Is it just me or does everyone think heroes come in all shapes and sizes?

Is it just me or does everyone think heroes come in all shapes and sizes?

Is it just me or does everyone think heroes come in all shapes and sizes?
In 2017 you might have heard about Jacko Reynoldson, a Coolum father of two who lost both his legs after being poisoned by carbon monoxide.
Jacko was home alone, charging batteries on the generator in his shed. His wife Tan was at a netball competition in Brisbane with the kids.
Unbeknownst to Jacko the generator was leaking invisible, ordourless gas and just 30 seconds after entering the shed, the 39 year-old had collapsed. He was found 10 hours later, still crumpled against his legs and left arm, miraculously still breathing.
To save his life, doctors had to amputate both legs above the knee.

Jacko spent seven months in the Sunshine Coast University Hospital. In 18 months of rehab he has learned to walk on prosthetics, drive, and now swims 100 laps of his backyard pool every day.

I had coffee with Jacko and his dad Russell this week. To me they are both heroes.
We talked about how lucky Jacko feels to live in a time when modern technology has given him a car to drive, how kind people have been and the fantastic house they managed to find that barely needed any wheelchair modifications.

We talked about the long battle to get movement back in his arms and his pride at being able to take his kids to sport and school again.
I asked Jacko about his mental health, I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose both your legs, he just smiled slowly and said, ‘Oh Caroline, I guess I’m just a pretty optimistic person.’

He also told me about Easter at Straddie. A big mate decided it was time Jacko, a keen surfer, got back in the water. One morning he grabbed the handles of Jacko’s wheelchair and headed for the surf. Jacko hung on for dear life as his chair was dragged down the beach.

At the water’s edge he rolled out of the chair and crawled into the surf where he lay for an hour, being battered by the waves.
Jacko says it is the happiest he has felt in two years.

A beach wheelchair is worth about $9K. Jacko says he would use it every day.

If I was rich I would have written him the cheque on Tuesday. I am a beach person too, I know how much people like Jacko need the water.
Like me, you probably can’t write the big cheque, but you can do something. On Monday, 15 July from 6pm, Jacko’s mates at Phon’s Thai have offered their restaurant for a fundraiser.

It’s $85 for an all you can eat buffet. We are looking for raffle or auction items too. Just call Jacko’s dad Russell on 0438184711.

To book tickets go to www.trybooking.com and search ’Jacko’.

Caroline xx