KAK’S FAMILY MIRACLE!
If it wasn’t for a lifesaving new drug, Kerri-anne could have lost her beloved mum
Kerri-anne Kennerley really does feel blessed. Her life changed forever almost three years ago when her husband and much-loved soulmate John fell from a balcony at a golf course and suffered such severe spinal injuries he was left an incomplete quadriplegic.
Heartbroken Kerri-anne refused to let the tragedy overwhelm her and instantly sprang into action to ensure
her husband of 34 years received the best care possible as they prayed for a miracle.
His life-threatening condition improved, and the 64-year-old TV presenter remains forever grateful doctors were able to save John’s life. The 79-yearold is wheelchair-bound and Kerri-anne cares for him at home, with a team of nurses.
LOVING SUPPORT
The two women who have been a constant source of inspiration for Kerri-anne are her mum Grace, 97, and her sister Jan Kehoe, 68, who have provided loving support as she and John adjust to a very different life. So you can imagine her terror when her mum suffered a stroke and almost died as she, John, Jan and Grace were enjoying dinner at Kerri-anne’s family home in September – just days after celebrating her mum’s birthday. “I knew in an instant she was having a stroke,” reveals KerriAnne. “The ambulance came quickly and we went to the hospital with Mum where she was given these new miracle drugs – which saved her life and greatly improved her chances of recovery. The MRI showed it was a severe stroke.” Three months later, and her “fiercely independent” mother is mobile with the aid of a walker, talking and doing rehab at home to try to get back to her best.
Grace’s doctors are “amazed” at her incredible recovery.
“You wouldn’t know she had a stroke, let alone a severe stroke,” says KerriAnne. “She is an inspiration, and it’s pure grit and determination that have got her through this. We all feel incredibly fortunate to still have Mum. She gets dressed every day, puts on makeup and a bit of lippie. There is no question, she’s so inspiring.”
Grace is now living with Kerri-anne and John, and doing rehab at home to ensure her recovery stays on track – although the TV star admits it’s hard to restrict her mum to the limited activity her medical experts have ordered.
“Her doctors can’t believe how well she’s recovered,” says Kerri-anne. “Our biggest problem is making sure she doesn’t do too much. It works well with John because he can keep an eye on Mum and let me know when she’s doing too much and putting herself at risk. It’s very hard to stop my mum. She certainly doesn’t see herself as a little old lady!”
‘It’s pure grit and determination that have got her through this’
SISTER TO LEAN ON
Kerri-anne says her sister Jan has been a “godsend”, stepping up to help when John was injured and more recently when Grace had her stroke. “It would be very difficult if Jan wasn’t around to help.”
Kerri-anne and Jan have organised for nurses to come every morning to dress and wash their mum, while KerriAnne prepares her for bed at night. Grace is still suffering impairment in her left foot and hand.
Kerri-anne and John have converted her music room into a rehab room for her mum. When she has time, the TV host works out with an exercise bike and weights as her mum does exercises to recover her strength.
Kerri-anne says John, who fractured his C3 and C4 vertebrae in the accident in 2016, is “doing well” and continuing his rehab, but misses her when she has to travel for work.
“John is very glad to get me home,” she says, explaining that she has been working non-stop on Studio 10, speaking engagements and hosting duties to cover the cost of mounting medical bills.
With life getting back to what has become a new normal over the past three years, Kerri-anne is vowing to also address her own health issues and start exercising more regularly. She would love to lose a few kilos and fit back into her “lovely dresses”.
“I’d just like everyone to be happy and healthy,” she says. “That’s what I’m hoping for as we start a new year.”