Four years ago on Friday, the Baker family’s world was turned upside down.
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When Sam Baker was 23, he moved to Perth to further his success in international motorcycle racing and pursue his career as a fitter and turner in the mines.
His father, Wayne, said Sam avoided major roads on his bike, but in 2011 was caught “in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
“He moved over to Perth and 18 months later had a accident, not in racing, but on the road,” he said.
“He suffered a catastrophic brain trauma.
“The electrical connections (to his body) were sheared.
“We walked away from our jobs and home here and all went over to Perth.”
The accident that almost killed Sam left him in hospitals in Perth, Melbourne and Albury for two years and three months in total.
Only recently was the family able to bring him home.
Wayne said his son, who used a specialist machine fitted to his wheelchair to communicate, undertook a range of physiotherapy and treatment daily.
“There’s no short or long-term prognosis,” he said.
“He’s doing things we were told he would ever do and as small as it seems, every minor gain is a win for us.
“He went to his 10-year high school reunion last night.
“A lot of his friends who had not seen him were amazed he’s still the same Sam Baker and loves a laugh.”
Now Sam is back in Albury, the Baker family continue to make modifications to their home to accommodate Sam’s needs.
Friends of Wayne, an involved member of the Border water polo community since the 1980s, decided it was time to rally together and support the family.
The Border Trust Sam Baker Community Fund has been launched to help Sam with rehabilitation.
Committee chair Adam Joss said the first event in a fundraiser campaign would be a raffle, with a 2017 Harley Davidson as the first prize.
“A bunch of us from water polo knew the family and what they’d given to the community,” he said.
“You can see Sam’s spirit and he’s always got a smile on his face.
“We wanted to make things easier for them day-to-day and wherever we can, hope to improve Sam’s quality of life.”
For more information on the fundraiser, search the Sam Baker Community Fund on Facebook.
