends, people she has treated for years, whose family she has come to know well as they support their loved one in their battle with this cruel disease.

Every now and then however there is an uplifting story that shines through.

One of her patients, whom she has seen almost fortnightly for the past six years or so, is a young man of 26 called Nathan.
By the end of last year Nathan was in dire straits and his only hope was a full lung transplant. Sally worked very hard with him to make sure he prepared himself and was in the best physical condition he could be as he waited for this potentially life saving operation.

Well, early in the year Nathan got his chance.

Out of one family's tragedy this young man has been given another chance at life - not only of survival but a hugely improved quality of life because of a double lung transplant.

The operation was HUGE.

It lasted 13 and a half hours - six of those hours were spent in removing the old, diseased lungs before the beautiful working lungs were painstakingly transplanted in a large hospital in Brisbane.
Of course one of the first visitors to this brave young man in Intensive Care was his faithful physio who travelled the 50 miles many nights after work to see him and jubilantly wrote on her Face Book page : "Goodbye blue boy, hello PINK boy !"

Of course it has not all been plain sailing from there.

That would be too much of a storybook ending.

There have been many setbacks along the way and Sally has remained close at hand -

encouraging, visiting, supporting her friend through his rehabilitation.

He's no longer her patient now, just a friend who needs support from someone who understands the journey.

Last weekend was a big one on the Gold Coast. It was the weekend of the Gold Coast Marathon on Sunday.
On Saturday, as a preliminary event, Sally and Nathan took part in a five kilometre run/walk - well they walked it of course.

So the boy who could hardly walk as far as the bathroom last Christmas sailed over the line with his pal by his side after walking five kilometres at a healthy pace and was not even puffing!

How good is THAT ??!!

A message from Sally:

"It wouldn't have been possible a year ago. What a great advertisement for Donate Life. The generosity of a young man who lost his life and his family made this possible. Discuss your wishes about donation with your families. This is the end result and turns a tragedy into a celebration. "

********

I'll tell you more about the Marathon tomorrow.

Cheers.