Wheelchair basketball advocate Wendy Passfield turns tragedy into triumph

A Logan mother has opened up about how a passion for wheelchair basketball turned around her life after a devastating accident resulted in the loss of both legs.

Wendy Passfield rediscovered her passion for life through wheelchair basketball after the tragic loss of her legs. Picture: SUPPLIED

An inspirational disability advocate has shared her trauma after a hospital error led to an infection that cost both of her legs — and how a passion for wheelchair basketball has since transdformed her life.

Wendy Passfield, 48, still battles the effects of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSRA), an aggressive bacterium she became infected with in 2007 which is resistant to many antibiotics.

Th infection took hold in her ankle when it was shattered after she said she was dropped by hospital staff.

She was 32 at the time and under the effects of an epidural during the birth of her second child.

“Due to the epidural my muscles did not contract correctly and my ankle was smashed,” Ms Passfield said.

“I went into hospital 17 years ago to have a baby and my life changed at the drop of a hat,” she said.

“Doctors tried everything they could but my infection resisted both surgeries and the most advanced antibiotics.

“After 24 operations I had no choice but to have my right leg removed.

“After a further 76 surgeries my left leg was amputated too.’’

The Logan mother-of-two turned her life around three years ago when she became involved in competing, training and educating businesses and students about wheelchair basketball.

Ms Passfield, a “Game Changer” spokeswoman for Sporting Wheelies, said she made the decision every day to take a “glass half full approach to life” so she could inspire students, employees and fellow disabled members of the community with her passion.

She enjoyed playing sports, especially netball, her entire life and had thought that a disability meant that was over.

Since her introduction to wheelchair basketball Ms Passfield has developed a deep passion for the game, her new-found community, close friends and the Sporting Wheelies organisation.

“For 13 to 14 years I was in a very dark place. I was on very heavy pain killers and didn’t get out of bed,” Ms Passfield said.

“After the accident we had to sell our house. Before that I was a working mother who enjoyed playing lots of netball.

“I was in a very dark hole I needed pulling out of.’’

After an “embarrassing” incident at a family gathering three years ago due to her excessive pain relief prescriptions, Ms Passfield said she began to search online for activities she could do to get herself out of the house.

“I knew I couldn’t go on like that, all my passions had died away,” she said.

“I went cold turkey on my morphine, which was incredibly difficult to do, but I had to.

“I came across a crossfit class for disabled people and from there learned about wheelchair basketball groups in Brisbane.’’

Since her introduction to wheelchair basketball Ms Passfield has developed a deep passion for the game, her new-found community, close friends and the Sporting Wheelies organisation.

“I go into normal schools and we take sports wheelchairs to educate the kids all about the game and tell them our stories,’’ she said.

“It gives them a different perspective on disabled people and encourages compassion towards students at their school who may have a disability.’’

A huge motivation for her now was to grow the sport by encourageing support and donations.

“Sporting wheelchairs cost $12,000 and very hard to come by,’’ she said.

“My club has only six spare ones for new starters to use and they are in limited sizes.

“I find it heartbreaking when we have to turn someone away because the chair is not the right fit for them.

“When I first signed up to play I cancelled six weeks in a row because of nerves.

“NDIS provides support, but two years later I am still in the process to securing one.’’

Despite the odds she recently qualified to represent Queensland in the national competition later this year.

“I am now a member of the women’s National Wheelchair Basketball League, playing for the Queensland Comets, which I can’t believe,” Ms Passfield said.

“My outlook is totally different. If you’d asked me two years ago I would’ve said I wanted my legs back in a heartbeat.

“But in the last six to 12 months I have found myself and people who truly understand me.

“I have come so far and if I can make the difference to one child in a wheelchair who can see me doing it at 48-years-old, then it would be all worth it for me.’’

If you can donate to Sporting Wheelies to give someone the opportunity to play wheelchair basketball, please click here.

Originally published as Wheelchair basketball advocate Wendy Passfield turns tragedy into triumph