A promising football star seriously injured in a horrific accident has defied the odds and is one step closer to returning home after doctors initially feared he would never make it out of intensive care.
Darcy Metcalf, 17, was being driven to take a photo with his AFL junior team when the Audi A3 hatchback he was in crashed into a tree in the northern Perth suburb of Greenwood in July past.
The Northern Knight Cats youngster was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with multiple broken bones and a catastrophic brain injury.
TO GoFundMe page posted by family friend Chailee Richards last week details the grim prognosis Darcy’s parents initially received from doctors.
Darcy Metcalf has defied the odds with her recovery from a devastating crash in Perth
“At first, medical specialists told her family to prepare for the fact that Darcy might not make it out of the ICU,” the page states.
“They were told it was unlikely he would ever be well enough to be in a hospital ward, let alone return home.”
Almost a year after the accident, Darcy is now in intensive rehabilitation at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
‘His recovery is slow but progressing. “He has reached the point where he is desperate to be home with his family, and his medical team is working to discharge him within the next eight weeks,” the page states.
The single-vehicle crash (pictured) in north Perth left Darcy with broken bones and a catastrophic brain injury.
Darcy, who has not been able to speak since the accident, has already spent a few days at home, including one night.
In the short term, the family has installed a hospital bed in the living room with a curtain for privacy.
However, they plan to transform the garage into a separate living space for Darcy with a bathroom, kitchenette and bedroom to accommodate caregivers.
A mounted mobility scooter carrier will also be needed to give Darcy the freedom to attend therapy sessions and outings.
“I am privileged to have the opportunity to be the voice for Darcy and her family, who have endured unimaginable pain since the accident,” Richards wrote on the page.
“They need our help to bring him home.”
‘Darcy’s home is not designed for the level of 24-hour care he will need.
“She can’t safely walk down the narrow hallway to her bedroom, and the bathroom and toilet are too small to close the door and give her the privacy and dignity she deserves.”
Following his amazing progress, there are hopes Darcy (pictured in intensive care) will be able to return home in the coming months.
The $75,000 fundraising goal has already been surpassed in a week with $82,603 pledged Tuesday night.
“I’m struggling to keep up with the messages of thanks – we’ve had 700 individual donations so far,” Ms Richards told Seven News.
While there is no guarantee that Darcy will regain the ability to walk, her family has not given up hope.
Darcy now uses an iPad to communicate and follow all of his favorite sports.
“The saddest thing about Darcy’s story is that his accident occurred just as his family was beginning to see Darcy blossom and develop, with conviction in himself and big dreams for his future,” Ms. Richards wrote.