Nathan Stapleton speaks for the first time as he and wife Kate prepare for arrival of new baby

Going public for the first time since a tackle gone wrong left former NRL star Nathan Stapleton a quadriplegic, he and his wife have revealed the latest on his progress.

Two hospitals are planning an ­extraordinary mission that will allow former NRL star Nathan Stapleton to see the birth of his second child, even though he’s a quadriplegic who can’t breathe without a ventilator.

Despite still being in the intensive care unit of the Prince of Wales Hospital, weeks after a tackle in a country rugby game went horribly wrong, the 32-year-old is excited he will be at the birth next weekend.

Staff have planned how to wheel him and the machines keeping him breathing over to the Royal Hospital for Women next door.

“Never in a million years did I think I would be going to my wife’s birth as a quadriplegic, but I am excited and grateful,” Stapleton said.

Kate Stapleton with husband Nathan and son Harry at Prince of Wales hospital today. Kate gives birth to their 2nd child next week and the hospital will make sure Nathan is by her side. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

His wife Kate agreed: “The hospital are incredible, they are facilitating for Nate to leave ICU and go to Royal Women’s and be there throughout the birth. I want to give the hospital credit. What they are doing for us is incredible and how Nathan is handling it is absolutely spectacular.”

But Mrs Stapleton said her husband’s recovery from the hideous ­accident had taken her focus off the impending birth.

“I’ve been in an ICU bubble and I’d not really thought about the birth to be honest, it was: ‘I don’t care, I’ll just give birth,’” she said.

“It had not been a priority for me, but they have done absolutely everything for me. I really want to thank Steph Rhodes. She has manned the whole mission.”

The Stapleton family with nurse Stephanie Rhodes who has planned for Nathan to be by Kate’s side next week at the birth of their second child. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Stapleton remains upbeat and grateful despite the difficulty of his recovery. He is still on a ventilator but can speak softly: “I feel good, I’m positive,” he said.

His wife is always with him. “He is doing incredibly, considering everything he has got going on, he is doing so well. He is a real trooper and he is so mentally strong which we are so grateful for,” she said.

Doctors had hoped Stapleton could learn to breathe again on his own but it is now clear he will need a ventilator for life, as did Superman actor Christopher Reeve.

“He is now working on getting into his electric wheelchair and working on his breathing with the ventilator,” she said.

“Obviously it’s such a long process and he is still in ICU but we are making progress. We can’t afford to be disappointed. You have to take everything in your stride and take everything with a grain of salt.

“You always have to be told the worst-case scenario – which we completely accept – but you can still push and strive.”

The former Cronulla Sharks star fell awkwardly after a tackle during a rugby game in West Wyalong on April 9, breaking his neck and ­sending his heart into cardiac arrest. Louise McCabe, an off-duty nurse from West Wyalong, performed CPR for 16 minutes, saving his life.

A white board in Nathan Stapleton’s room highlights his inspirations and goals. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Oh God, when it first happened, everyone that was there when it happened assumed I was going to Sydney to turn off his life support,” Mrs Stapleton said.

“He was out for 16 minutes and a cardiac arrest so they said to me he would have severe brain damage, they didn’t expect him to not be a vegetable. I could just tell when I looked at him that recognised me,” she said of the man she fell in love with as a 16-year-old.

The accident has uprooted the family from their sheep and cattle property 20km outside of Boorowa.

Mrs Stapleton and their 20-month-old son Harry have moved to Sydney to be by his side.

The family still faces a long road of recovery and rehabilitation.

www.gofundme.com/f/nathan-stapletons-spinal-injury-recovery

Originally published as Nathan Stapleton speaks for the first time as he and wife Kate prepare for arrival of new baby