A young Derry boy left paralysed after falling from a tree is set to return home today after four months in hospital.
Dylan Wade fell 20 feet from a tree in St Columb’s Park in May last..
As a result of the fall, both of Dylan’s legs were left paralysed.
However, despite his injuries, Dylan, who turned 15 two weeks ago, is now determined to get his life back to normal, which begins today with his return home to the Brandywell area of the city from Musgrave Hospital in Belfast.
Following his homecoming, the brave teenager’s next step will be a return to his school, St Joseph’s Boys in Creggan, where he will begin studying for his GCSEs.
Speaking to the Derry News Dylan’s mother, Nina, spoke of her ‘inspirational’ son, who she said has shown ‘amazing courage’ since the accident.
“Dylan has been in hospital for a long time, four months, five and a half of which were in the Royal Victoria Hospital and nine weeks at the spinal unit in Musgrave,” she said.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing the staff were in both of the hospitals, they just did so much for him, and they really formed a bond, so he will miss them.
“It will be good to have him home though, and all I can say is that he had been an inspiration through all of us to me and everyone, he’s just a remarkable person with such a good, positive outlook, and he’s now ready to continue with his life.
“Dylan’s has shown amazing courage to get to where he is now, and I’m so, so proud of him.”
Nina added while her son will have to adapt to a new way of life,
“He had chosen his GCSE subjects before this happened, so he’s now planning to go back to St Joseph’s, he’ll be going to fourth year (Year 11), and we’ve been talking to the principal, Damien Harkin, about him starting back,” she said.
“One of the subjects he had chosen was PE, and despite what happened Dylan is going to continue studying it, he’s been in the gym, but that shows just you what kind of determination and spirit he has.”
“It will be great for him to get back in there and see everyone, and the school have been fantastic too.”
Dylan will return to Musgrave every six weeks, and continue with his physiotherapy treatment at Altnagelvin Hospital.
Nina said that she hasn’t given up hope that Dylan will someday make a full recovery.
“There’s a number of specialists in America that we’re looking into, and just the other day there was some movement in Dylan’s right leg, so there’s still hope there,” she said.
“In the meantime, we’ll be moving into a new home, there’ll be a standing frame there which will allow Dylan to stand up for half an hour every day, we’ll be doing the exercises together.”
Nina also wanted to thank all those who had supported her family over the past four months.
“The people of Derry have been so good, the support we have received has just been brilliant, and I also want to thank the paramedics who were there on the day of the accident, and everyone at Altnagelvin Hospital who helped Dylan, we appreciate it so much.”
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