My husband and I were told we couldn't travel in the Air Ambulance with Rhiannon as they needed the room for the equipment and they were going to ventilate her and sedate her for the journey home and there is a weight issue on care flights if we travelled with her they would have to refuel and the flight would be too long. The nurses also advised that one of us had to go home that night, it was around 8.30pm at this stage 30th Sept, Rhiannon made the decision for me to go home first as she wanted me at the other end to meet her, this was another decision I had to make, but I knew I had to be there. At 10.00pm that night I was told I had to leave to get the 12.05am flight out but they couldn't get me home direct so I had to go via Sydney, this was o.k. cause I would still beat Rhiannon to Oz. I left leaving half my stuff in Bali and lugging all Rhiannons luggage and my essentials home. I got to Denpasar airport to find the plane was 2 hours delayed and I just sat in horror. I got home eventually and waited for the Doctor of the Air Ambulance to call me to tell me when they were taking off from Denpasar. I then rang my husband who waited with Rhiannon in Bali and he told me there was a delay and the flight was leaving until 2.30pm Bali time, but I was told they were leaving 9.30am Bali time. He assured me everything was fine. So I waited and waited then finally they called me from the flight and held the phone up to Rhiannon so I could tell her to be brave and then I realised she wasn't sedated or ventilated??? Why I kept thinking, then I was told, the doctor at BIMC had accidently given her a penicillan injection and Rhiannon is allergic to Penicillian and she went into anaflatic shock and thats why she was sedated or ventilated for the flight home. Rhiannon then spent 20 days in intensive care in the Austin Hospital here, she had collapsed lungs,DVT, her bowels were not working and she had some terrible bug in her body from Bali, on the 28th October she was finally sent to Royal Talbot Rehabiliation Centre where she is still recovering. Unfortunately we are classed as being Uncompensated, due to Rhiannons accident we only entitled to limited assistance from the government for Rhiannon's recovery. Rhiannon is in Rehab under our Private Insurance company, but anything elso is out of pocket. We have to modify our home at a cost of $160,000 and we are able to apply for $4,500.00 as a once of lifetime payment for modifications to the home. We have found a treatment program of extensive physio for Rhiannon at a cost of $33,000 and this is based in Brisbane soon to be in Sydney and the government will not fund this nor can we get any assistance, I have left my job to look after Rhiannon so funds are very low. We are selling all our assets and just last week her friends organised a Fundraiser that was supported by our local paper and we raised $20,000, this is a great start for Rhiannon, but I am sick to my stomach at the fact that our Government gives grants and TAC payouts to only traffic accidents. I do not grudge anyone getting treatment, but of late being in rehab there are people receiving payouts that have been in road accidents that were drunk or not wearing seat belts etc. There are many people in rehab uncompensated and we are all in the same boat, trying to raise funds to get further treatment. Even the nurses in Rehab are disgusted at the way we are treated. We will be having more fundraisers to raise the funds. "A Current Affair" interviewed us today at Royal Talbot Rehab, they are doing a story on Diving into Shallow Water for awareness for the holidays. Please watch it Rhiannon and I were both interviewed. I will advise when it is going to air.
On a brighter note as I said earlier in Part 1. Rhiannon is classified as a C5 imcomplete Quadraplegic, she has amazed doctors and has movement in her arms and left leg, Rhiannon had to be operated on 3 times as the Bali operation failed due to the surgeon inserting stainless wiring instead of Titaium! Considering everything my baby girl has been through there is light at the end of tunnel, this recovery programme will give her hope that one day she will walk again, we just need to get her there. She is a very strong willed and determined girl and she wants to walk again and will not accept life in a wheelchair. She is working really hard in Rehab now and they stood her up yesterday in a special standing frame and I am so damn proud of her. Although she may be in a wheelchair right now, she will get there.
If you have Facebook search STEP BY STEP for up to dates on Rhiannon and further fundraising events. Most of all please read this I know it is so very long, but if I can save one person from this heartbreak and tragedy I feel I have done good! Please everyone take care and be safe these holidays. Thank you to my beautiful balinese friends for all your support and Jinae, Bagong, Jackson, Johnie & Donna you are Angels. xxxxx