Gary Dawson was left paralysed from the chest down
Gary Dawson was just 19 when he suffered the road accident that would change his life forever. Enduring injuries that left him 'screaming with his eyes', the fallout from the crash would see him sink into addiction, isolation and depression. A routine visit to his GP would completely turn things around for him. Twenty years on from the accident, he has a job, plays sport, has travelled the world - and is able to drive - despite being paralysed from the chest down.
But everything changed in the blink of an eye when he came off his Suzuki 650s as he was slowing down at a set of traffic lights in May 2003. He was later moved to a private hospital for a fixation operation on his spine, which had been crushed just below the level of his shoulder blades. Gary then had complete organ failure and fell into a coma. After more than ten hours of resuscitation, the team miraculously managed to save his life.
“In one second, I felt it was amazing to be alive, but in the next second I was so miserable because I didn’t want to be disabled,” he added. “My emotions fluctuated like a heart monitor.” “And I took to wheelchair use very easily, and all of the staff were fantastic. I really enjoyed my time in rehab. I was there seven weeks in all, and they teach you to be independent within the spinal unit. So, I thought, 'this is brilliant, I’m independent, I’m going home'.
“I was back in the real world - and I was absolutely terrified,” he continued. “The inaccessibility of mum’s house was a challenge, I now had to use a commode, and I had to go to my gran’s house to take a bath. “So, I did what I always did – I hid behind my big smile. Which didn’t work, because my coping mechanism became alcohol and drugs.
Back on track Thankfully, a routine visit to his GP put Gary back on the road to recovery. “My GP was amazing,” he added. “She prescribed me anti-depressants, which really helped with my insomnia. Once I could sleep better, I could focus much more. I gave up the weed, I drank less, and I started eating again.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Biker fights for life after 'serious' crash with car in Lancs villageA man in his 50s suffered serious head and leg injuries and is in a 'critical condition' in hospital following the crash on Garstang Road
Read more »
Tragedy as biker killed after motorcycle leaves carriagewayInvestigating officers are appealing for witnesses to the incident
Read more »
Could fans be about to see Robbie Williams and Jason Orange return to Take ThatIn an interview on Good Morning Britain Take That members Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald spoke about the return of Robbie Williams and…
Read more »
Biker fights for life after 'serious' crash with car in Lancs villageA man in his 50s suffered serious head and leg injuries and is in a 'critical condition' in hospital following the crash on Garstang Road
Read more »
Woman, 74, dies after horror Scots road crash involving car and two bikesThe elderly cyclist passed away in hospital after the collision in Angus on Friday afternoon/
Read more »