JEALOUS RAGE
We arrived at Russell’s Hall Hospital in Dudley, West Mids, and I was rushed straight through to the operating theatre.
‘We need to do this surgery now to save your foot,’ the doctor told me. ‘But we might need to deliver your baby at the same time.’
It’s too soon, I thought, feeling terrified.
But I had no choice.
I’d snapped every single nerve and tendon in my foot.
The main tendon that connects the toe to the kneecap was snapped in half, as well.
It was touch and go whether or not doctors would be able to save it.
I was put to sleep, and when I woke up on a ward after the seven-hour surgery, my leg was in plaster and my hands flew to my belly. He was still in there. ‘He’s one tough cookie,’ the doctor at my bedside said, smiling.
I was still worried, though. But that evening I was taken for a scan, and when I heard my boy’s strong heartbeat thumping away, I breathed a sigh of relief.
I still had a long road ahead of me, though.
I spent five days in hospital, but because of
Covid, I wasn’t allowed any visitors either.
My mum had been on holiday in Wales when the accident happened, but she rushed back to be with me.
I was bedbound for six weeks after coming out of hospital, with my foot in a cast.
Carers came four times a day to look after me while Tom went back to work.
And five weeks after the accident, I was scheduled for a C-section to have my son.
The trauma from the accident and the medication I was on meant my boy had stopped growing, so he needed to be delivered early.
My injuries meant
I couldn’t have a natural birth.
Thankfully, at 38 weeks, he wouldn’t be too early.
On 27 July last year, my little boy Shay was born, weighing a healthy 7lbs 3oz. He was perfect.
It was the most amazing feeling in the world.
But where he was positioned in my womb after the accident meant that one of Shay’s neck muscles was shorter than the other. As a result, his neck and head were tilted, and he had breathing problems.
So Shay had to spend four days in Intensive Care, which was awful.
I couldn’t even properly hold my son straight away, which was the worst feeling
It was a worrying time, and I hated that the accident had hurt him, too.
After a couple of days, I could finally give him a cuddle.
‘Look at you,’ I cooed, holding him for the first time.
Shay has been going to physiotherapy to try and strengthen his muscles. Thankfully, he’s doing well. He’s always happy and smiling, and loves Coco Melon.
He’s always pouting and making us laugh.
After the traumatic event, the police started investigating and Jack was caught and charged. More details came out in court about what happened that day.
Jack Richardson, 25, of Stourbridge, West Midlands, had flown into a jealous rage after seeing his ex-partner’s new boyfriend in the pub.
He admitted two counts of grievous bodily harm, one against me, as well as two counts of actual bodily harm, possession of an imitation firearm with intent, possession of cannabis and driving without insurance.
I attended Wolverhampton Crown
Court on crutches in March this year and watched as Richardson was jailed for five years and three months.
I hate Jack for what he has done to us.
My son suffered for the first weeks of his life, all because of this one man and his actions.
My foot may never be the same again – even now, a year on, I still use crutches and there’s not much movement. I’ve suffered irreversible damage I will never forgive Jack.
I’m glad he’s behind bars – it’s what he deserves.
Despite everything we’ve been through, though, Shay and I are still here.
He’s such a little fighter and we’ll make it through anything together.
My boy had stopped growing