Imagine | Winter 2024
A digital magazine from Irwin Mitchell
Imagine | Winter 2024 A digital magazine from Irwin Mitchell
Imagine | Winter 2024
A digital magazine from Irwin Mitchell
A road crash in 2018 changed Shauna’s life forever. She sustained serious injuries that mean she’ll never walk again. Her biggest worry in the hospital was whether she’d still be able to be a good mum to her four-year-old son.
Shauna’s memory of the collision is patchy. She was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVI) in Newcastle, where she was treated for multiple injuries including a spinal fracture and incomplete spinal cord injury, which left her with no feeling below her knees.
Six weeks later, Shauna was transferred to the spinal unit at James Cook University Hospital. It was here she learned that she wouldn’t be able to walk unaided again.
“Being told you’ll never walk again is a really hard pill to swallow.” Shauna
Separated from her son
It took Shauna a long time to come to terms with the reality of her situation. All she could think about was the impact it would have on her son Carter and her ability to care for him.
At first, she tried to protect Carter by keeping him away from the hospital so he wouldn’t see the cuts and bruises on her face. He constantly asked, “Where’s mammy?” and Shauna says, “It was really hard to know that he was at home, having to go to school and live everyday life without his mam.”
During her time in James Cook, Carter was able to visit every weekend, staying in an upstairs flat. The separation every Sunday was difficult for them both. Carter remembers, “We talked about what we’d do when we got home.”
While Shauna was still in hospital, her mum contacted us to help Shauna make a legal claim. Her solicitor, Laura Mcilduff has supported her from the beginning.
Laura said, “We secured an interim payment almost immediately and funding for private rehabilitation specialists.” We referred Shauna to Neural Pathways in Newcastle and her neuro physiotherapist Debs, has supported her since she was discharged from hospital.
During her time in James Cook, Carter was able to visit every weekend, staying in an upstairs flat. The separation every Sunday was difficult for them both. Carter remembers, “We talked about what we’d do when we got home.”
While Shauna was still in hospital, her mum contacted us to help Shauna make a legal claim. Her solicitor, Laura Mcilduff has supported her from the beginning.
Laura said, “We secured an interim payment almost immediately and funding for private rehabilitation specialists.” We referred Shauna to Neural Pathways in Newcastle and her neuro physiotherapist Debs, has supported her since she was discharged from hospital.
Neuro physiotherapy
“Shauna’s motivation that got her going in the hospital was the fact that she could get back home to her son and be a mum again.” says Debs.
Shauna’s treatment programme was designed to help her gain as much recovery as possible, building her strength, and with it her confidence. Shauna learned to use aids so she could stand again and started to find solutions that allowed her to return to a full parenting role for Carter.
Neuro physiotherapy
“Shauna’s motivation that got her going in the hospital was the fact that she could get back home to her son and be a mum again.” says Debs.
Shauna’s treatment programme was designed to help her gain as much recovery as possible, building her strength, and with it her confidence. Shauna learned to use aids so she could stand again and started to find solutions that allowed her to return to a full parenting role for Carter.
Growing her family
After Shauna came home, Carter gradually got used to his mum being in a wheelchair, and he came to understand that she couldn’t run around with him like she used to.
Before the collision they’d play in the park together, ride bikes, climb trees and kick a football. Now, getting out anywhere was difficult and Shauna found herself having to plan trips with accessibility in mind.
Despite the challenges, Shauna always wanted a bigger family. No one could say whether her internal injuries would affect her chances of having a baby, or how she’d cope as a mum with a spinal cord injury and a newborn. It was up to her to try and see what happened.
Growing her family
After Shauna came home, Carter gradually got used to his mum being in a wheelchair, and he came to understand that she couldn’t run around with him like she used to.
Before the collision they’d play in the park together, ride bikes, climb trees and kick a football. Now, getting out anywhere was difficult and Shauna found herself having to plan trips with accessibility in mind.
Despite the challenges, Shauna always wanted a bigger family. No one could say whether her internal injuries would affect her chances of having a baby, or how she’d cope as a mum with a spinal cord injury and a newborn. It was up to her to try and see what happened.
Finding out she was pregnant was an emotional experience for Shauna and her partner Luke, who was also in the road crash.
She was nervous about having a baby in a different situation, but determined not to let her disabilities prevent her from having a waterbirth like she did with Carter.
Shauna jumped through hoops to prove she was able to have the birth experience she wanted. At 38 weeks, the hospital conducted a risk assessment and Shauna had to show that she could climb in and out of the birthing pool safely.
She felt a water birth was initially ruled out because of her disability before anyone even considered how to make it work for her. Despite the hurdles, Shauna achieved her goal, and her daughter Vienna was born in the water.
Finding out she was pregnant was an emotional experience for Shauna and her partner Luke, who was also in the road crash.
She was nervous about having a baby in a different situation, but determined not to let her disabilities prevent her from having a waterbirth like she did with Carter.
Shauna jumped through hoops to prove she was able to have the birth experience she wanted. At 38 weeks, the hospital conducted a risk assessment and Shauna had to show that she could climb in and out of the birthing pool safely.
She felt a water birth was initially ruled out because of her disability before anyone even considered how to make it work for her. Despite the hurdles, Shauna achieved her goal, and her daughter Vienna was born in the water.
I never would have imagined the hurdles I’ve faced over the last five years, nor that I’d manage to overcome them.
