Frontline nurse paralysed after devastating home fall
ANURSE has been left paralysed after a fall at home. Paula Spragg has been an NHS worker for more than 30 years and worked on Covid-19 wards during the early stages of the pandemic.
The 57-year-old suffered lifechanging injuries as a result of an accidental fall at her home in Taff’s Well, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in the early hours of August 22 last year.
Her family said they never could have imagined how much the accident would change their lives.
Her daughter, Gemma Spragg, 25, said her mum spent her career dedicated to helping those in need of essential care. Now Paula is in need of care herself as she has been left unable to walk.
Recalling the day it happened, Gemma said she was on her way home from work when her father, Anthony Spragg, telephoned her.
Gemma said: “She fell down the stairs during the early hours of the morning.
“Dad called to say: ‘I don’t want to worry you, but Mam is in an ambulance.’”
At this point, Gemma said, she knew little about the extent of her mother’s injuries, but nothing prepared the family, including her sister Jade, 27, for the news that was about to come.
The mum-of-two suffered a broken C5/C6 in her spine and was left paralysed. Following a 10-and-a-halfhour operation, her spinal cord swelled, which left her unable to breathe.
Paula had to be put on a life-support machine for more than three weeks. It was around this time the family was told it was likely she wouldn’t be able to walk again.
In October Paula was transferred to Rookwood Hospital to begin her rehabilitation. So far, with the help of physiotherapy, Paula has started to be able to move her arms.
“She can move her arms up and down and side to side, but her fingers aren’t moving,” Gemma said.
“She can’t eat anything. She needs the nurse to feed her. She can’t do anything for herself.
“She can’t do anything with her legs. They put her on a bike, but the bike does all the work for her.”
The past few months have been life-changing for the family. Up until two weeks ago, when visiting restrictions were eased slightly, the family had only been able to see her five times since the accident took place.
The family has spent most of the last few months relying on FaceTime to be able to communicate with Paula.
Gemma said it’s her mum’s positive attitude, and determination to try to get better, that has really helped to keep their spirits up.
The family said Paula won’t be able to return to Taff’s Well until the house has been made suitable to cater for her needs.
“She’s been a nurse for 30 years and has worked at the Heath for around 25 years,” Gemma said.
“She first started at Whitchurch Hospital, and then went over to the Heath.
“She will never walk again – that’s what they say. I have confidence in her so I say ‘never say never.’
“She is so adamant. She can just about move her arm up. She can do the royal wave, as we call it.”
When Paula was nursing, Gemma said she always went above and beyond her role. When the coronavirus pandemic hit last March, Gemma said she was willing to do all she could to help out on the Covid-19 wards.
While some people may have had concerns, and might have thought ‘I have a family to go home to,’ Paula’s answer to everything was ‘if that’s where you need me – it’s where I’ll go.’
Gemma recalled seeing her mother pictured covered head to toe in personal protective equipment (PPE), and said she would strive to help others in the best way she could.
Following the incident, friends of the family decided that something needed to be done to ensure Paula had the best chance of getting all the help possible now that she is the one in need.
With so many adjustments needed to be made to the family home to make it suitable, and accessible for a wheelchair, a fundraising page was set up by a family friend to try to help Paula return home as quickly as possible.
Gemma said: “Now she’s the one who needs help. As a family we don’t like asking for help, but it was my sister’s friend who said ‘let’s do this.’”
“If I woke up with nothing working I would be like ‘what’s the point?’
“Mam is, like, this isn’t going to stop me – this isn’t going to kill me.”
It’s this determination and positive attitude that’s inspiring Paula’s family, and everyone around her.
Gemma said she’s even hoping she’ll be able to go back to work, maybe working as a receptionist. Paula is trying to learn more about the skills she needs to be able to make this goal a reality.
“We have struggled and had to adapt a lot,” Gemma said.
“I speak to someone from MIND quite regularly. Mam is everyone’s rock, and when she’s not here everything crumbles.
“Our goal is to get her home by Christmas. Last Christmas was a nightmare.
“It’s like your life has stopped, and it wasn’t only us. Covid has stopped everything – it’s not just us – everyone has missed out on a year. Hopefully when Mam is home, and things are back to normal, we will be back as a family. At Christmastime it all hit me at once. It was, like, ‘this is real, this is happening to us, and she isn’t here.’”
It’s likely Paula will be transferred to a hospital in Rhondda Cynon Taf before she is able to return home, but there were fears the family may have to move.
They have lived in the same house for the best part of 25 years, but moving is an option if they can’t source the funds to make alterations to the house. Gemma said her mother really doesn’t want this to happen as it wasn’t long ago that they managed to pay off the mortgage on the family home.
■ A crowdfunding page has been set up to help Paula and her family, and all money raised will go towards purchasing disability equipment and making all the required house adjustments. To find out more visit the family’s fundraising page.