Rock bottom to university

William believes rock bottom is the best place to build a foundation.  He should know. He’s hit it twice now.  

The first time was when he was a young dad and he lost his son.  It was a devastating time. He believed that his other boys needed him to be a pillar of strength.

“These boys needed me to be an example. Their wellbeing was more important than my own.”

William quickly got an engineering apprenticeship and threw himself into that.  It was his way of coping with the loss of his boy. It took a toll on his relationship with his sons’ mother.  They split up.  

When he lost his job, he went to university and was doing very well.  However, one stupid decision would change his life forever.  

After indulging in beers with mates, William chose to walk home drunk.  It was night time, he was wearing a black suit and walking on the road. He was struck by a taxi.  He was hospitalised with major injuries to most of his body. His family was told he may never walk and that he’d need to be cared for.  

After four weeks in hospital he was sent to the Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre in Auckland. 

The road to recovery was not easy. William had to learn how to walk and talk again. His injured brain meant his memory was in tatters.  Even the simple things were extremely hard for him. 

William admits it was pure perseverance that got him through.  He exceeded all physiotherapy expectations, moving from a wheelchair to a zimmer frame, to a walking stick in record time. He did this by setting himself tiny goals.  

“I did all these little things, every day.  I broke it down into little steps.”

Recovery was expected to take six months. He proved them all wrong and did it in two.  

“I needed to show my children that I’m not going to be a ‘waster’ who sits there and moans about life. You can get hit by a car and can come back stronger.” 

Today, William is walking and talking.  He still suffers from fatigue and will probably do so for the rest of his life, but he is happy to be alive.   

He is also back at university. 

“I’ve always been determined. I like it when people tell me I can’t do something.  It drives me to show them; nah stuff you, I can do it. I will do it.”