Life for Louie Saa was busy, lively and full of joy, the 29-year-old was a keen motorist, an active basketball player and loving father to two young children, but that life was stopped in its tracks when tragedy struck.
Louie had gone for a motorbike ride and when he didn’t return his wife, Joy, began to search the local area.
Joy found Louie’s bike wrecked on the side of the road and found Louie conscious but motionless in dense bushland nearby. He had been there for over two hours, calling for help, completely unable to move.
“I thought I was dead,” Louie said.
“I remember everything, during the accident I was conscious the whole time. I’d lost control and went straight into the tree; I thought my life was over.”
Louie was airlifted to the Royal Brisbane Hospital where doctors diagnosed his injuries. He had suffered a C3 spinal cord injury and Louie was told it was unlikely he’d ever walk again.
“Every day I’d wake up thinking it was a dream, but then I’d see my arms and legs and realise it wasn’t. I had some really dark days at first but then the work began,” he said.
Louie was transferred to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital’s rehab department where he worked with physios day and night to get his mobility back by his side every day was Joy and their two children, Summer, four, and Rain, two.
Progress happened quickly, after a few days Louie was able to move his arms and hands again allowing him to use a power wheelchair provided by Wishlist.
For patients like Louie, a power wheelchair offers the freedom and independence to get around on their own without relying on others to head outside, grab a coffee or something to eat.
For Louie, it meant he could go out to lunch every day with his family, with Summer and Rain supporting their dad during his physio exercises when he’d return to the department for his afternoon sessions.
From there Louie made leaps in his recovery, he started to regain strength in his legs.
“Every day is a chance to get better and consistency is the key, I just always kept a positive mindset never lost hope and every day I’d wake up and find something new that I couldn’t do yesterday.”
After just two weeks in rehab Louie took his first steps and soon began walking around the hospital holding Summer and Rain’s hands, his two toddlers helping their dad get back to his feet.
“I always kept my family as my motivation, I’m too young for this and I wasn’t going to accept it,” Louie said.
Throughout it all, Louie’s wife, Joy, has been a rock for him, from the moment she found him she’s been by his side through every doctor’s visit and physio session offering him unwavering support and the motivation to keep going.
On 12 February, just 13 weeks after his accident, Louie was discharged from hospital.
He walked out of rehab to huge applause as his remarkable achievement celebrated by the cheering rehab staff who had been a part of his journey.
“To all the doctors, nurses and physios that helped me, I want to say thank you, I’m going to miss you guys,” Louie said.
Louie’s leap back to his feet is an incredible testament to the power of a positive mindset, overcoming impossible odds to make a comeback for the ages Louie now has his sights on getting back to the basketball court but for now his priority is getting home to the family that helped him stand again.
To help patients like Louie put their best foot forward on their road to recovery, visit wishlist.org.au to donate.
