Recovery on track for Marie
Seven months after a freak trailer accident on Lake Terrace left her in a critical condition Marie Hyslop is back in town, and glad to be here.
Marie is in Taupo to meet with both the driver and the man who loaded the trailer - both are facing charges over the accident.
Although the accident has left her with a lengthy recovery, Marie does not hold ill-feeling towards the two men.
‘‘I’ve tried to stay positive about life and keep everything on track.’’
‘‘I can’t even remember anything about the crash.’’
Her husband Bill Hyslop said getting angry about what happened will not change things and it is best to put that energy into recovery.
‘‘Every day you get dealt the cards and you have to play them the best way you can,’’ he said.
‘‘Sometimes you get a good hand. We got dealt the worst hand that day.’’
Bill said Marie’s recovery has been remarkable.
‘‘If you had asked me six months ago that we would be sitting in Taupo enjoying a coffee I would not have believed you,’’ he said.
Marie’s recovery included a lengthy stay in Waikato Hospital for several weeks before being transferred to Wellington to be treated at a brain rehabilitation clinic. She had to relearn how to walk, but took her first steps about three months into her recovery.
‘‘To be able to walk those first steps was the first milestone,’’ she said.
‘‘I’m really keen to get back into walking, back into work and back driving again.’’
Those first precious steps were witnessed by her husband and daughter.
‘‘My family has been there for me the whole time,’’ she said.
One of her milestones will be attending the next Taupo Summer Concert which has become a regular trip for her.
She missed last year’s concert due to the accident. Marie approved the line up next January’s concert and is looking forward to being back in town again.
Taupo Mayor David Trewavas has kept in contact with Marie since the accident and has given her free passes for the next Summer Concert.
Marie wanted to give thanks for all the messages of support her family received from Taupo residents during her recovery.