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September 2, 2024 18 mins

Join us on this episode of The Kind Side as we delve into an inspiring conversation with Paul, who shares his story of resilience and recovery after a serious cycling accident. Paul was out on a regular ride when an unexpected incident led him to the hospital with multiple injuries. He opens up about his sudden transition from a healthy, active lifestyle to being an inpatient in the hospital, surrounded by the kindness of strangers and medical staff.

Paul reflects on the shock of the accident, the support he received from good Samaritans, and the emotional journey of waking up in the hospital. He discusses how he copes with his injuries, the importance of staying active during recovery, and the invaluable role of family, friends, and healthcare professionals in his healing process.

This episode is a testament to human resilience and the power of kindness in times of crisis. Whether you're seeking inspiration or just a heartfelt story, Paul's experience offers a profound reminder of the strength we find in ourselves and others during challenging times.

Thank you for tuning in to The Kind Side. If you need support after listening to this episode, please reach out to a trusted person in your life or contact Lifeline at 13 11 14, available 24/7.

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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Music.

(00:15):
Conversation I had with Paul. When I spoke with Paul, he was an inpatient in one of our hospitals.
Paul had actually had a really unexpected accident while he was out riding his pushbike.
He was helped by some good Samaritans, came to hospital via ambulance through

(00:36):
our emergency department and
was being cared for in one of our inpatient wards when I spoke to Paul.
And I think this is a really interesting conversation because it's speaking
with someone who otherwise is very healthy and was going about their normal
everyday life when the unexpected occurred and they did have a really serious accident.

(00:58):
Incident now obviously if this is going
to bring up some uncomfortable feelings for you
and you'd prefer not to listen to that this episode please be kind to yourself
there's plenty of other episodes to choose from and please feel empowered and
in control in the conversations that you listen to on the kind side but for

(01:19):
those of you who are staying with us I know you're going to
really enjoy this conversation with Paul and how generous of him to speak with
me while he was recovering from such a serious accident in hospital. Let's hear from Paul.
So Paul, thank you for joining us on The Kind Side. What brings you to hospital?

(01:40):
So on Friday, which is three days ago, I had a bike accident, almost home.
I hit the deck pretty hard and then ended up in the hospital, found out I had.
Fractured clavicle, scapula, four broken ribs, punctured lung,
concussion, lacerations, skin off everywhere, and rushed into the emergency ward.

(02:05):
And then, yeah, that was it. So I got here quite suddenly. So things were going
really well. And then all of a sudden, I'm not well.
It was a big shock. It was a real wake-up call.
So you were riding a push bike? Yeah, a push bike.
And it's a ride that I've ridden this road so many times. you know i know it
really well and i'm careful when i ride too like i regard myself as really careful

(02:27):
on the bike and sensible but because i was unconscious i don't recall how i thrashed,
i'm guessing i hit something on the road maybe and yeah these two guys are on
their way to work found me and just helped me out call the ambos and i'm still
here yeah god yeah so that happened on Friday and we're speaking on Monday.

(02:48):
How are you coping? What's that experience been like?
You're just going about your day-to-day life out on a regular ride and then this happened.
Well, it's hard to cope at first because I did have plans for that day and the next couple of days.
And then it suddenly changes and you can't do anything that you normally do.
It's a bit of a wait and see to see how bad the injuries are.

(03:11):
You don't know how long you're going to stay in hospital, like it's not that
long for me, fortunately, but just the fact that for the next couple of months
I'll be really limited in what I can do.
So it's a big change, it's a sudden change, but you've got no choice but to
try and adapt and get used to it.
But looking at some of the people around me in hospital who have got way worse

(03:35):
situations than me, it puts it all in perspective.
And that's the main way I've coped is by just looking at it like that.
That so it could be way way worse things
could have happened yeah you're a very active person
how has it been that experience suddenly being
here in hospital and being so seriously injured well that's the hardest part

(03:55):
because now and then i have actually thought about geez what if i had some kind
of injury or accident and i couldn't do you know the things i do on a daily
basis which i really enjoy and then it happens and for that first day in hospital
you're just in a bit of a a bit of a shock,
reassessing everything, what's important,
how you're going to cope, what are you going to do instead. And it is really difficult.

(04:17):
But you're sort of forced into the situation where, you know,
you have to relax and just go with the flow.
Yeah. How have you found that experience of being in shock and trying to understand
what happened to you and the extent of your injuries?
You eventually just come to the conclusion there's nothing you can do about

(04:38):
it and you just have to get on with it.
If it means staying calm in hospital and because you're here for an extended
period, then that's what you're going to have to get used to.
But having family close by helps, just having the visits and things like that
and people at work just sending messages of supporting and stuff like that has
been really uplifting as well.
So there's a lot of things you can do. Little things can make you cope with

(05:02):
the situation quite better.
But the bottom line is you just have to accept it and deal with it.
And how has that been? I imagine you had family and friends really worried about you.
They were. How did they find out what had happened? Well, they didn't find out
for a couple of days because when I ride, I don't have the phone.
Yeah. And that was obviously left at home, so I was stuck in the hospital.

