Not everyone gets a second chance at life … especially when you realise how easily it can be taken away.
Not only that, there is the impact it could have on others.
A road accident two years ago saw Peregian Beach landscape gardener Andrew Sellman survive the vehicle roll-over, only to find he needed extensive brain surgery.
Now, after treatment virtually never undertaken before in Australia that has involved extensive hospitalisation and rehabilitation, he is taking on an incredible challenge to raise awareness for epilepsy.
Andrew’s world turned upside down at the time of the accident, as the full extent of the effect epilepsy had on him was revealed.
This month he is taking on an extreme challenge to raise awareness of an illness that has severely impacted not just his life but that of family and friends.
On Saturday, 29 March, Andrew, with a collection of supporters and friends, will be running 50km in 12 hours … and completing 1000 pull-ups.
As well as supporting Active for Epilepsy, it will be to thank those who have got him to this stage.
“Twenty two months ago I had everything I have ever dreamt of,” Andrew said. “From work, my passions, our home, a beautiful little boy and a brand new baby girl.
“The first day home from the hospital I had a strange/terrifying experience, what I didn’t know was that I had a focal seizure.
“Two days later my life was turned upside down. A seizure that caused me to go unconscious and roll my car off the side of a hill causing bruising of the brain and a severe concussion. The diagnosis, epilepsy.”
Since then Andrew has had had countless hospital visits, three weeklong visits at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital doing sleep-deprived EEG (electroencephalogram) tests that records the brain’s electrical activity.
Another bad concussion ended with Andrew having staples in his head, and seemingly endless medications – some with extreme side effects. One of those side effects kills 10 percent of people who get it.
“That left me with a severe rash through every inch of my body for a whole week.
“The seizures never stopped. The diagnosis was medication resistance.
“The next step, a stereo EEG surgery, was where 15 rods were placed through my skull to the centre of my brain.
“I spent three weeks with these rods in my head while being allowed to sleep for only four hours a night.
“The plan was to map where my seizures are and melt that area with the electronic rods. Seizures were stimulated, three were serious.”
Andrew was diagnosed with ictal asystole. A rare condition where a seizure can cause your heart to stop and you stop breathing..
The melting was carried out and they hoped this would stop the seizures.
Sadly they have returned.
As a result Andrew needed an outlet – to thank all the amazing doctors and nurses that have cared for him.
“I also needed some way to say thank you to all my amazing friends and family for the support and messages I am constantly receiving.
“I didn’t know how to do that. But I do know exercise has helped me so much in my whole life, and now more than ever.
“I’m going to run 5km loops and do 100 pull-up/chin-ups on the day, hoping to reach 50km and 1000 pull-ups.
“I’m going to do that non-stop for 12 hours and hope to raise money and awareness for this cause.”
Andrew will start his running at 6am on the Saturday at his property. When speaking to him at a training session he had raised $12,000 for epilepsy in two weeks and was hoping to double that.
He paid special tribute to his wife Rachel for the support given, and their two children for the inspiration.
“This will be the most running I have ever done. There are so many people who have helped – from running mates to physios.
“I don’t care if I break my leg attempting this … I will crawl for 24 hours if I have to. Nothing will stop me.”
Among the supporters have been builder Gaston Ottl of GTO, who completed his apprenticeship with Rachel’s father Peter Clout.
“Gaston has been a great support even through illness,” Rachel said. “He picks Andrew up and runs with him.
“For Andrew, it’s been so rewarding. Physical exercise can help, but then there are mental struggles.
“This way he can do something to push himself to the limit to help others.
“It’s not just to bring awareness of epilepsy but for those who have helped him.
“The health system we have in Australia is unbelievable and Andrew is one of the first to have certain procedures.”
Andrew’s effort comes as part of Active For Epilepsy Week.
Luca de Franceschi of Takedown Training said Andrew had done the work and was ready for the challenge.
Gaston will be running with him most of the way, and has organised a few tradie mates to come and join in
“A bunch of friends, who don’t run, have gone and bought shoes and are in training to do small portions,” Gaston said.
As well as his landscape business Serene Gardens, Andrew has been passionately involved in health, fitness and martial arts for more than 15 years.
In that time he has freely given advice on another of his passions – bonsai.
“I’ve never been a runner,” he said. “The occasional run around the block but not a marathon or even a half marathon.
“However, I thought why not try something big and go for an ultra marathon.
“A lot of people run for charity but I wanted this to stand out and get some more attention for epilepsy so why not throw in 1000 chin-ups … and only a few months after brain surgery.
“There are countless charities and many conditions that need support, but this has affected me so greatly and can strike anybody at any point.
“I see the kids that have to deal with this and the parents that have to watch their children suffer, and it breaks my heart.
“This is my effort to try and help this situation, and also show that even when an illness has beaten you down and taken so much from you, you can still make a difference and show the people around you and yourself that you are capable of doing something great.”
To support Andrew in his challenge or learn more about Get Active For Epilepsy: epilepsy-action-australia.grassrootz.com/get-active-for-epilepsy/andrew-sellman
