Crash victim’s journey from death bed to desert marathon

IT will be 10 years to the day this April 7, 2019, since a terrible drink-driving car crash left a young Thame man’s life hanging on a thread, and another passenger in the car dead.

Since the crash (REPORT HERE), Joe Robinson, with the support of his family and skilled medical staff, has achieved a most remarkable and unexpected rehabilitation. To mark the anniversary, Joe and his sister Grace will be running the extremely arduous Marathon des Sables, to raise funds and awareness for Spinal Injury. LINK

In the following, Joe talks about the enormous undertaking he and Grace have set themselves, considering the damage done to his body in the crash, but how they have chosen to do it in recognition of the ‘selfless professionalism and dedication’ of everyone involved in his recovery and all those affected by spinal injuries.

The Robinson family want Joe’s extraordinary story told, not just to raise awareness but as a final chapter to such and long journey of recovery.

Joe Robinson – from Death Bed to Desert Runner

April 7th, 2009 : I was given a 3% chance of making it through the first night I was in hospital. My parents had to say goodbye to me not once, but twice.
I was in an induced coma in an intensive care unit for a month with a broken back in three different places, a broken neck in two places, a fractured skull across half the diameter of my head, my lungs had collapsed and on top of these injuries, I needed two emergency brain operations. Whilst in the coma, I contracted MRSA, pneumonia and meningitis.

…… Fast forward exactly 10 years…….

April 7th, 2019 – I will be on the second day of running across the Sahara, taking part in “The Toughest Race on Earth” – the gruelling Marathon des Sables (https://marathondessables.co.uk). This is a 250+km footrace across the toughest terrain on earth. Completely self-sufficient, I shalll have six days to complete this huge challenge accompanied by my younger sister Grace. Temperatures will exceed 40 degrees, water is rationed, and I shall have to take and carry all my clothes, food, cooking equipment and essential medical kit.

……Back to my story and the long, 10 year recovery……

My parents were told I was going to die twice. Four weeks later, they were told I was going to be blind and never walk again. The family were told my traumatic brain injury would leave me with life changing neurological problems. I was informed, I was going to need treatment for the rest of my life and so my Mum began preparing to be my carer for life.

With the help of the heroes at The John Radcliffe Hospital, my incredible friends and family, I never gave up hope. I was unwilling to accept what had not been proven and with hope and determination, I set about embarking upon a recovery that has taken up every minute of these past 10 years.

My life changed for so many reasons in those early hours of 7th April 2009. There have been so many dark moments, but so many moments of hope and inspiration. I followed the amazing progress of Richard Hammond and James Cracknell (both of whom have suffered traumatic brain injuries) and this
inspired me to keep going, to keep challenging myself and to keep challenging the hospital experts, and, most of all, to never give up. I really hope others, and I truly believe they will, can follow my story and be inspired to keep going, to have belief in ones’ self and your friends, but most of all to never ever give up.

My recovery

After two long months in hospital, my road to recovery really has been everyday over the last 10 years. My recovery will continue long after the Marathon des Sables. I have had treatment from neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, orthopaedic surgeons, the list goes on. From being so poorly and so dependent on so many people, to taking on what James Cracknell has called “The Toughest Race on Earth” (exactly10 years later), I hope this endeavour in the Sahara can be a truly remarkable moment for me to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who has helped me on this tough and challenging road of recovery.

In the last 10 years, my most memorable moments have included:

• Learning to walk again 4 months after the car accident having been told I
would be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.
• Cycling from Paris to The John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford less than a year
after the car accident and raising £38,000 for the hospital.
• Going to Exeter University, just 18 months after the car accident,
obtaining a 2.1 degree in Geography.
• Receiving the Deans Commendation for “outstanding performance under
exceptional circumstances” at the end of my second year at university
• Receiving the Deans Commendation for “outstanding performance under
exceptional circumstances” in my third and final year – becoming the
only student ever to have won the award twice.
• Successfully completing a Master’s degree at Oxford Brookes University.
• Running in the Olympic Torch Relay with the Olympic Torch in 2012.
• Setting up a small fundraising organisation called JR4JR – raising the
awareness of brain injuries and raising money for the John Radcliffe
Hospital, Oxford.

Personally, my heartfelt wish is for everyone that has supported me over these years to be proud of me and I sincerely hope this can be a symbol for how grateful I will always be to everyone who has helped me over the last 10 years …each and every moment over these past 3,650 days.

To donate throughto Joe and Grace’s Justgiving page link HERE