‘New life’ for Jordan after serious crash
Hooked up to countless machines and in an induced coma, Jordan Bosch’s family was worried he would never be the same.
Instead of spending his 17th birthday with friends in Blenheim, Jordan was in the intensive care unit of Wellington Hospital following a car crash which killed 16-year-old Lara Glover.
Potential brain damage and fractured vertebrae had his parents fearing the worst.
Then, after three weeks of silence, Jordan opened his eyes to see his father Jade standing over his bed, a place he had never left.
Two months after the crash and Jordan has returned to Marlborough as he comes to grips with a car crash he cannot remember and a body in recovery.
‘‘I’ve been in Wellington for too long, it’s good to be home,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m ready to get on with a new life because I’ve been given a second chance.’’
Jordan was one of eight teenagers in a SUV when it crashed on February 19 on State Highway 1, between Blenheim and Picton.
Lara Glover, 16, died in the crash. Jordan and two others experienced lengthy hospital stays.
The Bosch family was split between Marlborough and Wellington as Jordan recovered from broken ribs, fractured vertebrae, a punctured lung, a ruptured spleen, a broken foot and a head injury.
A doctor said if his injury was one vertebrae higher, Jordan would have been paralysed.
His father Jade Bosch, a selfemployed glazier, dropped everything to be with his son. And the initial diagnoses was not promis- ing, he said. ‘‘We always expected the worst, but he’s surprised everyone,’’ he said.
Jordan lost 12 kilograms over the course of eight weeks, but could walk and talk.
Soon he would be allowed to swim, and then run, and poten- tially play football next year.
Fatigue was a major issue and there would be a lengthy rehabilitation programme awaiting Jor- dan, Bosch said.
But the Marlborough Boys’ College student remained optimistic, with a six-month goal of returning to school in the mornings and completing his final year of education.
It was a mix of emotions to think back on the crash and what had happened since, Jordan said.
‘‘I do have a different view of what life is,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s not about alcohol and all that sort of stuff. My focus is about what is important, which is my recovery.
‘‘I want my close mates to know I’m alright. I’m better than what I was.’’
Jordan still had a long way to go but it had been a miraculous turnaround, one that had been helped by the generosity of people in Marlborough, Bosch said.
‘‘We are such a small community that we all do get together and help each other out,’’ he said.
Stepmother Fleur Bosch said a Givealittle fundraiser raised more than $4000 and had been instrumental in helping the family afford multiple trips across Cook Strait.
The Bosch family thanked all medical staff, charities and people near and far who offered support throughout the ordeal.