CASEY'S BABY JOY 'OUR GIRL IS ALREADY SO LOVED'

The Te Puke gym owner refused to let a devastating accident stop her from becoming a mother

- Jo Bailey

In a split second on a motocross track, Casey Brady's life changed forever. But what followed is a story of true Kiwi grit overcoming the odds, finding new purpose, creating a supportive community and, most important of all, becoming a mum.

It was during a practice run before a motocross event in June 2017 that Casey's world turned upside down. The active Te Puke farm girl and preschoo teacher took a jump too slow, flew over the handlebars, landed on her head and broke her back. The resulting spinal cord injury left her paralysed from the chest down, with the prospect of spending her life in a wheelchair.

It was not the future Casey, 31, had anticipated and from the get-go, she has refused to let her injury define her. Over the past seven years, she has shown unstoppable determination to reclaim as much of her old life and independence as possible. "I remember those early days in the hospital," Casey shares. "I couldn't sit up without fainting and had no feeling. The doctors said I would never walk again, but I couldn't accept that."

From that moment, Casey has dedicated herself to an intensive rehabilitation programme to regain as much function as possible, spending over three hours most days working tirelessly with trainers, undergoing cutting-edge physiotherapy and electrical stimulation therapy, and utilising innovative treatments like hyperbaric oxygen therapy and even stem cell therapy.

"It's been a slow journey, but I'm seeing progress, especially over the past year," she reveals.