Sam Fitness

Dear all

We have opened this cause as many people have asked to provide support to help Sam and his family.

For those of you who know Sam you will know how active he is in sports and all things in life. After having spent Christmas with family Sam was looking forward to a new chapter in his life, as he was set to go to university this year, when on 28 December 2014 he had a tragic accident.

Sam climbed a tree at a local reserve and a fall irrevocably changed his and his family’s life when he suffered a spinal injury, a C5 fracture to his neck which has left him at the age of 17 as a tetraplegic.

The words “life changing” is often overused but in this case it is the simple truth. No longer able to walk, use his arms or hands properly and do many of the things we all simply take for granted, aspects of his life have become more challenging and difficult.

We all want to help Sam and his family in any way we can. Dwelling on what has happened isn’t going to help so we want to look to the future and help Sam with the trials and tribulations that will hold for someone now in a wheelchair where the future is unknown and uncertain.

Lots of people have come to the family and said “What can we do to help?” Those who know Sam and his family will know what genuine and capable people they are so even asking for this help is a huge step for them. There is not only the emotional toll but also extra and unknown costs.

There are many ways of helping and on this page we are asking for financial help. ACC will cover a lot but there will be things that will make Sam’s life more rewarding in the future that will not be covered.

However a bit about Sam as many of you reading this will know only small aspects of his life.

Sam lives in Papamoa, Tauranga. He started school at Papamoa Primary where at an early age he showed leadership potential and was a mediator for junior students. Sam enjoys his sports and right throughout his schooling has been involved in school sports and teams. Sam went on to Te Puke Intermediate and then Te Puke High School where he was a House Captain for Sheppard house. While at Te Puke High School Sam played hockey and football for school teams. Sam is a member of the Papamoa Tennis Club and has been actively involved in club days, interclub teams and played business house with his parents and sister.

Sam and his family live close to the beach and he has a love of the beach, ocean and fishing. Sam is an active member of the Mount Maunganui Sports Fishing Club and over the years won many prizes and trophies. At 16 he caught his first marlin but also enjoys trout fishing or catching a good feed for dinner for family and friends. We want Sam to still be able to get out in the boat and be involved in fishing.

Sam has a large group of friends who enjoy mucking around Papamoa, longboarding and generally having a bit of fun together.

Sam was ready to head off to Auckland University this year to study geophysics. This is now not possible this year but hopefully he can continue his studies next year in some form or other.

At the time of writing this approximately 6 weeks after the accident Sam remains in Middlemore Hospital, recently discharged from the Intensive Care Unit to the High Dependency Unit. We expect that he will soon be moved through to the Otara Spinal Unit for several months of intensive rehabilitation. Karl and Cherie have not returned home to Papamoa as they have remained by his bedside through all of this. Dana has had to return to school but we know her heart and thoughts are constantly with her big brother.

Sam remains in great spirits and is a wonderful example to us all.

We want to help Sam and his parents with his future. The funds donated will be administered by Sam and his parents – Karl and Cherie. At this stage we don’t know what form of help may be needed but any financial assistance will certainly be appreciated to give him that bit extra to get what he and the family need e.g. extra physio, extra aids to daily living.

Thank you for reading this and contributing to help a young man with his future – a future from a wheelchair that is unknown and very different from the past but with help will be rewarding and fulfilling.

Further photos are on the gallery page - a face book pagewith progress has been set up. Please use the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/samfitnessrecovery