Power of positive thinking endears Conor Tweedy to doctors, mates

A YOUNG Brisbane rugby player injured in a scrum collapse earlier this month is battling for more feeling in his arms and legs. But even as he recovers, he’s impressing those around him with his attitude, and is even managing to poke fun at his favourite Wallaby on social media.

Conor Tweedy with his family and Samu Kerevi

THE resilient power of his positive thinking has endeared scrum collapse victim Conor Tweedy to doctors, Wallaby Samu Kerevi and concerned schoolmates even as he battles for more feeling in his arms and legs.

Young Tweedy has retained his love of rugby even after the tragic accident on July 21 when he suffered an incomplete spinal cord injury that forced the 16-year-old prop into emergency surgery.

Last Saturday, he lay in his bed at the Princess Alexandra Hospital watching a live stream of the big Gregory Terrace-Nudgee College rivalry match with close school friends and his family.

Tweedy has some feeling in his legs and arms, nothing in his fingers and good movement in his head and neck.

“Conor is conducting himself in a manner way beyond his years and when the doctors ask him to move this and that, he’s trying his backside off,” father Sean said.

“The muscle between his ears is working well and his great attitude is really something that everyone is seeing in him.

“Little things have changed which are positives but day-to-day is too fine a timescale for an injury like this. We are in it for the long haul.”

Young Tweedy was delighted with a visit from Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi, his favourite player who organised the visit himself when the Terrace schoolboy was still in the Intensive Care Unit last week.

With wry humour, Tweedy wished Kerevi well on Instagram with his own rehabilitation after biceps surgery.

“So rewarding to take the time out of my day and make Kerevi’s dream come true — meeting a rugby legend,” young Tweedy posted.

“Best of luck with your arm brother, keep the rehab up.”

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Rugby luminaries Quade Cooper and David Pocock sent supportive messages to Tweedy while Paralympic legend Kurt Fearnley offered him strength as well.

“The support has been wonderful and has been such a lift for Conor,” Tweedy said.

Terrace parents and schoolboys collected a stream of donations to support Tweedy, at the game at Tennyson last Saturday, for the Para START program, a spinal research initiative.

“Hearts absolutely go out to Conor and this school community will rally behind him and already has,” Terrace parent Ian Eckersley said.

“As a father of kids who play rugby you always worry about the dangers but they are pretty freakish when they happen.

“If there is a family equipped professionally and emotionally and with the skills and knowledge to handle the hand fate has dealt they are around him.”