Kurt Drysdales Difficult Journey Home
Allied Express Staff, Drivers & Managers all responsible for
donating $5,000 for this extremely worthy cause.
After watching from the stands as their son's life changed forever, the parents of former promising
rugby league player Kurt Drysdale have been forced to watch their once vibrant son adjust to life
as a quadriplegic.
For the past year, Sonya and Steve Drysdale have been visiting their son at the same hospital room
at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital.
Kurt was injured in an identical manner to Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon.
However, complications with swelling have led to more serious injuries for Kurt.
Now, for the indefinite future, Kurt relies on a ventilator, a nurse and an emergency back-up that is
with him 24 hours a day.
"I can't sniff or smell, the ventilator is always pushing air out of my mouth and my nose," Kurt told A Current Affair.
"The machine's doing all the work for me and the machine is always pushing up air through my mouth and past
my vocal cord to make me talk, as well as give breath."
Despite initially being told he would never be able to talk again, Kurt has proved the doctors wrong.
Now, he is even able to leave the hospital on day release.
The equipment, chairs and nurses tagging along was achievable. But the $500 taxi fares were not.
So the family had to spend $100,000 on a van to transport Kurt around.
The Drysdale family had only just finished renovating their modest cottage in the Wollongong suburb
of Stanwell Tops when the accident happened.
It has since been knocked down, as Kurt's large wheelchair and ventilator would have never made
it through the doors and hallways of the home.
It wasn't large enough to accommodate ramps and lifting structures, let alone have rooms for the
12 nurses who work on rotation and will live with Kurt year-round.
"He wants to be independent and that's hard for me because you want to help," Mrs Drysdale said.
"We just keep paying the bills and it's going to be hard," Mr Drysdale added.
In addition to the van and home rebuild, the cost of rehabilitation has been high.
"My situation, there's a lot more costs than others," Kurt said.
Among the expensive items is a bike that moves his legs, stimulating them with movement.
"Hopefully when that time comes and I do walk again, my legs and everything is strong and
ready to go," Kurt said.
But when he's not able to leave the hospital, some high-profile football identities have helped keep Kurt's
spirits high.
"Brad Fitler, Craig Fitzgibbon, Laurie Daly, the list goes on and on. They've all been in and seen him quite often," Mr Drysdale said.
The rugby league community has rallied behind the Drysdale family, pitching in to raise money to help build them build a new
home and get Kurt out of the hospital.
Allied Express staff are honoured to be able to assist Kurt and his family in donating $5,000 for this worthy cause. You can also assist
by visiting https://donations.rawcs.com.au/Default.aspx?ProjectID=944
Kurt’s story can be viewed by visiting the following link http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/