Ray’s road lesson inspires son to stay safe during Easter and beyond

When Caboolture’s Ray Kennedy encourages his learner driver son Cameron to be alert and drive safely on the roads, it is not your typical father-son chat.In the lead-up to Easter next week, Ray wants to share his story of how almost 26 years ago he sustained quadriplegia as a passenger in a car that crashed, after he and the driver had consumed several beers at their local pub.

“With my head in traction and on a respirator with pneumonia, a collapsed lung and full of morphine, I was not expected to live,” Ray said.

“I wasn’t aware of much for two weeks. After my lungs cleared, they took the breathing machine off me and I realised where I was and what had happened.

“My life has never been the same again. I’ve had different jobs over the years and loved being a father, but things would have been much easier without a spinal cord injury.”

In Year 12 at Narangba Valley State High School, Cameron said his father’s injury was something that inspired him to be cautious while driving.

“Dad talks to me about what happened and it makes me realise how just a simple action can lead to the rest of your life being changed,” Cameron said.

With his compulsory 100 hours of driving lessons that are a pre-requisite for moving to P-plates almost complete, Cameron said his father’s experience had obviously affected the way he drove.

“A lot of kids my age don’t realise how easy it is to have a car crash and end up having to use a wheelchair for the rest of their lives,” he said.

“I think I’m a pretty safe driver; it’s not worth the risk of crashing and injuring yourself.

“It affects not only you, but your entire family and friends and it changes any plans you had for a future career.”
Road trauma (car, motorbike and pedestrian accidents) is the number one cause of all spinal cord injuries in Queensland each year, accounting for 40% of injuries.

And each year in Queensland around 90 people sustain a spinal cord injury – an average of one person every four days.

Spinal Injuries Association CEO Mark Henley said while there was plenty of publicity surrounding the road toll, stories such as Ray’s were less well-known.

“The effect a spinal cord injury has on the body is colossal,” Mr Henley said.

“Not only do newly-injured patients have to adjust to using a wheelchair, but their bladder and bowel control, body temperature, internal organs, balance, self confidence and emotional wellbeing are also affected.

“Simple precautions including wearing your seatbelt; having a designated driver or catching a taxi if you’re going to be drinking; sticking to the speed limit and having plenty of breaks when you’re driving over a long distance, can mean the difference between remaining injury free or sustaining a life-long spinal cord injury.”

The Spinal Injuries Association is a not-for-profit organisation that was established in 1960 and is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with a spinal cord injury.

For more information, please visit www.spinal.com.au.

Issued 1 April.