Shauna
Parenting aids
During her pregnancy, an occupational therapist (OT) supported Shauna to purchase aids that made caring for Vienna easier. These included pram attachments for her wheelchair, a lap baby seating aid, a sling, a specialist car seat, and a Charli Chair so she could bathe Vienna safely in the shower.
Shauna says, “Vienna doesn’t know any different to having mum before and mum after the crash. She climbs up on my footplate on to my knee. Nobody is allowed to touch mammy’s chair, it’s mammy’s chair. She’s very protective over mam.”
Compensation was allocated so Shauna could purchase a hand-driven car. It has a roof box with equipment to pick up her wheelchair once she’s in the driver’s seat. It allows her to take the children to school on her own, although she takes the long route from the car park to find the slightly lower kerb.
Shauna would prefer not to rely on the car so much but feeling that the world’s not set up for people in wheelchairs, she’s learned to see it as a tool that gives her independence.
Shauna’s found her own way of doing things, climbing on Carter’s bed to make it, and developing her own techniques to get the kids in and out of their car seats. She won’t let anything stand in her way but welcomes tools that make life easier for her. The OT helped Shauna choose wheelchairs that supported her as a mum. For example, an all-terrain wheelchair allows her to go onto the field to watch Carter play football, and her SMART drive power pack transforms her manual wheelchair into a powered chair, giving her the freedom to hold hands with the children when they go out.
Shauna’s village
They say is takes a village to raise a child, and Shauna has developed a strong network of support from those around her. Her mother and nana have taken on caring roles at times, supporting her with the children. She also has a circle of close friends and family ready to help when they’re needed.
Throughout everything, Luke has stayed by her side, even taking on the role of her support worker in the early days. Shauna says he had to learn how to have a girlfriend in a wheelchair but, “He’s been amazing. He always put me first. We’ve stuck together as a team, getting through life every day. We’ve got each other, love for each other. It just keeps you going.”
Luke says, “Knowing Shauna was going to use a wheelchair was never easy, but the strength she showed through the hardest time in her life was unbelievable. She’s the most amazing mam and girlfriend we could all ask for and I love her so much. She’s never given up. She’s a true inspiration to me and I hope to many others.”
Shauna’s village
They say is takes a village to raise a child, and Shauna has developed a strong network of support from those around her. Her mother and nana have taken on caring roles at times, supporting her with the children. She also has a circle of close friends and family ready to help when they’re needed.
Throughout everything, Luke has stayed by her side, even taking on the role of her Support Worker in the early days. Shauna says he had to learn how to have a girlfriend in a wheelchair but, “He’s been amazing. He always put me first. We’ve stuck together as a team, getting through life every day. We’ve got each other, love for each other. It just keeps you going.”
Luke says, “Knowing Shauna was going to use a wheelchair was never easy, but the strength she showed through the hardest time in her life was unbelievable. She’s the most amazing mam and girlfriend we could all ask for and I love her so much. She’s never given up. She’s a true inspiration to me and I hope to many others.”
What’s next for Shauna?
As Shauna’s confidence with her equipment, and in her own capabilities develops, she’s more willing to give things a try. The collision has changed her perspective. Now, she embraces opportunities to travel and take the children on holiday. She loves being able to enjoy the smaller things too, such as taking them swimming, and trips to the park.
Shauna’s determination to be the best mum she can be to her children has had a huge impact on her recovery. Debs says, “Shauna’s got an inner fire that’s allowed her to progress forward, to do what she’s doing now.”
Shauna documents her journey on Instagram @myspinalcord_injury_journey, finding it cathartic to talk about what she’s achieved as she hits milestones in her recovery. She wants to help others by speaking openly about her feelings, after the collision and now.
“Shauna’s outlook on life is inspirational and her story proves that, although life may be different following a serious injury, anything is possible with a determined attitude and the right team around you.”
Laura Mcilduff, Senior Associate, Serious Injury
Financial planning after serious injury
Laura says, “We think about bringing financial planners early on in a case. Usually, clients are in hospital, they’re not able to work and they’ve got concerns about how to pay their mortgage or their bills.”
After the crash, Shauna needed to know that her finances were in order and Carter was provided for, so she could concentrate on her recovery.
We referred her to our financial planner, John Riley-Dibb. John’s helped Shauna to navigate her finances from the beginning, building a plan around her needs, and updating it in line with her changing circumstances.
The first thing John discusses with clients is safety. “Making sure their money’s accessible but safe, so there’s no rush. After a period of time, we can start planning longer term.”
Under John’s guidance, Shauna’s allocated her compensation to provide for her current and future needs. This has allowed her to access the aids and equipment recommended by the OT, and rehabilitation to maximise her recovery and quality of life.
Thanks to careful financial planning, the family are looking forward to moving into a new purposely adapted home. Since the collision they’ve lived in a series of cramped rental properties fitted with wet rooms and ramps.
John’s worked closely with Laura and Shauna’s architect to oversee the financial side of things. Shauna says, “The new home will be amazing. It’s going to be designed specifically for me, but for everybody as a family to enjoy.”
John will continue to support Shauna, ensuring she has funds available to access the care and assistance she needs in the future. Shauna says, John “helps me with anything that I need, and he’s been absolutely amazing supporting me.”
Our financial planners and financial advisers can help you plan your future after a life-changing injury or illness, giving you peace of mind that comes with knowing you and your family’s finances will be protected.
Legal support
If you or a loved one’s suffered a life-changing injury, and you need support, guidance and help accessing rehabilitation, please reach out to our caring and professional team.