Alive and planning for a miracle future

By Danielle Blewett

There’s no doubt about the horrific nature of Sam Cawthorn’s injuries.

His mechanical right arm and pulverised right leg held together with 15 bolts, one metal plate and 11 screws, make him a somewhat macabre sight.

A stunning mental attitude and his beautiful wife and daughters immediately overwhelm the macabre.

The 26-year-old South Launceston father was critically injured when the right-hand side of his car was sheared off in a collision with at truck.

On October 20 he acknowledged that just being alive was a miracle.

Yesterday he was all plans for the future; already back at work he reckons he should be jogging again in two months.

His doctors aren’t so sure.

“The doctors are saying I will walk again and that I will have on-going knee problems, early arthritis and I will never run again.  I believe I will jog again,” he said.

The former hip-hop dancer-teacher was working as regional industry career advisor for National Joblink when he collided with a truck at Parramatta Creek.

He spend three days in the North-West Regional Hospital, Mersey Campus, before he was transferred to the Launceston General Hospital and kept in an induce coma for six days.

For now the Cawthorn family, Sam, Kate and daughters Emelia, 4 and Ebony, 18 months, are living at Peppers Seaport while his workers compensation insure makes changes to the family home… wider doorways, polished floors and open plan with a new bathroom to make the home more accessible for Mr Cawthorn.

One of 11 children raised on a farm in the Derwent Valley, Mr Cawthorn will amend his interests but not change his active lifestyle.

Instead of teaching hip-hop he will teach music and currently, he is working part-time at his old job, balancing career advising with intensive rehabilitation – physio and occupational therapies.

He is also taking on speaking engagements.

“I have a passion or life and I don’t really know what this year is going to hold, but I am excited,” he said.

He said the support of his large family and huge church community had been “uplifting and encouraging”.

The family are members of the Christian City Church and have received gifts and encouragement from church members around the globe.

The last 12 weeks, he said, have shown him patience and humility.

He was sent home from hospital in time for Christmas, December 15, also his 27th birthday.