A 10-year-old boy beat all odds by making a miraculous recovery after being hit by an all-terrain vehicle traveling at 90 km/h.
Sebastian Gobbett had to learn to walk and talk again after he was hit by the vehicle and then dragged under it while cycling in the town of Toodyay, 85km northeast of Perth, in August 2021.
Although Sebastian was wearing a helmet, he suffered serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, a ruptured lung, and fractures to his neck and spine.
Sebastian’s mother, Olivia, was the first to arrive on the scene and the former emergency room nurse immediately knew how critical time was.
He was flown by emergency helicopter to Perth and his heart stopped during the flight.
Sebastian suffered serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, a ruptured lung, and fractures to his neck and spine.
His parents never gave up hope and his mother knew he would recover faster at home with his family.
Mrs. Gobbett formulated a care plan that included playing her favorite song and focusing on the senses of touch and taste.
His family feared the worst, his mother Olivia told him. 7NEWS: ‘I was already planning his funeral. She already knew where she was going to bury him.
Sebastian spent four months in the hospital, including three weeks on life support.
The prognosis was not good and doctors doubted whether he would be able to swallow or eat without assistance, or even walk and talk again.
His parents never gave up hope and his mother knew he would recover faster at home with his family.
“He needed hospital and received the best care possible, but I knew we needed to come home and we had to do (recovery) our way to make it better,” Mrs Gobbett said.
Sebastian was discharged and was home for Christmas.
Mrs. Gobbett formulated a care plan that included playing her favorite song and focusing on the senses of touch and taste.
She said Sebastian saw the other kids eating watermelon and his eyes lit up, so she gave him some through his feeding tube.
Then the miracle happened: Sebastian’s toes moved. “Just the slightest movement,” said Mrs. Gobbett.
Simón, Sebastián’s father, said: “That was a great celebration in the family… we were all clapping, laughing and applauding… and he realized it, he knew it.”
Although his progress was slow, Sebastian, now 12, made an amazing recovery and learned to walk, talk and even ride a bike again.
Sebastián does not remember his horrible accident and says that the most difficult part of his recovery was learning to walk.
He said the best thing is, “I’m alive so I can meet my annoying brothers and sisters.”