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Brad’s story
On
Sunday 18th May, 2003, Brad Hunt was busily cleaning up
at the end of a lovely family BBQ which he had cooked for his
father in law’s birthday. As some of the family prepared to
leave, Brad sneaked into the garage to grab his new prized
possession, a skateboard which his wife, Wendy had given him just
a week earlier for his 37th birthday. Wendy had given
him his own skateboard as he was always on his boys’
skateboards, so having one of his own seemed a good idea. Brad
went to out the front of the Blue Mountains home he proudly owned
with Wendy. Being a quiet cul-de-sac it was a case of having the
whole space to himself. A steep sloping access road provided the
perfect runway for the showing off his skateboard skills to his
guests as they left. As the sun began to set, Brad’s brother in
laws watched in awe as Brad sped down the hill several times.
Disaster
struck this innocent suburban Sunday scene when Brad fell
awkwardly at pace from his skateboard and smashed the back of his
head on the road’s surface. The time after this is a blur for
Wendy and the boys but Brad was rushed to hospital with massive
head injuries that were immediately diagnosed as life threatening.
Over the next few days family members and friends slowly came to
grips with the likelihood of Brad’s death. He was given no
chance of survival and at best would be ‘a vegetable’. On the
Thursday night life support machines were switched off and the
family were given their chance to say ‘goodbye’ to the almost
unrecognisable Brad but he began to breathe on his own. Despite
every expert opinion saying there was no other outcome, Brad did
not die but slowly and with almost imperceptible progress, he
started to recover. A miracle had occurred. Doctors were delighted
to be able to say they were mystified by the vital signs they were
seeing.
Another
amazing event occurred three or four days later when Brad’s sister and
his cousin were by his bedside. Brad with arms up out in front of him
suddenly sat up in bed with a peace-filled but intent look on his face. He
lay back down in his hospital bed to the astonishment of those around him.
Fiona said to Wendy to make a note of this date and to ask brad about this
near-death experience. Months later when Brad was able to speak to his
family he related that he had vision of his nanna and his godmother both
of whom had passed away. He also explained that he told God that he cannot
leave his family as his boys were too old to grow up without a Dad.
Over
the next weeks and months,
Brad’s Family Group from St Thomas Aquinas Parish, Springwood,
was one of the sources of support for Wendy and the boys. Known as the
Windon Group, they had kept up their prayerful support and backed it up
with meal rosters, hospital visits, and even a pet rabbit for the boys to
play with!
This
practical presence at the family home continued even after Brad’s slow
recovery began. Family Group outings continued for Wendy and the boys when
they could manage them, food parcels arrived at the home, the boys were
taken to Scouts and footy training and so on. Some
helped with Brad’s physical rehabilitation.
After
Brad came home for short visits, followed by weekend leave, he eventually
returned to the Mountains with all his injuries and inabilities slowly
being challenged by his determination to recover.
If
that wasn’t enough, around this time Wendy was diagnosed with Breast
Cancer and required emergency surgery Again the Family Group support
‘clicked in’ especially after another member developed throat cancer.
A healing Mass was held and all three are doing well!!
With
the fantastic and tireless help of Wendy, and the support of the Western
Areas Health Service rehabilitation service Brad tries to lead a fairly
normal existence. He is ‘legally blind’ but some sight; he has
difficulties with balance and other motor skills and suffers occasional
seizures. But his wit is sharp, his spirit is soaring, and his wisdom is
considerable.
Late
last year Brad expressed a desire in his Family Group to become a
Catholic. The day that he came to the Church for the first time after the
accident, carefully supported by Wendy and the boys, he spoke with
difficulty through slurred speech some heartfelt words of thanks to all
the parishioners who had been praying for the miracle that in fact
occurred! There certainly weren’t many dry eyes in the church that day!
Given
all that background, it was a great occasion on Easter Saturday night this
year when Brad took his place in the Parish Community and received the
Eucharist for the first time after his Confirmation earlier in the Mass.
Nearly all the Family Group was there and a suitable celebration was held.
Brad’s
journey of learning more about the Church was an activity of the
Family Group with one of the group being his official sponsor.
Brad openly says that his desire to be a full “card-carrying
member of the Catholic Church” came from his experience of the
Family Group and his wish to be ‘authentic for his boys in his
desire for them to receive the Eucharist.
Brad
and Wendy have enriched our Family Group with the precious great
gift of their lives. That is the true value of Family Groups as
people learn to open their hearts and homes to each other. All of
us do that in Family Groups but thankfully not in such a dramatic
fashion as our Brad!
His
reflection on his accident and all it has meant to his family,
neighbours and friends is summed up in the ideas that life is a
precious gift which has as its focus how we journey not our
destination.
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