One Year Later, Drew Cumpson Looks Forward

Jeff Green | May 10, 2012

“On Thursday [May 10] we will celebrate the fact that we've survived one year, right, Drew? It’s only uphill from here,” said Heather Cumpson from a small room in the Intensive Care Unit at Kingston General Hospital, where her son Drew has been living for much of that year.

Drew Cumpson does not remember what happened at the accident on May 10, 2011.

From what he can piece together from friends who were there, he was body surfing on a Peruvian beach with classmates from Guelph University on the final day of a humanitarian program they had been participating in, when he was hit by a massive wave and swept into the rocks

“My friends tell me that when they got to me, I said ‘spinal injury'. Then another wave hit and sent us back into the water. They had to save me from drowning and drag me back to shore.”

One of his friends kept up artificial respiration because among his other injuries his lungs had been damaged. He was transferred to a small clinic in the back of a police van and then to a hospital in Lima.

Seventy-two hours after the accident, Heather arrived at the hospital and Drew was flown back to Canada and Kingston General.

“I don’t remember the accident or anything else until about three weeks later when I found myself in the hospital,” Drew said.

All through the summer and into the fall Drew could barely whisper but through the use of a ventilator he is now able to talk clearly. However, he is a quadriplegic and that is a reality he has been facing, with loads of emotional and financial support from family and friends and even strangers who have been touched by his story through the publicity that has been generated by various fundraising events for him.

A trip to Toronto that was supposed to lead to treatment at the West Park Centre was cut short when Drew became sick and had to return to KGH.

Drew says that his condition is finally stabilizing, and he is planning to start back at Guelph University next fall, taking Internet based courses through the use of digital technology.

“I think I’ll start with a geography course that is required,” he said, “I’m going to have to change my coursework towards a tourism degree because the hospitality course I was taking is pretty physical. I might get involved in accessibility and tourism.”

With the help of an I-Pad, a blue tooth phone and other technology, Drew has been able to remain in constant contact with friends from his childhood (he attended Prince Charles, Hinchinbrooke, and Loughborough Public Schools, and Sydenham High School) and from Guelph. Friends drop by the hospital often as well, keeping him well in the loop.

For Drew’s parents Heather and Jim, it has been a tumultuous year. Jim works for Hydro One, and Heather is a Drinking Water Inspector with the Ministry of the Environment. Their respective employers have been understanding and helpful. Heather returned to work in March after taking ten months off, and Jim has been working and preparing the family home on Bob’s Lake for sale.

“We need to move closer to the city so that Drew can come home, and we need to either build or retrofit a home for his needs as well,” said Heather.

Drew’s needs will cost money. A wheelchair that he can fully control on his own will cost $40,000, and other medical equipment will cost quite a bit as well. All the money that has been raised thus far has been placed into a trust fund.

“I really have to thank all the people who have come through for me. It means a lot,” Drew said.

“We really have been overwhelmed by all of the support we have received,” said Heather Cumpson. “I’ve received cheques from people we don’t even know. They have just heard the story and sent money.”

The raffle of a deluxe utility trailer made by the manufacturing class at Sydenham High School (featured in last week’s Frontenac News) is a good example of the kind of things that have been happening.

“I only found out about the fundraiser when the newspaper came out last week.” said Heather Cumpson, “It’s just amazing.”

The Cumpson family had been planning to hold a dance at the Frontenac Arena on May 5, as a fundraiser and a thank you to the community, but they decided to hold off for another year.

“Drew wanted to be able to be there, and next year he will be able to make it,” said Heather.

In the shorter term, Drew’s goal is to get out of the hospital and get back to school. There is a small postcard invitation on his hospital room wall as well. He has been invited to a wedding in September as the bride's sister’s date, and he intends to be there.