Paralysed teen’s uncertain future
Cooper Snowdon loved to ride bikes and spend his life outdoors. But after a mountain bike jump went wrong, he may never walk again.
Cooper, 16, was doing jumps at Kowhai Park, Whanganui, on March 21 with his older brother, Geordie, 20, when he had a crash that left him with a broken neck and damaged spinal cord. He was paralysed from the neck down. Cooper was rushed to Christchurch Hospital.
His mum, Kim Ostern, said Cooper had been there for the past two weeks and was awake, but still in the intensive care unit.
He could not speak and was on a ventilator to help him breathe. ‘‘He can mouth words. ‘‘So he can mouth ‘I love you’ and ‘hi’ and ‘goodbye’.’’
It was expected Cooper would be in intensive care for four to six weeks, after which he would be sent to Burwood Spinal Unit, also in Christchurch.
Ostern said it was possible Cooper could still be on a ventilator for life.
She had been in Christchurch with him for the past two weeks, away from their new home in Whanganui, after a recent move from Tauranga. Ostern said the crash had affected Cooper’s brother Geordie greatly.
Geordie was in Whanganui awaiting the birth of his first child, due on April 3, but would be returning to be with his brother soon after the birth. ‘‘It’s so hard on Geordie. ‘‘Geordie and Cooper are always together. They are best friends. They are brothers. They are everything.’’
Ostern said her work had been really supportive about her being in Christchurch with her son.
"He can mouth words. So he can mouth ’I love you’ and ’hi’ and ’goodbye’." Cooper Snowdon’s mum Kim Ostern speaks about her son’s condition.
However, she was unsure when she would be able to return, as she would stay with Cooper for as long as he needed her.
‘‘It’s been amazing. The support has been amazing. ‘‘It’s just blown us away.’’ Family friend Antonia Rogers created a Givealittle page for the family, which has already raised more than $18,000.
Ostern said the money made a huge difference to the family, allowing members who could not stay in Christchurch to fly back and forth.
The messages people were writing were also a huge boost for Cooper and Ostern said she read every one to him.
Through tears she said how strong her teenage son had been.
‘‘If anyone can do it, he can.’’