Caboolture mother battles brain injury following stairwell fall

The husband of a Caboolture woman, who suffered near fatal brain damage after falling down a set of stairs after watching the NRL grand final is “prepared to sell it all” to see her back home with the kids.

A Caboolture mother almost died when she hit her head during a terrible fall down the stairs on NRL grand final night.

Shortly after the NRL grand final on October 1, Taleese Penna lost her footing on a steep stairwell at a friend’s house, fell down the railing and hit the back of her head on hard tiles.

The couple’s three children Flynn, Kora and Azaylah were also at the home before Mrs Penna was rushed to The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital where she immediately underwent emergency brain surgery.

She had suffered several clots and swelling requiring drainage.

Taleese and Shane Penna have three kids and live in Caboolture. Picture: Facebook/Taleese Harley Penna

“The doctors said this brain injury is similar to one in a high speed car accident,” Mr Penna said.

“I’ve had a very emotional week, the worst of my life.

“She was very close to not being with us.

“We’ve had great recovery actions, she’s listening and taking verbal commands.

“She’s a fighter, a concreter’s daughter.”

Mrs Penna remains in hospital and surgeons say it would take at least a year to see what level of brain functionality will return.

Surgeons have operated on the mother-of-three’s brain and skull twice so far, to address the swelling and clots.

Mr Penna said their children returned to school today, including their eldest Flynn, a talented basketballer with a promising future.

Mr Penna is a chief engineer and FIFO worker at Sea Swift, Northern Australia’s largest shipping company.

Mrs Penna with her kids back in 2016. Photo Tracey Joynson / Fraser Coast Chronicle

Now the family is facing the difficult situation where Mr Penna is unable to return to work for the foreseeable future while he focuses on his wife’s recovery and cares for their young children.

Family friend Alanna Sherratt started a GoFundMe campaign to help raise funds to support the Penna family with the costs of Mrs Penna’s long rehabilitation, groceries and other school fees and bills, while Mr Penna is out of work to care for his wife and children.

“I’ll be looking for different work in the new year dependant on her rehabilitation,” Mr Penna said.

“It’s going to be a massive road ahead.

“We live on a 3000 sqm block between Caboolture and Elimbah but I’m prepared to sell it all to be home with her and the children.”

In 2015 while living in Hervey Bay, the Pennas developed the ‘dTec Safekam’, a gadget that can send out alerts when someone is locked in the car, or when the car is in a crash.

It was in response to when their son Kora, two at the time, gained access to the family‘s parked, unlocked and hot vehicle.

Inventors Shane and Taleese Penna holding the prototype dTeckam, their lifesaving device. Picture: File

They filmed an ad campaign after developing the prototype but sadly no investors came forward.

“She (Taleese) was that 100 per cent of an empathetic person, trying to fix an issue,” Mr Penna said.

“The community has been unbelievable so far, offering food, parcels for the children.

“It’s opened my eyes to the community and she (Taleese) is always a giving person.”

Mrs Penna is also a beauty therapist at Earthy Essentials by SoulLee Natural Beauty Therapy.

“Taleese is a selfless soul who brings joy to all those that have the privilege of knowing her,” Ms Sherratt wrote.

“Taleese is a mother, sister, daughter, wife, friend and one of the most special and caring ladies I have ever known.”

Mr Penna wanted to thank all the doctors and medical staff who have taken care of his wife and family.