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Young Whitsunday Mum Faces Life In Wheelchair

Baby Sienna at home with Cassie’s mother Jenny

Ayoung mum with a severe spinal cord injury is currently adjusting to life as a quadriplegic and coming to terms with being confined to a wheelchair every day. Just three months ago Cassie Thorpe was still able to drive a car short distances and hold her 20 month old daughter in her arms, but as a severe decline in the disease she had been battling for the past 13 years took hold, her life took a dramatic turn. In her teenage years, after noticing the muscles in her hands had started wasting away, Cassie was diagnosed with a Hirayama Disease and attended fortnightly medical appointments to receive intravenous medicine at the Mackay Mater Hospital for two years. After she completed this treatment, the symptoms seemed to plateau and she went on to live a relatively normal life. When her daughter, Sienna, came along however, she noticed a rapid decline. Desperately trying keep positive, Cassie was determined to continue as normal but in June this year she was losing all movement in her legs, her left foot had started to drop and the left side of her body began to drag. Living in a little cottage out the back of her parents’ rural property in Gregory River, Cassie was struggling to cope. “She was collapsing and falling all the time,” said her mum, Jenny. “She was battered with bruises from the falls. It took us a long time to convince her because she didn’t want to leave Sienna, but eventually she let us call an ambulance.” Cassie was taken to Proserpine Hospital where she spent five days before being flown to the Royal Brisbane Hospital and transferred to the spinal cord unit to receive specialist care. The last few months have been some of the most traumatic in Cassie’s life, not only has she had to be without her baby daughter, but she has also endured spasms

and severe pain, and is unable to look after herself. She now needs 24-hour care and can only move a little of her right finger which enables her to drive her electrical wheelchair. “She always looked lovely when she went out,” said Jenny. “She was used to having a shower twice a day minimum, at hospital it’s once a day or if they’re busy with an emergency it is every other day – that was really hard for her to take.” Cassie and her daughter Sienna in happier times Cassie at the Princess Alexandra Hospital spinal cord unit Sienna is currently staying with her grandin Brisbane parents although she talks to her mum every day through Face time. “The adjustment is tough, there are many nights when she rings me up and is bawling her eyes out, we are all still very much in shock,” said Jenny who now stays at home looking after Sienna every day. “The hardest thing with Cassie is that she’s now realised that she will never pick her daughter up again - she can’t do her hair, can’t feed her, can’t dress her, can’t walk or run around with her anymore. “Just three months ago before this all went daytrips downhill so fast, she was driving the car still, walking around with Sienna,” Jenny Townsville Duration: 2hr 30mins said. Are you a Cowboys supporter or just an avid The next step for Cassie will be moving to rugby league fan? Never been to an NRL a 24-hour care facility in Mackay in Ocgame? This trip is for you, we will support you to travel to Townsville and attend tober. Rd 23 Cowboys vs Warriors It is expected to take six months for some Airlie Beach Duration: 1hr 4mins NDIS funding to come through which will help pay for a modified bathroom and Looking to relax in the heart of the reef at nearby Airlie Beach? We will support you to bedroom at the house. travel to Airlie Beach and enjoy a delicious lunch with beautiful ocean views. It will be nine months before a lift to the Queenslander style house is installed.Mackay Duration: 2hr 22mins The family are currently working on acRegular trips to Mackay will allow you to visit the regional centre for your shopping needs. cessing funds from the Superannuation We will support you to attend Canelands so they can build an independent living Shopping Centre and visit any specialty space for Cassie and her daughter under stores you may require. the house. The cottage out back has been *Terms and conditions apply. The Hub Bus deemed unsuitable now. service is available to NDIS consumers and their trip is funded through their NDIS plan. There is a GoFundMe page set up in CasNumbers are limited. sie’s name and if there are any tradies reading this article who might like to donate time or products, such as air-conditioning, Bowen Mental Health Hub lighting or plumbing to help please, reach 1800 133 123 | selectability.com.au out directly to Jenny on 0400 796 542.