Kylie Wanschers was holidaying with her best friend Jodie Hayden in March when she stepped onto the balcony to get her towel — that one step would change her life forever.
The 49-year-old slipped on the wet balcony floor, falling onto her back.
“She knew she’d hurt herself but didn’t know where,” Hayden told 7NEWS.com.au.
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Wanschers scheduled an appointment with her doctors for when she returned home to Armidale, in NSW’s north.
There, doctors suspected the mum-of-two had cracked ribs from the fall — but a week later, Wanschers began to suspect it was something more serious.
She underwent a CT scan, but could not get a return appointment for three weeks after that.
During that time, she ended up in the emergency department twice.
“She was having spasms around her spinal cord,” Hayden said. “She was literally screaming in pain.”
Doctors later discovered Wanschers had suffered two fractures in her spine, to her T9 and T10 vertebrae.
“It ended up getting an infection that attacked her spinal cord,” Hayden said.
Wanschers spent three weeks in hospital at Armidale, where her condition deteriorated.
“By the time the three weeks came about, she couldn’t move her legs,” Hayden said.
“She could feel them but couldn’t move them.
“They flew her down to John Hunter (Hospital) and operated on her the next morning.”
In Newcastle, Wanschers had a rod inserted into her back to fuse her spinal cord and is now left with an incomplete spinal injury.
“Her right leg is damaged,” Hayden said. “It won’t ever be the same again.”
Wanschers was moved to Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital after spending eight weeks in Newcastle, then transferred to a rehabilitation facility in Ryde where she is learning how to walk again.
She has been given a release date of October 3 — which will total six months spent away from home and away from her sons.
Wanschers is a single mother, and lost her job due to the time she has taken off to recover.
Hayden has stepped up to act as a “second mum” for Wanschers’ boys during this time, who are staying with their father.
Wanschers’ parents have also travelled from their home on the Gold Coast to Armidale to help prepare their daughter’s home for her return.
The new normal
Hayden has not been able to visit Wanschers since Mother’s Day in May.
The friends would normally see each other every day, but due to the transportation costs, Wanschers has been left isolated in Sydney.
Before Wanschers can come home, her house needs to be modified for her new condition — including a new driveway, ramps, and pathways.
She also requires a wheelchair, as while she can use a mobility frame for some time, she cannot use it for long periods of time.
Everyday activities such as hanging the washing out and mowing the lawn are now “out of the question”, Hayden said.
“Her whole life has completely changed.”
Hayden has set up a fundraising campaign for her “one of a kind” and “bubbly” best friend.
She just wants to get Wanschers comfortable at home, and make life easier for her while she navigates her new normal.
“(Wanschers is) a very selfless person, always looking at other people and thinking their stories are worse,” Hayden said.
“She doesn’t like people doing anything for her, she’s very independent.
“Things are pretty tough (but) she’s determined (to get better).”