‘Help bring our son home’ appeal

THE parents of a horrifically injured motorcyclist today pleaded with the GulfWeekly’s family of readers to “help bring our son home”.

James Challenger, 29, was thrown 70 feet in the air when his motorbike careered out of control on Bahrain’s Budaiya Highway.
The terrible crash on April 25 left the quantity surveyor with such severe damage to his body that he had to be induced into a coma for three weeks.
James suffered swelling to the brain alongside a collapsed lung and damage to his spine, bladder, liver and kidneys.
Surgeons at Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) Hospital battled for six hours to save his life and were forced to remove the motorcylist’s spleen and rebuild his shattered pelvis and crushed arm.
Two weeks ago James was stable enough to be moved out of intensive care and his parents Angela and Graham have been by his bedside every day after travelling to Bahrain from South Yorkshire in England.
Mr Challenger, aged 60, said: “We’re desperate to get James home so he’s with us and his family and friends and we can spend the time getting him right.”
Mrs Challenger, a part-time nurse, says her son is now able to communicate through blinking his eyes and squeezing her hands.
James now faces a long and arduous road to recovery while his family fights another colossal battle … to raise enough money to get him safely back home to the Sheffield suburb of Norton.
“James was looking for a permanent contract to work in Bahrain but did not have any travel insurance. Money is very tight for his family and they cannot afford the full cost of bringing him home,” revealed a close friend, Chris Shields.
Mr Challenger, a former joiner, who was recently forced into early retirement because of a major spine problem, and his wife, had to rely on the support of friends and family to fund their flights to Bahrain.
In order to bring James home they will need to raise a total of BD7,000, which will pay for the equivalent of 10 seats – the amount of space needed to transfer him – as well as a doctor and two nurses to travel by his side.
“We’ve raised about BD3,000 so far,” said Mr Shields who is spearheading a fund-raising campaign to get James transferred to a UK hospital, “but we need a minimum of BD4,000 more.
“He desperately needs to be around his friends and family to give him the best chance to recover and rehabilitate.”
His parents have nothing but praise for the doctors and nursing staff at BDF.
“We can’t thank the BDF enough,” said Mr Challenger, “they have been absolutely fantastic. Everyone we have met here, the Bahrainis and local expats have been incredibly kind
“The weekend it happened we were with our grandchildren. Our initial reaction was one of disbelief, thinking James had just had a knock and everything would be fine. But when the shock went away and more details about his condition came through the enormity of what had happened sank in.
“We hoped we could just put him in a wheelchair and take him home. But when we came to Bahrain and we saw the way he was, and all the things that needed to be in place to get him home … that’s why we were forced to launch this appeal.”
It is too early to tell how long it will take for James to recover – or to what degree.
James’ older sister Emma Davidson, who lives in Chesterfield and works as a teacher at Sheffield High School, told her local newspaper: “The fact that he is so far away makes visits from friends and family so difficult. There is only so long my parents can afford to stay out in Bahrain.
“James’ injuries are absolutely horrendous. He has been given the all clear to come back home but the scariest thing now is it is going to take about a year for him to rehabilitate. That is why we want him home.”
James’ friends in Bahrain have spoken of their determination to help the family.
“It was such a huge shock,” said Steve Yeardley, 41, a company director, “everyone loved James. He’s really approachable and outgoing. He loved outdoor sports and he really enjoyed motorbiking.
“James has improved a lot just from having his parents nearby. So when he’s home I’m sure he’ll get the strength to make a full recovery.”
Mr Shields added: “It’s such a tragic thing to happen to such a great guy. James is an incredibly generous person and someone who would do anything for anyone. He really lived life to the full. He’s just one of the good guys.”
“Everyone’s response has been amazing in terms of sympathy, now we need action and funds.”
James’ friends, both at home in England and in Bahrain are planning a series of events to raise money. 

If you want to donate funds to the cause please send a cheque payable to Debra Wakefield – James Challenger Repatriation Acct; Account No: 01-6670547-01 which is held at Standard Chartered Bank, Manama Branch.

EXCLUSIVE
By -RdS-
editor@gulfweekly.com