Family told to say 'last goodbyes' to mum left paralysed after horrific car crash

Grandmother Kim Dowling, 64 was left paralysed with a broken back and neck, after the crash in October 2023, and is still in hospital, but said she was grateful to be alive

A grandmother who suffered life-threatening injuries in a car crash has spoken out about her ordeal and thanked the medical staff who saved her life.

Kim Dowling, 64, from Caerphilly, Wales, was left paralysed and unable to use her hands or legs following the accident in October 2023. The severity of her injuries was such that her family were told to prepare for the worst after the crash on the A4024 near Grange Hospital on October 26, that year.

Doctors warned that even if she survived an emergency 10-hour operation, she would likely be left paralysed and unable to speak. But a year on from the accident, Kim, who had to have her voice box moved, is able to talk, is learning to feed herself and has even managed to take a few steps, according to her daughter Joanne Smith.

Kim, who is a grandmother to 10 grandchildren, was initially treated at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff before being transferred to Llandough Hospital in Penarth. She credits the hospital garden with aiding her recovery.

Joanne, describing the past year as a "nightmare", expressed her gratitude towards off-duty firefighter James Wyatt who performed CPR on her mum at the crash scene, saving her life. She said: "At first (after the operation) they thought she might be paralysed and not able to talk again. She was in intensive care but she has made such good progress, the physios and staff have been amazing and mum can talk and feed herself again now and has even taken a few steps.", reports Wales Online.

Before the accident, Kim worked alongside her husband Ron, 64, in his floor screeding business. Ron, who was behind the wheel during the crash, suffered cracked vertebrae and spent a night in hospital but has since recovered. The family found solace in spending time with Kim in Horatio's Garden, an outdoor area at Llandough Hospital run by Horatio's Charity. Despite not remembering the accident, Kim detailed the incident on the charity's website.

"I can't remember anything about my accident. My husband and I were taking my best friend to The Grange University Hospital for a scan in October," she shared on Horatio's Garden website. "The weather was awful, there was torrential rain and all of the ducts by the hospital were blocked. Our car aquaplaned into another vehicle and I stopped breathing at the scene.

"Fortunately, an off-duty firefighter was behind us and he managed to save my life. However, I had broken my neck and my back, fractured my right thumb, injured my shoulders and my knees, pierced a lung and all of my ribs were floating.

"I had to have a 10-hour operation and the doctor told my family to say their last goodbyes as they weren't sure I would survive. During the operation they had to move my voice box, so they didn't know if I would be able to speak again and they were unsure whether I would end up paraplegic.

"After my surgery I went into recovery and my family had to wait 16 hours to see if the operation had gone okay. I was then taken to intensive care in UHW where I remained for three weeks, before being transferred to the A5 North spinal and trauma ward for a further five weeks.

"In December (2023), I was transferred to University Hospital Llandough, and I've now spent a total of eight months in hospital. I've had extensive physio for a number of months at Llandough which has made me stronger, and when I was able to be hoisted out of bed the nurses took me out to Horatio's Garden Wales and pushed me around the garden."

"When I was fit enough, I was then given my own powered wheelchair which I could use because I have mobility in three of my fingers on my left hand. This gave me a new lease of life and gave me the freedom to come out to the garden on my own whenever I wanted. It's so tranquil out here.

"There have been emotional times when I have come outside with other patients and we've spoken about our injuries. We've broken down about it, but the garden helps us to see how far everyone has come. Everyone in my family loves being out in the garden too. I've got four daughters, one son and ten grandchildren from age 16 down to age three and they all really enjoy spending time in the fresh air.

"Luckily, I've come to the stage I am now. I am tetraplegic meaning I am unable to use my legs and my hands which has been a big change in my life, but I have started to walk aided a little bit.

"I've come such a long way from where I was months ago, it's unbelievable. I can't believe how far I've come. The physio and the occupational therapy is gruelling, but it gets results, and the garden has helped me along the way with my rehabilitation and my emotional wellbeing.

"I don't really know about the future. I'd love to think that I could ding that bell and walk out of here, but if I have to go out in a wheelchair I've just got to live my life. I'm lucky to be here and that's what I'll always be thankful for." Joanne, her sisters Natalie Dowling, 41, Joanne Smith, 40. Kirsty Richards, 36, Charlotte Dowling, 34, and brother Calvin Morgan-Evans, 29, are doing a sponsored walk to raise funds for Horatio's Garden charity on October 5. So far they have raised £770 of their £1,000 goal.

The grateful family lauded Horatio's Garden, saying: "Horatio's Garden has brought some form of normality for us all where we can all sit with my mum and others in a beautiful garden area and make her feel happy and for a moment make her forget about the trauma," and added, "It has been great for mum to get together with the other patients and they share their experiences and support each other. They hold all sorts of art and craft classes and singers and harp players etc which really has been a brilliant aid for all the patients to aid in their recovery."

To contribute to Horatio's Garden charity, visit the family's JustGiving page here.