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

But Kim Dowling pulled through, although she has lost the use of her legs and hands after the collision in which the car she was in aquaplaned and collided with another vehicle

A grandmother who broke her back and neck in a car crash and nearly died at the scene has described the devastating injuries as she thanked medics. Kim Dowling has been left without the use of her legs and hands after the crash in October, 2023, and is still in hospital, but said she was grateful to be alive.

The, 64-year-old from Caerphilly, was so badly hurt in the smash on the A4024 near the Grange Hospital on October 26, 2023 that her family were told to say their last goodbyes.

Doctors feared that even if she survived an emergency 10-hour operation she would be paralysed and unable to speak. But a year later Kim, who had to have her voicebox moved, can talk, is learning to feed herself and has even taken a few steps, said daughter Joanne Smith.

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Kim, who has 10 grandchildren, was treated at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff before being moved to Llandough Hospital in Penarth. Here her recovery has been hugely helped by the healing power of the hospital garden, she said.

Describing the last year as a “nightmare” Joanne said off duty firefighter James Wyatt had saved her mum's life at the scene of the crash giving her CPR: “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.” . Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news

Before the crash, Kim worked with husband Ron, 64, running his floor screeding firm. Ron, who was driving the car, cracked vertebrae in the crash and spent a night in hospital but is now recovered.

He and other members of the family said they had found it helpful being able to spend time with Kim in the Llandough Hospital outside area - called Horatio’s Garden. The area is run by Horatio’s Charity and although she could not recall the accident, Kim described what happened in detail 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 said in a post telling her story 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 Charity on October 5. So far they have raised £770 of their £1,000 goal.

“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,” the family said.

“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.”

The family’s JustGiving page for Horatio’s Charity can be seen here

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