I've raised £50000 to Help Ross get the equipment he needs to live an ordinary, happy life.
Organised by Friends of Ross Smith
Story
We are raising money to help Ross Smith get the equipment and care he needs to live an ordinary life.
Ross is a 20 year-old medical student at Newcastle University. As well as being an accomplished, Diploma-level musician, he loves camping, hiking and climbing. For over a decade he has been involved in the Scouts, through which he has hiked and climbed regularly. When he started at Newcastle, he climbed every week.
However, on 1 November 2017, Ross was involved in a serious climbing accident, which resulted in his T12 verterbra being fractured and his spinal cord being damaged. He was taken by ambulance to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and admitted to the Major Trauma Unit. Scans were taken and he had emergency surgery that night where rods and screws were placed to secure his verterbra and relieve the pressure off his spinal cord.
Despite the surgery, feeling in his legs showed no sign of coming back; he will never walk again.
A week later, he was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, where he was diagnosed as a T10 complete paraplegic. He was allowed to get up in a wheelchair after a few weeks and started an intensive physiotherapy regime, which he has followed for the last three months. After spending Christmas and New Year in hospital, Ross now hopes to be discharged home to Bolton within the coming weeks.
Despite the prognosis, Ross has never once shown any signs of anger or self-pity. He is determined to continue with his medical studies next September and to achieve his long-term goals. His family, friends and former colleagues and schoolmates are incredibly proud of him and want to help make life as good as it can possibly be.
We want to raise money towards providing a wet room and stairlift in Ross's home, together with other personal care and mobility aids that will support Ross in living as full and independent a life as possible. With the generous assistance of the community, we are sure that the much-needed (but expensive) renovations and adaptations to Ross’s life will be possible.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Below are just some of the lovely comments from family and friends that we have received:
Ross has given me so many occasions to be proud of him over the years, but none more so than in his attitude to this life-changing injury. His positivity and strength of character have shone through - he is a truly amazing young man! - Karen, Ross's Mum
Ross is one of the most genuine, down to earth and caring friends I know. What has happened to Ross is terrible, but with his positive determination and mind set, it makes me so proud to have him as a friend. – Nathan, Ross’s friend from school
Ross's attitude in this difficult time has amazed us all. How someone can face a challenge so readily is inspiring. He is an amazing friend and I look forward to his recovery. – Cameron, Ross’s friend from school
Ross has been getting himself injured for as long as I've know him, yet he always manages to get back up with a smile on his face and keep going. Although this is his worst injury yet I know it won't get in his way because he's the most positive and determined friend I know. – James L, Ross’s friend from school
Ross is a loving, caring and helpful young man; we have known him for many years and he would do anything for anyone. The very least we can do now is to help him make his life as easy as possible. - From all staff (past and present) at Egerton and Walmsley Pre-School and Playgroup
I've known Ross for many years, and every time I see him without fail, he has had some kind of scrape, be it falling over in the Swiss Alps or getting norovirus in Iceland! But when he falls over (too often to count), he always gets back up, dusts himself off, and carries on going to the end. It is this that astounds me about Ross, and I am confident that he will continue to amaze me and everyone else he knows with his recovery and optimism. - Ben, Ross's friend from school
Enthusiasm, Determination, Eagerness, Knowledgeable, Responsible, Thoughtfulness, Single mindedness, Tenacious, Fortitude, Strength, along with Musical (until he sings). These are some of the words in Ross's personal dictionary describing the qualities and skills he has shown over his young years, he has climbed the hills, waded the streams, and traversed the ravines he came across successfully. Now he needs all those and many more qualities and skills as he has different hills, streams, and ravines to negotiate, he needs positivity and to be focused on all the elements his future, easy to say but l believe it's quite well within his nature and ability.- Norman, Ross’ old Explorer Scout Leader
Even after this life changing accident, Ross still has his warm, uplifting personality that we all know and love. – James H, Ross’s friend from school
Ross, through the years I have known him has never ceased to amaze me. He is such a driven, talented and something person. These qualities will and have spurred him through this most difficult time, and I have no doubt he will reach the top of his game again. Whilst an acquired taste he is excellent company! We have many shared experiences and memories and I am very proud to call him my friend. – James S, Ross’s friend from Scouts and primary school
Ross was an outstanding student, not only showing academic excellence but also having a determination, focus and a relentless drive never to accept no for an answer. Despite knockbacks from universities on his first round of applications, and now his accident, he has never given up on his dream to become a doctor, and continues to apply himself when most others would have given up. When he does eventually qualify, his will be a truly inspirational story and it is an honour to have known him. - Mr Tiltman, Ross's former teacher
Ross is one of the most easy-going yet determined people I’ve ever come across.He was determined to order his pizza in German when on tour with Turton Big Band in 2011. The takeaway staff looked a little bemused by his order … but he was determined. Fifteen minutes later a grinning 13 year old Ross emerged with a huge pizza with toppings of…… kebabs?! He sticks to his guns; he knows what he wants to do. He has the intellect, the tenacity, the belief, the generosity of spirit and the good humour to achieve great things. But at present he really needs help with more mundane things like alterations and adaptions to the house. So, come on everyone ……. let’s club together and help get Ross sorted out at home. - Mr Parkinson, Mr Shepherd and Mr Hindle, Turton Music Department
