"Hi! I'm Grayden. I've been placed in a nursing home twice during the last two years and I'm at risk of being sent to a nursing home again.
I'm now nearly 25 years old.
But when I was 23, I suffered an acquired brain injury from a skate boarding accident. Because this was not covered by workers compensation or motor accident insurance, I wasn't entitled to any compensation whatsoever.
After treatment in an acute hospital, I was sent to a nursing home.
But the staff did not have the appropriate skills and experience to care for someone with my medical condition...
I consequently went into a coma from drug toxicity and was rushed to another acute hospital where I had to be resuscitated, taken to theatre and then spent several days in intensive care.
Despite my parent's protests, I was then sent back to the nursing home and put back on the same drug that had caused the problem before.
I was finally was admitted to a rehabilitation facility for assessment after losing a lot of weight and was taken off the drug that had caused my previous problems.
As soon as this happened I began to rapidly improve.
Yet even though I was improving, my parents were again informed that I would have to return to a nursing home instead of being able to continue in an active rehabilitation program. They had to go to the Guardianship Tribunal to have guardianship granted to prevent this happening.
My parents then managed to get me transferred to the disability section of the rehabilitation centre, where I was getting some therapies in a pilot program that had been set up for me for a limited time.
This has helped me make some serious progress! When I first came into this program, I was barely able to move or talk or control my body's functions.
Now, though, I am in full control! I can walk with a frame, write in my journal, use the internet and, I'm told, talk nonstop!
Unfortunately, there is no funding for ongoing rehabilitation like this, although it is absolutely vital for people recovering from severe acquired brain injury if they are to achieve their potential and be given the chance to have a life again as i now have.
Recovering from a catastrophic injury like the one I had shouldn't be a matter of luck.
We need a continuing program of rehabilitation so that people who sustain catastrophic injuries can have the chance to recover and regain their lives.
UPDATE
Grayden and his mother Laurelei, recently took part in a press conference held at Parliament House, Canberra, on February 8, 2007.
The YPINH National Alliance had called the press conference to comment on the release of the Senate Inquiry Report into the Funding and operation of the Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA). The fourth CSTDA is currently being negotiated by Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments. The existing Agreement expires on July 1, 2007. For more information, see CSTDA
Grayden read a statement he had previously prepared to members of the media and Senators from the Senate's Community Affairs Committee who had held the Inquiry.
This is Grayden's statement. It was written in his own hand.
The full Report can be viewed at Senate Inquiry Report into the Funding and operation of the Commonwealth State Territory Agreement (CSTDA)
If you would like to read the media that the Alliance, Grayden and Lauralei received from this press conference, go to
ABC News Online 8/2/2007
Sydney Morning Herald 8/2/2007
Sydney Morning Herald 9/2/2007
The Melbourne Age 9/2/2007
ABC News Online 9/2/2007
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