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31.03.09
A year ago, Stuart was left paralysed from the neck down after a rugby match. Stuart’s brother and former international Mick Galwey explain.
For an extended interview with Mick Galwey, click here.
Stuart, 25, has become a celebrity but not in the way he would have chosen. A young rugby player from Fermoy in Co Cork, on Saturday, April 5, last year, while playing out-half with Hammersmith and Fulham RFC in London, Stuart suffered a spinal injury, leaving him paralysed from the neck down. An active sportsman and adventurer, he had recently started working for a bank in the City of London and was playing for the club's second 15 in an end-of-season friendly in what was only his second match for the club.
Always the Action Man, he launched himself into the thick of the action, going for the ball. "the scrum-half wasn't getting forward quickly enough, and it was just 5 metres away from me. I saw him being turned over and went in to try and ruck the two guys out." It was a freak accident in open play. "It wasn't anybody else's fault; it wasn't a spear tackle or anything like that. I just went in, and whatever way my head went, it just cracked."
Stuart's third vertebrae went over his fourth and he immediately lost all movement and breathing. He was momentarily aware of people standing around and then he lost consciousness. Teammate Al Dawson kept him alive by maintaining mouth-to-mouth respiration until the paramedics arrived.
Stuart spent a number of days in a coma-like state as medics ascertained the full extent of his injuries and it was quickly confirmed that he suffered no brain damage.
Medical experts have described his spinal injury as the worst to occur in sport. "the level of Stuart's injury at the top of the spinal cord eliminates all voluntary movement in the limbs and trunk including the muscle of breathing," says Dr Fred Middleton of The Royal National Orthopedic Hospital at Stanmore in London.
"The tragedy is that, while others who have suffered similar injuries have some small movement, Stuart has no movement at all," says his father Brian. Stuart's life and that of his parents and brothers have changed utterly since that day last April. Physically, Stuart is dependant for his every basic need, in sharp contrast to his life before the accident. But, in coming to terms with his horrific injury, he is determined to deal positively with his drastically altered circumstances.
He relies on the ventilator to keep him alive, connected through an opening in his throat. He requires round-the-clock care in teams of two, one of whom never leaves his sight. If his ventilator malfunctions, they have two minutes to fix it.
Just before Christmas Stuart was discharged from the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore into his own apartment in Notting Hill, north London, under the supervision of his team of carers. He will be staying here for the foreseeable future in order to be close to the hospital that has cared for him so far. His brothers have also been hugely supportive, helping to set up his website and an international fundraising campaign for Stuart.
John, 33, and Barry, 31, live in London while his elder brother Keith, 35, has recently moved from London to Dublin but flies over every second weekend. Stuart will require 24-hour medical care for the rest of his life but that isn't stopping him enjoying a bit of craic now and then and watching the sport that gave him so much pleasure as a player.
A year ago, Stuart had everything going for him. A graduate of Rockwell College, he received his international law degree in University College Cork in 2006, followed by a master's in business at the Parisian École Supérieure de Commerce, with semesters in both Madrid and Paris, mastering five languages along the way.
When he landed a market trading job in London for Banque Nationale de Paris in July 2007, life couldn't have been sweeter.
As a youngster, Stuart played with St Colman's in Fermoy, gained honours with the local rugby club, captained the under-14s, then took his talent to Rockwell college where he won a Munster Senior Cup medal. Stuart has always pushed himself to the limits, relishing any challenge, on one occasion venturing onto the black slopes three days after first learning to ski.
This could be his biggest challenge yet and he is already using modern technology to normalise his life. "I use a voice activated computer so I can keep in touch with friends," says Stuart who has a love affair with technological wizardry. "look at the ground level camera," he says, as an electronic gizmo whirs along the sideline to close in on an Irish tackle. "It's an amazing piece of kit."
According to his brother, Keith, Stuart has always displayed amazing powers of observation and retention. "They seem to have become even more heightened since the accident but, in many ways, he is the same as he always was. He doesn't miss a trick.
MUNSTER RUGBY STARS AND MUSICIANS LAUNCH CD IN AID OF THE STUART MANGAN APPEAL
Since the accident a campaign has been launched in order to raise much needed funds. The Stuart Mangan Appeal has received huge support from many organizations and individuals around the country and most recently the support of Munster rugby legends and musician's alike who have rallied together to create a one-off CD, 'Together We Stand' on sale from Friday 3rd April 2009.
In anticipation of the interprovincial rugby clash between Munster and Leinster on April 4th, the CD of Munster and rugby themed songs is being released in hopes of raising funds for Stuart whose long-term medical costs will be substantial. The album will be exclusively sold on behalf of the Stuart Mangan Appeal and will feature past and present heroes of Munster Rugby such as former rugby internationals, Peter Clohessy and Mick Galwey who have teamed up with comedian Jon Kenny for a special recording of the Munster anthem 'Stand Up and Fight'.
Further tracks on the album include a medley of 'The Fields of Athenry', 'Flower of Scotland' and 'Bread of Heaven' sung by members of the current Munster squad. A host of national talent features on the CD; Cork Singer / Songwriter John Spillane, multi-award winning soprano Cara O'Sullivan and former Meteor Award Winning Artist Gemma Hayes.
Rugby legend and Ambassador for the Stuart Mangan Appeal CD Mick Galwey commented, "I met with Stuart in London, and was inspired by his ongoing strength and courage, he can't get over the support for the CD which has been overwhelming. All of the players and talented artists lent their time so willingly and together we created this CD to raise funds for the Stuart Mangan Appeal.'
'Together We Stand' will be available from Centra, Supervalu, HMV, Golden Disc's, and Munster Rugby Stores nationwide from Friday 3rd April 2009 at a cost of €14.99.
www.stuartmangan.org
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