How Pete Conroy is achieving his goals after horror road accident

Setting goals to be able to reclaim the use of his arms and hands and stand unassisted are some of the driving forces behind a father’s road to recovery after horror road accident.

Pete Conroy almost lost his life after a tree fell onto his car on November 3rd, 2022, Photo: Supplied.

A Mornington Peninsula father thought his life had ended after a tree fell onto his car during his morning commute to work more than 18 months ago.

The accident left Pete Conroy with a broken neck, sternum and back but Pete, and his partner Emma Park, are committed to trying anything on his road to recovery.

Emma said the accident has affected every aspect of both of their lives.

“It affects everything and everyone,” she said.

“Financially, it has a huge impact because he has not been able to work and I am not working to be able to care for him.

“It takes a huge toll emotionally as well.”

Pete and Emma are determined to stay positive after his accident.

Despite the emotional cost, Emma said Pete had never blamed anyone for the accident and had never been angry.

“Pete always asks himself if he has the courage to still make his life an adventure on his bad days,” she said.

“He has such determination and positivity to still achieve his goals.”

Pete’s goals are to be able to stand up unassisted and to improve the function in his fingers and hands to be able to hold objects.

“He will always use a wheelchair but he wants to be able to have some independence,” Emma said.

To achieve his goals, Pete and Emma have tried all types of therapies including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, platelet rich plasma therapy and stem cell stimulation.

Pete has been able to receive compensation from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) but it does not cover all the therapies required after the accident.

“Most TAC funding is about learning to live with your disability, physical therapy and providing equipment,” Emma said.

Pete spend six weeks in the Austin Hospital Spinal Unit before starting his rehabilitation journey.

Pete is working towards being able to stand unassisted.

Emma said the couple had to fund these therapies out of their own pocket, on top of accommodation and travel costs commuting daily from the Mornington Peninsula to Melbourne.

“Pete and I believe these therapies hold the key to his dream of walking again and reclaiming the use of his arms and hands,” she said.

“We have already seen such great progress from them.”

Emma has created a GoFundMe to raise money for Pete to be able to continue these therapies.