Little Kobi defies the odds
Afafter survivingii a car accidentid thath tookk hishi mum’s ’ life, this toddler is determined to make her proud
Every night before bed, Debbie Punchard takes her three-year-old grandson Kobi Rumble outside and they blow a kiss to the star closest to the moon. “Goodnight Mummy,” they chime.
It’s been two years since Kobi tragically lost his mother Chloe, 23, when a distracted trucker drifted in the path of her car just five minutes from her Geraldton home in WA.
Kobi, who had already been through so much in his short life – he was born with a broken fibula bone, a missing tibia and ankle, and only three toes on his left foot – miraculously survived the accident.
From the moment she welcomed her son into the world, Chloe was determined Kobi would walk one day.
“We saw three doctors and each recommended amputation, but Chloe had found the Paley Institute in the US, and was determined he would walk and run like normal kids,” Debbie says.
At Chloe’s funeral, family and friends, overcome with grief, decided they would see through the young mum’s wishes and get the toddler’s leg fixed.
“We ran sausage sizzles, market stalls, quiz nights, a race day auction and fundraising pages on social media, but we got there,” Debbie, 53, explains of how they raised $220,000 to pay for her adorable grandson’s treatment.
At 22 months, Kobi was fitted with an external fixator to lengthen his fibula and turn his leg outwards. A new ankle was also fashioned during the six-and-a-half hour operation.
The support halo weighed five kilos, but courageous Kobi learned to walk in it and today, with his legs almost even, he’s free of the contraption and tearing around his backyard.
“I constantly say to myself, ‘This is awesome – I wish Chloe was here to see what I’m seeing,’” says Debbie.
Kobi will need three more fixators. To help, visit gofundme. com/kobis-next-chapter