Anxious wait for family of groom
COMA-BOUND Cairns groom Ashley Hickman will need further surgery as he recovers from a traumatic brain injury on a Bali bucks weekend.
Mr Hickman, 32, is currently being treated at the Royal Perth Hospital in Western Australia.
“Ashley is currently still in a coma, but is not induced by medication,” his sister Brooke Parker posted on social media.
“At this stage he will require 2-3 more surgeries to insert a titanium plate in his head and collar bone as well as a surgery to repair his broken elbow.”
She said her brother faced a long recovery including relearning basic functions.
“He will require rehabilitation to learn to walk, talk, eat and live independently again,” she said.
When her brother is in a more stable condition it is expected he will transferred to the Fiona Stanley Hospital, which has better rehab facilities.
Earlier this week Ms Parker said Mr Hickman had been observed to be making small The fastest growing schools in Cairns have been revealed. Did your child’s school make the list? OVER OF movements in his sleep.
“(He is) trying to wake up. Small steps but all positive so far,” she said.
Mr Hickman was celebrating a bucks weekend in Bali last month when he fractured his skull during a freak moped accident.
The causes are still unknown but oil was found on the road near where he crashed into a building.
The next weekend he and fiancee of eight years, Tam Matthews, were due to be married at Trinity Park’s Bluewater.
A Go Fund Me campaign launched to raise money for Mr Hickman’s medical expenses has so far raised more than $32,600 of a $75,000 goal. A fundraiser at QBar on Sheridan St kicked in $2600.
His medical bills have already exceeded $100,000.
The astronomical costs included $52,000 to evacuate Mr Hickman from Bali’s Kuta Hospital to Western Australia.
Mr Hickman held travel insurance while in Bali, but was not covered for medical bills because he did not hold an international driver’s licence for the moped. VALUE* *12 Month Plan + Samsung Tab A subscription offer to be billed as follows: Digital Membership $30 billed approximately 4 weekly for the first 12 months, total minimum price $390. At the end of the initial 12 month plan period, subscriptions will automatically renew as $24 billed approximately 4 weekly. No cancellations during the first 12 months. Renewals occur unless cancelled in accordance with the full Terms and Conditions. A valid and active email address and Australian mobile phone number is required for account set up. Offer includes a Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0” 32GB Tablet Model SM-T290NZKAXSA (Wi-Fi only), pre-loaded with News Tablet apps. Tablet cannot be exchanged (unless faulty), nor redeemed for cash. Only one tablet per email address and per person. Once your subscription is active, we will supply your contact details to Harvey Norman Business & Enterprise who will deliver this tablet only to your Australian address registered with us for your subscription and will email you with dispatch details. We will deliver the Samsung Tab A tablet only to an Australian street address and not a PO Box address. Allow approximately 20 working days to receive your tablet. Available for a limited time. Not in conjunction with any other offer and new customers only. Not available to any person who has previously breached any of our subscription terms and conditions. Value calculated as at 21/08/2019 and based on Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0” 32GB RRP. Prices after the initial subscription period may be varied in accordance with the full Terms and Conditions. See www.cairnspost.com.au/subscriptionterms for full details. ^+Rewards are accurate at the time of publication, subject to change and provided you remain a member. For full +Rewards Terms and Conditions, please visit cairnspost.com.au/rewards.