Above: Kickboxing champ Tass Tsitsiras, left, will take to the ring as Dani Walker and Bill Nikolakos raise funds for assault victim Ben Thompson.
By Sarah Schwager
FAMILY and friends of a Cranbourne man left in a coma after he was assaulted are desperately trying to raise money to get him the urgent care and rehabilitation he needs.
Ben Thompson, featured in the News on 20 September, was punched to the face outside his home on 27 June, causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the concrete.
The 22-year-old was left with an acquired brain injury (ABI) and while at first in a vegetative state, can now only make limited communication and movement.
He is still a patient at trauma hospital The Alfred, and Mr Thompson’s family are desperately trying to find a place for him in a rehabilitation facility.
However, it is looking more and more likely that Mr Thompson will be placed in a nursing home, along with 6500 other young people across Australia, according to the Young People In Nursing Homes National Alliance.
Mr Thompson’s girlfriend Dani Walker has started a trust fund and is helping organise fundraising to help the family pay for the rehabilitation costs.
“I haven’t stopped believing that he’s going to recover. I still have hope but there is so much unknown,” she said.
Ms Walker enlisted the help of the couple’s former landlord and Clyde boxing trainer Bill Nikolakos, who, when he heard what happened, started rounding up his forces to organise a fundraising auction at a kickboxing tournament at QBH in the city next month.
Mr Nikolakos is donating a cricket bat signed by Don Bradman, while other donations include various signed football jumpers, gloves from famous fighters and kickboxers, and the most prized item, a replica WBC Mohammed Ali belt.
Ms Walker said in the past month Mr Thompson’s trachea tube had come out, he was able to have his first shower, had some movement back in his limbs, and had started making noises such as ‘hmph’ and ‘urgh’ now that a speech pathologist had started visiting him.
“His level of consciousness has increased and he has some movement. He was able to pick up his right leg in the wheelchair the other day,” Ms Walker said.
He has even started blinking for yes and no answers.
“He is making lots of gains at the moment,” Ms Walker said.
“However, his family is still having trouble finding a place for him at rehab.
“He is still not to be reassessed for another four months or so, even though he is classed as high priority.”
Mum Robyn Thompson has signed an aged care form in case a spot comes up at a nursing home.
Ms Walker said they hoped if that was the last resort, they would at least be able to bring their own physiotherapist to the facility, as some did not allow it.
“The family would have to fund all of that,” she said.
“It is going to cost a fortune. But we need to get people onto it straightaway.
“While he is improving, he needs interaction and rehab now, not in six months when he has fallen by the wayside, his muscles wasted away, and it is too late.”
Ms Walker said the State Government had given $12 million to the Slow to Recover program, but that there was no funding available until the next financial year.
“Hopefully Benny’s story makes more people aware of what is going on and about the lack of funding (for ABI patients). We hope it has some sort of positive influence on the health system,” she said.
The kickboxing tournament and fundraising auction will be held on Sunday 18 November at QBH, 1 Queensbridge Street, Southbank, from 5.30pm.
Tickets are from $40 and can be bought by phoning 0412 471 471.
People can also donate to the Benjamin Thompson Trust Fund at any Bendigo Bank.
For more information contact the News on 5945 0666.
