Who – August 10, 2019

ofadventureandfreedom– untila crueltwist
justweeksbeforeshewastoflyhome.Chloe
wasskiingintheDolomites.Thedaywas
perfect,theskyblueandtheslopesalmost
empty. But icy.
Chloe has no memory ofheraccident,
but she woke eight days laterinhospital
with the faces of her mum,Robyn,sisters
Renee, Kim and Kylie, andpartner,
Antonello, hovering over her.Shehad
damaged the spinal cord inherneck
and was a quadriplegic.
Fortunately, Chloe hadtakenouttravel
insurance. If she hadn’t, hermedicalbill
would have come close to $1million.Chloe
was flown back to Australiaina medi-jet.
She describes it as the sortofplaneused
by rock stars. “Best plane andworstflight
ever,” she says with a smile.“Theonlytime
I’ll be on a private jet.”
Chloe’s smile is infectious.It’salmosther
default expression. She seemstobeableto
find the joy in every moment.Andthathas

onelloface

thechallengesoftheirnewnormal.But

therewasonedreamshestillheldtight–

tobea mum.

Itwasthesamedreamtuckedawayin

NicoleCrawford’sheart,andoneshefeared

wouldneverhappenasshelayinthe

crumpledwreckofanupturnedcarinthe

sanddunesofSydney’sKurnell.Shewasjust

18,a passengerina carthatflipped,andshe

wouldneverwalkagain.Butwiththe

unconditionalsupportofherbig,loving

family,Nicolefounda way.

Tenyearslater,andsheismotherto

2-year-oldReagan.He’sallenergy,

laughterandenthusiasm.Andthejoy

hebringstohishomeispalpable.Nicole

sayshegiveshera reasontolive.

Becauseoftheiraccidents,Chloe

andNicolelostsomuch,butwiththe

supportoftheirfamiliesthey’vegained

somethingevenmoreprecious.What

struckmemostinmeetingthemboth

isthevillagetheyhavearoundthem.Most

motherswilltellyouhavingbabiescanbe

a ratherisolatingexperience.Whentheyare

tinyyoutendtobehousebound,exhausted

andstrugglingtofindyournewroutine.

Butthesetwomothersareforcedtoseek

helpandbuilda teamaroundthem.Reagan

issurroundedbypeoplewholovehim.He

gardenswithhisaunt,goestoplaygroupwith

hisgrandmotherandgreat-grandmother,

ridesscooterswithhisuncle,andatthe

endofthedayclimbsontohismother’s

wheelchairforbedtimestories.

It’strulybeautifultoseethevillageat

work– asitshouldbe.

SundayNightairsonSun.,Jul. 21 at8.45pm;

ChannelSeven.

S

REAL LIFE

Chloe was

airlifted after

her accident.

Chloe

recovering

in hospital.

Nicole Crawford

(right) and her

mum, Sandra.

Crawford’s

happy son,

Reagan.

Chloe and

baby Aurora.

Doyle, Chloe

and her

partner,

Antonello,

with baby

Aurora.

COURTESY SUNDAY NIGHT (8)

Who l 27