Helping Louise O'Connor

TLouise was a young intelligent woman with a zest for life, love of people, a strong awareness of others & a generous spirit. Louise embraced with energy & enthusiasm. She was a respected high achieving teacher with a love of education in the widest sense. She was also active in the community through sport, culture, church & social interaction. She closely followed the global issues with an awareness of Inequality, injustice, human rights & the lack of opportunity for so many in developing nations. She had opportunity, life was good with all we take for granted but she knew life was not a level playing field for many. The need for skilled people to live & work sharing their knowledge & skills was important so through VSA Louise committed to this.

Louise was now working overseas with NZ Volunteer Service Abroad, in the Pacific, aged 38, training & lecturing student teachers. It was a busy, full life of both teaching & learning. When, in the space of a few minutes her life was changed forever.

In an accident a huge wild dog running at full force collided with her motor cycle catapulting Louise through the air onto the rocky verge with the motor cycle landing atop of her requiring cutting free from her leg. Louise sustained extensive critical injuries needing 3 weeks critical care prior to relocation to NZ. On return to NZ she spent many months in hospital & in the spinal unit. Louise sustained multiple fractures to the spine, severe brain injuries, skull fractures, fractured ribs, lesser fractures, wounds, contusions, cancer through tissue damage, crushed leg, epilepsy, liver damage, neurological impairment, visual loss, bladder & bowel dysfunction, & chronic pain. Later developments through the years resulted in tremors, complex brain injuries, chronic pain, digestion, compromised immune system, hematological issues, & shoulder injury.

In the space of 5 minutes life as Louise knew was gone. Little did she know then she was now embarking on a 25 year health journey & battle which today is in the 26th year.

A tragic accident while in the prime of life was made a greater tragedy when it was learnt Louise did not qualify for ACC under the existing pre 1992 act.

Frequent uncontrollable seizures, falls from her wheelchair & lack of balance have added to the injuries over the years.

Then in 2005 Louise was in Auckland for medical treatment, specialist appointments & rehabilitation therapy when she was attacked by a group of 6 youths outside a Doctor's surgery. Youths of similar age to those she had taught picked her up strapped in her wheelchair & threw her down a 10 foot concrete stairwell leaving her there. When found she was unconscious & in a very bad way. Further injuries sustained all because she was sitting on a public footpath awaiting transport & because some youths chose her for their entertainment, to fill a moment in time.

Louise again suffered serious brain injuries, fractured skull, pelvis, sternum, arm & ribs, extensive soft tissue damage, open wounds to the head arm & legs & more minor injuries. All of this only added negatively to an already complex health climate, increasing & intensifying the battle.

Throughout the 25 years Louise has had continuing medical treatment, operations, invasive procedures, therapy, hospitalization & rehabilitation. This continues today addressing current issues, with a maintenance plan, working to minimize degeneration, monitor dysfunction, while attending to acute health e.g. pneumonia, renal issues & seizures.

A long arduous struggle that spans years & without the equipment needed to ensure access to quality life.

This is the tragic reality of the life of our friend Louise. An everyday person living her life going about her business, a life changed in a moment but not only once. We ask you to help us give Louise quality & dignity of Life. Through a unified effort, together we hope we can purchase a lightweight folding wheelchair that will enable Louise to access life outside her home. This would unlock the world enabling her to join friends for outings in their cars. Further we hope to purchase an electric bed, a portable ramp, a recliner lift chair, maintain the current ramps, ensure access to care, & adaptive equipment for daily living.

For Louise this is her life journey & we ask you to join her as a travelling companion through Support Louise O’Connor.