‘I’m back’ — teen looks to future
This week, the Herald is speaking to Kiwis who have survived illnesses, accidents and crimes that almost killed them, as part of our I Should be Dead series
HWatch the video interview at nzherald.co.nz
In the week after Cooper Snowdon broke his neck, doctors told his family he would either die or be reliant on a ventilator for the rest of his life. Nine months later, the tough teen is proving them wrong.
The 16-year-old was mountain biking with his older brother, Geordie, at Kowhai Park in Whanganui on March 21 when he went over a jump, landed on his head and broke his neck.
He was airlifted to Christchurch Hospital, where he was in a coma for two weeks and spent 69 days on life support.
Cooper is paralysed from the neck down but can breathe, eat and talk on his own and is making the most of life back home in Whanganui.
He has already bought a V8 ute to work on with his brother since getting home in August, according to his mum, Kim Ostern.
Instead of using the hoist to lift the engine, the pair used it to hoist Cooper over the motor so he could instruct Geordie about what he wanted done, Ostern said.
While Cooper couldn’t move his fingers, he could lift his right arm up to his face and the family were hopeful he might regain some more movement in it.
“He’s doing so much more than they ever said he would do,” she said.
In hospital he learned to use a computer mouse with his head so he can use Facebook and watch Netflix. His first Facebook post since the accident came in late May, when he used the mouse to type two simple words: “I’m back.”
Back in Whanganui, where he had moved from Tauranga just days before the accident, 20-year-old Geordie is Cooper’s carer and tries to make life as normal as possible.
“Like a typical 16-year-old he doesn’t like to hang out with his mum,” Ostern laughed.
Although there were hard times, Cooper was getting on with life and was already looking to the future.
He has told his mum he wants to do a mouth painting course. Ostern said she was amazed by the support the family had received through Givealittle, where almost $24,000 was raised, and by the team working with Cooper to help him recover.
But most of all, Ostern was proud of how both boys were handling the situation and amazed by Cooper’s resilience and attitude towards life.
“I can’t even believe anyone can think about living life how he is. He’s really strong.”
Throughout it all, Cooper did things his way, Ostern said. Doctors did not think he would breathe on his own again, but he did. They thought he would need therapy to learn to speak again — he didn’t.
The family were now working towards giving Cooper as much independence as possible, Ostern said.
“We’re just focusing on doing things he loves. We’re just so thankful to have Cooper. He’s an amazing young guy. He’s going to do amazing things. Watch this space.”