(05:25):
And because I don't remember mobile numbers, you know, I just put a name to
it and click the name and it comes up. I couldn't really contact anyone.
So eventually I was able to contact my brother through the police and that scared him straight away.
But then he was able to contact mum and they both came and saw me in the hospital
and then they got my phone and I was able to contact colleagues at work and

(05:49):
other friends and that's how they all found out about it.
So, yeah, at the start it was a bit of a worry because no one knew. Yeah.
So it's just been letting go of control, going with the flow.
Getting some perspective by seeing people who are more unwell around you and
being grateful for the normal health and mobility that you have.

(06:12):
Yeah, yeah. And I always thought I was pretty grateful for that.
But, you know, so many days go by where you just take it for granted.
You just go about your business.
You don't think, geez, I'm healthy today and I feel good. But,
you know, when you're suddenly laid up and you can't do a lot of things that
you'd like to do every day, it does make a difference.
Yeah. And how are you going with your pain?

(06:34):
It's not too bad now. Now, as long as I stay still, I can manage it. It's okay.
Yeah. So I'm hoping to get out by tomorrow at the latest.
Yeah. But I'll still be sort of incapacitated for a while, but I'll just have
to get used to that. Yeah. I don't mind not going to work for a while.
That's right. I'm sure, you know, it's not the best way to take some full sleep,

(06:56):
but you'll have to make the most of it.
Yeah. It's a bit of time to reflect on everything too.
Yes. So it'll come in handy, I think. Yeah.
And so, do you know much about the plan for you in terms of your rehabilitation and recovery?
Yeah, I know basically what it's going to involve.

(07:18):
And, you know, in the initial stages, I can't do too much.
Broken bones, you really have to just give them time to heal.
There's not much you can do about those things. You're looking at around about
six weeks in most cases. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah, just about being patient. So, Paul, how important, I know you've got,
you're in a two-bedroom here and you've managed to create a lovely rapport with

(07:41):
the other patient in the room with you.
How important is that when you're in hospital, the relationships that you have
with the people around you? Yeah, it's really important.
It does make a lot of difference and especially here with Karen because she's been through so much.
I couldn't believe it. I'm under you for a few days and
she's been in and out for like months at a time and that's

(08:05):
made me think nah this is this is nothing nothing compared
to other people so it's made a big difference yeah yeah and
have you got any advice you know it's hard it's hard in hospital when you have
an injury or you're unwell trying to sleep you know it's a busy it's a busy
environment there's lots of things happening what have been some of the ways
you've been coping I know when I was here earlier you were doing some exercises

(08:28):
yeah I try and I I try and keep moving.
So I've developed a routine where I do, they're limited at the moment,
but it's better than nothing.
So I do some exercises that I like to do.
And there's some breathing exercises I have to do as well for the lungs because
with the rib injury, it's hard to keep breathing.
And they told me you've got to keep doing that because with the punctured lung,

(08:50):
you're at risk of pneumonia as well.
So that's important to keep doing that. So it helps keep me busy because I don't
like sitting around in bed the whole day.
I never have done. So you've got to get out and about as soon as you can.
So, yeah, staying busy with all these little things definitely helps.
And did you know the people that helped you when you fell off your bike? No. No.

(09:14):
Total strange, but really, really nice couple of guys. They were on their way to work.
They called the AMBOs and fortunately they weren't far away.
And again, not too far from where I had the accident here at the hospital.
So that didn't take long and yeah, really grateful for those people, the way they helped.
Took my bike and looked after that and, yeah, it was good. Lucky it was those people that came along.

(09:38):
Yeah, there's a lot of good people in the world. There is. That's another thing
that happens to you when you have an accident like that.
You know, so many people stop to help and you do feel grateful towards most
people because you know that most people out there are going to do that.
Yeah. Yeah, it's good like that. And what's the experience been like?
So, Bill, it's ED, you're now in a ward.
How has that looked at you through the hospital? It's been good in the sense

(10:02):
that every step of the way, all the people have been really,
really good at their job and really professional.
There's a lot of processes they have to go through at the hospital to get me released.
Yes. Even though I'm not here for a long time, but that can be a little bit
frustrating, but they have to do that.
It's part of the process, so you have to accept it.
But when they all get to meet together and come to a conclusion, then they'll let me go.

(10:26):
Yeah. Yeah, and it just comes down to communication, doesn't it?
Like if you understand the processes they're going through and why and that
it's for your safety and we need to- Yeah, and they have to be on the cautious
side. I understand that.
But I've let them know I'm feeling good, well, good enough to go home and I'm

(10:48):
keen to go home, so I'll throw up in bed for someone else.
And it's good now. Now, we have a lot of care in place that can continue at
home. We have hospital in the home. We have virtual care.
So it is good because we know that if they're able to, patients are better at home.
Yeah, I've been offered that too to a certain degree as well. Yeah.
So I had this catheter thing taken out of my lungs today, but I had the option

(11:11):
of leaving that in and the team could have came over, you know,
maybe once a day to check on that, just assessing and things like that.
But so there's another option you've got as well.
Yeah. And six months ago, my dad was in palliative care.
Sorry to hear that. Yeah, but the services they offered, we were really impressed with too.
And there's so much out there when you're in those situations that there is

(11:32):
a lot of help to get you back home and to assist you when you're back home as well.
You don't want to have to need our healthcare services, but it's good to know
that they're there for when you do need them. Yes, that's what most people need to realise.
If you wind up in a situation where you're hurt or someone close to you is hurt,
there is a lot of options out there.

