The association Campaign for Samuel Incorporated was established in 2016 to provide funding and support to not only see Sam successfully discharged to home from the LCCH but to ensure his quality of life well into the future.
It also aims to provide support for spinal cord injury research including SCI caused by Transverse Myelitis.
While the NDIS will cover what is “reasonable & necessary” to provide “choice & control”, its determination of these elements does not always fully maximise Samuel’s quality of life or may not be as fully responsive in as timely a way as needed to maintain the momentum of regular daily life.
The association seeks to do this and to augment opportunities to support Samuel and has included:
- Contribution to initial and ongoing home modifications
- Interstate nursing support (not covered by Children’s Health Queensland)
- Provision of major equipment – eg: ceiling hoist, cycling machine with electrical stimulation
- Accommodation and parking during hospital admissions – Sam usually won’t be admitted for anything less than a week because of circumstances surrounding any given admission
- Support in Samuel’s sporting and recreational pursuits including: adaptive gaming controller (Xbox); Boccia equipment; Travel and accommodation support for boccia competitions
- Ongoing emotional support and friendship for the family
Throughout his ordeal, Sam has continued to amaze people with his strength and resilience and has been an inspiration for those around him. We hope that you also will continue to be inspired by him and that you can continue to support him and Campaign for Samuel Incorporated as the journey continues so together we can build a better future.
Sam’s Journey
Sam Thorne was severely affected by the condition Transverse Myelitis in November 2015 at only nine years of age causing significant spinal cord injury and was an inpatient of the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for 480 days. Read more.