Personal Care After a Spinal Cord Injury
June 26, 2026
My name is Donny, and if there’s one thing I hope people take away from my story, it’s that one decision can change your life forever.
My spinal cord injury happened during what should have been one of the happiest times of my life—my honeymoon.
My wife and I just got married after 20 years of life together. We headed to the Gold Coast for a ‘family’ honeymoon with our kids. We were playing tag in the swimming pool when I dived into the water. Instantly, I felt something break. I couldn’t move. I was paralysed beneath the surface.
The adrenaline kicked in just enough for my arms to move slightly. My wife noticed something wasn’t right, but at first my daughter (10 at the time) thought I was joking. She quickly realised I wasn’t and together with my wife helped save my life.
The next thing I remember was being in and out of consciousness. And this is something that lasted for two days. I vaguely remember at the time of the accident the paramedics discussing the possibility of being transported from the Gold Coast to the Princess Alexandra Hospital by rescue helicopter, before actually waking up in the Spinal Injuries Unit.
One phone call I’ll never forget was to my mum, who had been a nurse her whole life. I told her what had happened and then handed the phone back because I knew exactly what was coming—she was going to panic, and I wasn’t ready to hear it.
Later, the doctors told me I would probably never walk again.
My wife and my mum were both in tears. I tried to stay strong because I didn’t want them to see me fall apart.
The hardest part wasn’t just hearing those words—it was trying to imagine what the rest of my life would look like. I was working in a job that I really enjoyed as a forklift driver, living an active life with my young kids playing basketball and rugby. Returning to my life before the accident I felt was not a possibility.
For months I was confined to a hospital bed. I was so excited for the day I could finally get into a wheelchair, but the day before it was supposed to happen I developed a pressure injury, which delayed everything again.
Eventually I made it into the chair.
As strange as it sounds, I was excited. After lying down for so long, simply sitting upright again felt like progress.
I always want to be the best version of myself so I decided that If I was going to spend my life in a wheelchair, then I was going to become the best version of myself in a wheelchair. I learned wheelies, went to rugby games, and tried to keep living.
Over time I slowly regained a tiny amount of movement—about five percent. To most people that probably doesn’t sound like much, but to me it was everything. Every little improvement became something to celebrate.
The physical recovery, however, was only half the battle.
Mentally I’ve struggled on and off throughout my journey but I’ve found more peaceful times more often as I’ve prioritised my needs.
There were times I became depressed. I was angry at my situation, and without meaning to, I became grumpy around the people I loved most. I started drinking more than I should have, and although my wife and children always told me they were okay, I often questioned whether they really were. Family played a massive part in my recovery both physically and mentally especially my beautiful wife.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that people with spinal cord injuries often push away the very people trying to help them.
Eventually I joined a men’s support group. For the first time, I unloaded everything I had been carrying inside. I went home that day feeling like a completely different person. It reminded me that asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s one of the strongest things you can do.
Faith also became a huge part of my journey. During the darkest periods of my life, it gave me hope when I couldn’t find any myself.
Another lesson I had to learn was accepting support.
The NDIS had been writing to me for three years, but I ignored the letters because I didn’t think I needed the help. It wasn’t until a family friend encouraged me to apply that I gave it a go.
My first application was rejected almost immediately.
Once the specialists at the Spinal Unit and my doctor provided the right reports, I was approved.
That support has changed my life.
It gave me the confidence to ask for help, to become more independent, and to start looking after myself properly. Today I’m studying a Certificate III in Community Services because I want to become a support worker. I understand there are limitations because of my own disability, but my goal has never changed.
I want to be a prime example that there is hope for those of you in my same or similar situations.
These days I can even laugh about my disability.
Years ago, I couldn’t stand disability jokes. They felt personal. Now I realise humour has been part of my healing. It’s not about making fun of disability—it’s about refusing to let disability define me.
Meeting other people with spinal cord injuries, including Malakai, has shown me that everyone’s journey is different, but we all share similar challenges.
We’ve both experienced depression. We’ve both struggled. We’ve both relied on faith to get through dark times. But we’ve also learned that life doesn’t end after a spinal cord injury—it simply changes.
If you’re sitting here today thinking this could never happen to you, I used to think exactly the same thing.
Mine happened in seconds during a simple game in a swimming pool.
That’s why I share my story.
Not to scare people, but to remind them that accidents don’t discriminate.
Think before you dive, look after your mates, take unnecessary risks seriously.
If sharing my experience causes just one person to stop, check the water, or make a safer decision, then everything I’ve been through can help protect someone else.
Today, my purpose isn’t to focus on what I’ve lost. It’s to make a difference, put a smile on people’s faces, and hopefully prevent another family from experiencing what mine has.
At Spinal Home Help, we aim to make the process feel more human, more practical, and easier to navigate. Because sometimes the most valuable support is simply having someone who understands what this journey can feel like.
If you have questions about your NDIS plan, supports, or spinal cord injury services in Brisbane, our team is always happy to help.
📩 Contact us:
📞07 3189 3414
📍 www.spinalhomehelp.com.au
📧 admin@spinalhomehelp.com.au