(11:53):
And they do make it as easy as possible for the patient and the family.
There is plenty of support out there.
And so, Paul, we have chats like this to better understand each other and what
it's like to be in each other's shoes in health. And I'm curious to know,
is there an act of kindness that you've observed or experienced while you've been in hospital?

(12:13):
There has every step of the way, from the guys that pick me up to the ambos,
to like every single doctor and nurse here at the hospital and to the other
people in the wards here as well, you know, sharing their experiences and getting their support.
So, and then family coming in as well and colleagues from work.
So, it does open you up to a lot of that stuff when you do these.

(12:35):
You find everyone that you come in contact with and everyone you know has offered
some sort of support, which you're always grateful for.
Yeah, especially when I can imagine you're not used to being the one that's believing in that.
It kind of restores your faith in people, if I could put it that way.
You seem to get the idea that just about everyone out there,

(12:56):
if they had to, they would help.
Yeah, and that's a reassuring feeling, isn't it? And I can imagine when you
wake up in hospital after a traumatic accident like that and feeling safe and
hopefully you felt safe. Yeah, I did feel safe in hospital, yeah.
Even though it wasn't good, I felt safe. Not good, but safe.

(13:19):
You were being taken care of. Yeah.
And Paul, in your normal day-to-day life, how do you take care of yourself?
How are you kind to yourself? Well, I'm always active. I do things that I enjoy.
So I enjoy obviously riding the bike, any outdoor stuff.
Surfing, all different sorts of exercise and stuff like that.
And also like relaxation time, simple things like that.

(13:43):
So going places where there's probably no one around and you can just sit there
and just let your mind sit still and not worry about one thing.
So, you know, simple things like that are really good. Do you think that mindset's
been helpful for you with this
time, just being able to be in a situation where you're not in control,
you've had a bad injury, you're in pain, and just be in that moment, try not to worry. It has.

(14:08):
Number one, you have to accept it. And also, two, like you're willing to do
whatever it takes for the rehabilitation process.
Yeah. That becomes like your new exercise program and, you know,
what you have to do each day and you just sort of get on with it like that.
And, Paul, if there was one thing we could do to show kindness or to make your

(14:29):
time in hospital a bit better, what would that be?
When you come home. What do you mean? If anyone else could or yourself?
Anyone in health. So the system or the staff when we interact with you,
is there anything that would make a difference for you?
What I've found is if when just people that are easy to converse with.

(14:50):
Day-to-day conversation, you know, people you can just have a bit of a chat
with and share a few experiences with, that's always good. Yeah.
It's people who are friendly, you know. It's good to have people who are professional
and do their job, but it's better on top of that when they will actually take
a little bit of time out too and have a chat about whatever, you know.

(15:10):
And it's enjoyable for our staff to have those conversations as well as for you as a patient.
Yeah, it is too. Oh, wow. Yeah. Yeah, and especially if you can share a laugh.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. He gets him as good in hard times, isn't it?
Yes, definitely would. Yeah.
Well, Paul, thank you so much for helping us look on the kind side of health.
Oh, you're welcome. It's been good talking to you.

(15:30):
Wasn't that so generous of Paul to speak with me so that we can all learn from
his experience when he was in so much pain after having such an unexpected
accident while doing what he loves, which is out riding his bike down a route
that he's rode hundreds of times.

(15:50):
It was interesting to hear about how he is processing the trauma of that and
the shock of that happening,
waking up in hospital and maybe not recalling what had happened,
the distance between when the incident happened and being able to let his loved

(16:11):
ones know what was going on for him and the kindness of strangers.
I really liked how Paul spoke about this experience, making him feel just so
much more safe and positive about the world around him, knowing that there are
so many kind people who will help,
who will come to your aid when you need it.

(16:33):
I thought that was really uplifting and hopeful.
It was interesting too about how
Paul tries to stay active while
he is recovering from these injuries in hospital and how he's adjusting to going
from one day living his everyday normal life to suddenly being in hospital and.

(16:57):
Music.
Having pain and limited mobility and having to very quickly adjust to a new way of being.
And that it's going to be probably a little while until he can recover and get
back to a sense of normalcy.
So a really good conversation and I hope that there's something that stayed

(17:18):
with you from that chat and thank you as always for joining us on The Kind Side.
If you feel like you need to talk after listening to this episode,
please reach out and speak to someone trusted
in your life or you can call Lifeline on
13 11 14 24 hours
a day seven days a week take care this

(17:41):
podcast was recorded on Dharawal country I'd like
to acknowledge and pay my deep respects to the
elders past present and future and extend that respects to any Aboriginal or
Torres Strait Islander people listening I'd also like to acknowledge the lived
experiences and the wisdom of all the people who spoke to me for this podcast

(18:03):
and those listening. Thank you.
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