Kaine Lewis back at school after car crash. Photograph by Stephen Parker
Kaine Lewis back at school after car crash. Photograph by Stephen Parker
Gwyn Lewis was told her son would likely never walk or talk again, but nine months after the crash that nearly killed him, Kaine Lewis is back in school determined to pass his NCEA Level 3.
The 17-year-old Rotorua Boys' High School student was a back-seat passenger in a carthat crashed on Te Ngae Rd in August last year. The car hit a power pole and several power poles came crashing down on nearby parked cars.
He spent 64 days in Waikato Hospital, including 20 days in an induced coma, then five weeks in the High Dependency Unit.
"It was a miracle he got to 21 days," Miss Lewis said.
"Every second [more] was a good second. It was pretty grim. We were told by one trauma doctor that he would probably never walk or talk again, based on her experience of injuries like Kaine's."
Kaine, who played centre in the 1st XV, returned to school at the start of this term. He started with being in school just two hours a day, he is up to four hours and he said he wants to be back full time next week.
"School was one of his goals very early on when he was in rehab," Miss Lewis said.
Visitors to the hospital when he was in a coma all told his mum that he was strong, that he would not only recover but he would defy the odds.
"I think he's cheekier than he was before," said Rotorua Boys' High principal Chris Grinter. "He knows he's dodged a bullet. Everyone is just glad he's alive. I call him our miracle man. To see him back with us today is incredible."
He says Kaine is an inspiration, not only in that he survived the accident, but in that he has returned to school and wants to succeed.
His rugby days are over, however. He will never play again, but Kaine is okay with that.
"I go to the gym every day, I've learned to run and to mountain bike," Kaine said.
"I'm okay with no more rugby, I just want to go pig hunting."
His mum is equally proud but also thankful to everyone who has played a part in his recovery, from the medical professionals through to the Murupara community where Kaine grew up.
Kaine Lewis
"We all knew he could achieve what he wanted," Miss Lewis said.
"He amazes me every day. He's pretty much back to doing the things he was doing before, he's on the right track. The future's looking good."
She said Kaine's girlfriend, Venita Merriman, had played a pivotal role in his recovery, particularly helping him learn to speak while in the Acquired Brain Injury rehabilitation centre in Auckland.
Inspector Kevin Taylor, the Bay of Plenty police road policing manager, said the driver of the car had been dealt with through the youth justice process, and that matter has now been completed.
