Jason was recently admitted to Dubbo Base Hospital with acute asthma and was being treated in a general ward for 11 days. 

During this time his condition worsened and it became apparent he had an infection and was given more antibiotics to help him recover. 

However this was not the case. 

As he deteriorated, he was admitted to the intensive care unit, incubated and put on a ventilator to help him breathe. 

Being his partner and receiving the phone call at midday on March 12, while teaching preschool at Tullamore Preschool and Childcare Centre was extremely distressing, leaving me in a state of shock. 

Arriving at the hospital I found Jason to be in a stable condition and was greeted by many family members offering their support. 

Thursday, March 13, Jason was awake sitting up in bed and writing notes down on paper for his visitors. 

It wasn’t until after lunch time that his body shut down and he went into cardiac arrest. 

Staff worked on Jason for approximately eight minutes until his heart restarted and his airways reopened. 

A great deal of force was used to get his heart pumping again.

He remained in a comatose state for seven days showing little to no brain function. 

I was asked many confronting questions during this time as I struggled to deal with the reality of what was happening. 

Wednesday, March 19, I sat with Jason for quite some time throughout the night, not able to let him go. 

As I hugged and kissed him goodnight, I begged him to wake up tomorrow and be ok. 

I felt his hand move and watched as a tear streamed down his face. 

I knew he was still with me and fighting to come home to his family. 

Thursday morning, March 20, I arrived at the hospital to find doctors assessing Jason and was ecstatic to watch as he responded to the doctors’ questions; he squeezed the doctors’ hand and raised his right arm. 

He was still heavily sedated and didn’t open his eyes but he was listening and comprehending what was asked of him.

Immediately plans were under-way to transfer Jason to Orange hospital. 

Late afternoon, March 20, Jason was flown to Orange hospital and admitted to their intensive care unit.

I arrived early morning Friday, March 21, accompanied by Jason’s mother and father and his birth mother. 

Late Friday afternoon we were greeted by a doctor and consented to Jason having a tracheotomy which involved moving the tube in his mouth to his neck. By this stage Jason was still ventilated but attempting to take his own breaths. 

Over the weekend we spent time sitting with Jason and trying our best to keep him calm and reassure him as he was still heavily sedated and on powerful medications which affected his memory.

Over the next few days as Jason became more responsive, staff noticed Jason had no movement or sensation in his legs. 

An MRI was undertaken on Tuesday night, March 26. 

We were sent home as the findings were not to be reported to us until the following day. 

By this time I am now joined by Jason’s brother and aunt and uncle. 

At 2am, Wednesday, March 26, I received a phone call from the doctor in charge and was informed that Jason was being flown to Sydney’s Royal North Shore hospital and to come up and say goodbye as his flight was due out at 3am. 

At the hospital we were informed that the MRI had identified a spinal cord injury and that Royal North Shore was the best place for Jason to be treated. 

That night Jason underwent major spinal cord surgery which involved a bone graft, two rods and eight pins being inserted into his spine. 

At a family meeting on Thursday, March 27, we were informed that Jason’s condition was permanent and that he was now a paraplegic and would never walk again. 

How does someone deal with this information and go home and tell their seven and 11 year old children that their daddy will never walk again and that he will be in Sydney for many months being rehabilitated. 

How do I cope with raising my children, working as a teaching director and being a supportive spouse to Jason? 

How does Jason cope with being told that he had an asthma attack and stopped breathing and now he will never walk again? 

Not only are we dealing with the physical impact of this incident but are now struggling with the long term financial and emotional challenges attached with the injury. 

Jason has had many other issues throughout his hospital admissions including high blood pressure, a distended bowel, blood clots, pneumonia, swine flu and staph, all contributing to his delayed progress in his recovery. 

We are finding it is extremely tiring as we all struggle to explain everything to him each day as he now suffers from short term memory loss. 

Having to deal with being reminded of what has happened every few days contributes to his anger, depression and lack thereof motivation and acceptance. 

Today sees him without the need for any oxygen support; his trachea scar has healed nicely, and he is (not willingly) participating in some daily bowel care as well as occupational therapy and physiotherapy. 

On Monday, July 7, Jason was discharged from the spinal unit at Royal North Shore hospital and is now facing his new journey at Royal Rehabilitation Ryde. 

His treatment will change and vary from spinal, brain trauma and mental health as his mood and abilities change. 

We are hopeful that Jason will make suitable progress in his rehabilitation and be able to return home to a new house before Christmas to be with his family. 

Every day I am away from Jason tears me apart. 

I cry myself to sleep every night. 

I hate that I can’t change things and make us all happy again. 

I hate that he feels empty and dead inside. 

I hate that he won’t talk about the things that are hurting him the most and I hate that he just wants to lie in bed and not do anything. 

This is not the Jason I know. 

For Jason to come home he needs to make some drastic changes in his daily routine and enough money needs to be raised in the upcoming ‘Bring Jason Home Appeal’ fundraiser to purchase a suitable and modified house and van to give Jason security and a new lease on life.

We love Jason and will never give up on him. 

I just want Jason home. 

I just want the Jason I fell in love with back!

Alysha Heywood, Tullamore.