When living in a rural area, your vehicle is your lifeline. For Cherie, an unexpected injury threatened to sever that lifeline completely.
It started simply enough, either from riding her new e-bike or chopping wood, but the result was serious: a right Achilles tendon rupture. After toughing it out for a week, Cherie finally called a neighbour to take her to the hospital, located 5 kilometres away.
Because of the nature of the injury, her surgeon recommended a conservative approach, which meant Cherie found herself strapped into a moon boot for what felt like endless months.
The Challenge: Grounded in the Countryside
The most daunting part of her recovery wasn’t just the pain or the moon boot; it was the sudden loss of mobility.
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No driving allowed: Her cast made operating traditional pedals physically impossible.
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Insurance restrictions: Driving with a severe leg injury meant she wouldn’t be insured even if she tried.
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Geographic isolation: Cherie lives a good 50 minutes southbound from town, nestled right under the mountain.
“Oh my gosh, what am I going to do now? Cause I can’t drive,” Cherie recalled thinking.
The Solution: Freedom Mobility Steps In
Recognising her rural isolation, Cherie’s surgeon pointed her in the right direction: Freedom Mobility.
When Cherie reached out, she mentioned that she usually drives an all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicle to navigate her local terrain. The team at Freedom Mobility listened carefully and matched her perfectly with a hand-controlled, AWD Subaru.
But the service didn’t stop at just providing the car. Freedom Mobility delivered the vehicle directly to her rural doorstep.
“I will never forget the two blokes that came through from Auckland with the vehicle,” Cherie says. “They had to give me some lessons obviously for about an hour. Super kind and accommodating.”
Smooth Transitions and Ongoing Support
Navigating recovery is a journey, and thanks to the collaboration between Freedom Mobility and ACC, Cherie felt supported at every turn. She praises the incredible communication and the smooth transitions as her service needs evolved throughout her recovery stages.
“I can’t say anything but how well they supported me. It was incredible… just the service right from the get-go,” she says.
Looking Forward
Today, Cherie is almost at the finish line. With just three weeks of physiotherapy left, she is excited to finally step out of the hand-controlled car and slowly get back onto her e-bike to ease into exercise again.
Her story is a powerful reminder that an injury doesn’t have to mean the end of your independence, no matter how far under the mountain you live.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, get in touch with us, we’d love to help you regain your independence while injured.
