Inspirational Mose Masoe takes pride in family milestones as he recovers from shocking spinal injury
Eight months after his life changed forever, Mose Masoe is tackling each day with the same force that led Arthur Beetson to scout the hard-running forward from New Zealand at age 17.
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In February, Mose Masoe lay flat on his back in hospital, telling nurses inside the spinal ward he would be out in time for the birth of he and fiance Carissa’s fourth child.
Tick.
After witnessing the emotional arrival of baby son Lui last month, Masoe‘s next goal, despite the limited function of his hands, was to hold his precious newborn.
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Tick.
Now the inspirational 31-year-old is readying himself for his next major milestone — and ultimate Father‘s Day gift — eight months after suffering a devastating and career-ending spinal injury while playing for Hull KR in the English Super League, at the start of this year.
“One of the biggest goals of mine was to be able to hold my son (Lui) and cuddle him when he was born and I’m able to do that now,’’ Masoe said.
“So I set another goal, to be able to walk my daughter (Marlowe, 4) to her first day at school next week.
“Just to be able to walk her to school, that would be the biggest thing.
“We’re about a 10-minute normal walk from her school.
“It might take me 40 minutes, but I will give it a go.
“It’s just one of those little milestones you want to enjoy. It’s her first day of school and we’ve done it with our eldest and hopefully I’m going to be able to do it with her, too.’’
Sport lovers, rugby league fans and everyday dads, here is the epitome of resilience, determination and love.
Masoe has been described as the most inspirational story in rugby league this year.
There’s still no rival.
Eight months after he and his family‘s life changed forever, Masoe is tackling each day from his home in Northern England with the same force that led Roosters icon Arthur Beetson to scout the hard-running forward from New Zealand at age 17.
Masoe snapped two ligaments, one at the front and one behind his spinal cord, when making a tackle for Super League club Hull KR against Wakefield Trinity in January.
He had already lost feeling in his legs by the time the rest of his powerful frame slumped awkwardly to the ground.
The two snapped ligaments pinched his spinal cord, cutting the vital supply of nerve signals to his arms and down to his legs.
With less movement and a greater delay in signals in his right leg compared to his left, Masoe is currently walking short distances without the aid of crutches, but due to his balance and co-ordination, uses a seat to have a bath.
It took three months after the accident for Masoe to learn how to hold something in his hand.
He still can’t use a knife and fork.
But he can hold little Lui, feed himself dinner with a spoon and grip his phone for this interview and to watch every NRL game back in Australia — while growing in confidence with every week that his former club Penrith will win the 2020 premiership.
“At the very beginning, I didn’t even think I’d be able to hold my phone or send a message,’’ Masoe said.
“It still takes a while because I‘m only using a thumb.
“I can hold bigger things, like a cup of tea or a water bottle, but it’s hard to hold a pen.
“I‘m just thankful for what I’ve got right now.
“Recently I met up with one of my mates (Chris) who I met in hospital and I was getting a bit frustrated with myself, just little things with my hands — my hands don‘t really work as well as I want them, too.
“But when I met back up with him, it just really gave me a more positive perspective. I was like ”why am I complaining, when he has to be in a wheelchair for the majority of his life?‘
“I‘m getting little things back daily, but it’s just a long process.’’
The generosity of Hull KR management, who are honouring Masoe’s 2020-2021 contract, and the support of the rugby league community across the world allows the former Rooster, Panther and Samoan Test forward to pay for expensive and gruelling rehabilitation sessions three-times a week, which last for two hours.
For spinal injury patients, it is widely recognised that the window for the most improvement in their recovery is between six and 18 months from when the injury occurred.Masoe wakes every day on a mission to beat time.
“The time is ticking over, I’ve got 10 more months to try and get back as much as I can,’’ he said.
“Some days, it‘s going to be dark days, but you’ve just gotta keep thinking, tomorrow is going to be a better day.
“I think back to when the injury happened and how far I’ve come, you’ve just gotta keep pushing yourself.
“That’s the way I think and I think it’s paid off with how my recovery is going.
“I don‘t really think I’m an inspiration.
“I just think you get thrown into that deep end and it’s a case of if you sink or you swim — I’m just trying to swim.’’
And to walk his little girl to school.
Originally published as Inspirational Mose Masoe takes pride in family milestones as he recovers from shocking spinal injury