Injured jockey eager to go home

Cambridge jockey Maija Vance, who suffered serious spinal injuries in a race fall, says she is determined to do her best to walk again.

Vance, 27, hopes to be able to leave the Otara Spinal Unit, where she has been for the past month, before Christmas.

She initially spent 10 days in Middlemore Hospital in Auckland after suffering extensive injuries when her mount Zedsational crashed at the second-last fence in a hurdle race at Rotorua on September 16.

Two of the vertebrae in her spine were fractured with another three out of line and she underwent a fourhour operation to have rods and a metal plate inserted.

She also suffered punctured lungs, several broken ribs, facial injuries including six broken teeth, and she almost bit her tongue off during the smash.

‘‘I’ve decided I’m not going to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair and I’m determined to do what I can to walk again,’’ Vance told NZ Racing Desk.

Each day her parents, former jockeys and trainers Bob and Jenny, have been at her bedside and she is looking forward to being discharged to live with them in Papakura, Auckland.

‘‘I’m planning to go home in a month, depending on the renovations being done for me,’’ Vance said. ‘‘I really want to get home.’’

She has made steady progress over the past month or so and is more independent in her electric wheelchair.

‘‘When I first got put in it I couldn’t sit upright without passing out,’’ she said.

‘‘Now I can transfer from the bed to the wheelchair by myself.

‘‘As the broken ribs have started to heal I’ve got more movement in my upper body, but my back still restricts what I can do with the rods through seven vertebrae.’’

She has no feeling in her waist and has been having daily injections to help prevent blood clots.

A daily visitor for Vance is Toro, her mini long-haired dachshund.

‘‘He sits on my lap in the electric wheelchair and if he’s not there he’s lying beside me on the bed.

Vance’s positive attitude and drive has also been helped by the constant flood of well wishes from friends, colleagues and racing folk all concerned about the popular 27-year-old, who has enjoyed success in Queensland and South Australia as well as 94 wins in New Zealand.

Donations for Vance’s treatment costs can be made at gofundme.com. The appeal so far has $24,800 pledged.

‘‘I’m so grateful to everyone,’’ Vance said. ‘‘I’m overwhelmed by all the support.’’ – NZ Racing Desk