Emotional time as John comes home for weekend

THE family of paralysed rugby player John Blower faced a huge challenge when the 44-year-old spent his first full weekend at home.

John has made gradual progress in the 18 weeks since a failed rugby scrum left him paralysed from the neck down.

Specialists at Southport Spinal Specialist Injury Hospital, where John is being treated, have given him permission to spend weekends at home and this visit was an important step towards his rehabilitation.

John's wife Julie said she was 'overjoyed' to have him at home but realised she and their three children, Natalie, Christopher and Paul, had a great deal of work ahead of them.

She said: "It has given us a real idea of how life will be when he does eventually come home for good."

The highlight of the emotional weekend for Julie was spending some time on her own with her husband.

She said: "We managed to have a cuddle in bed which is something I thought we might never get to do again."

The visit coincided with a gala dinner event at Manchester Airport on Saturday to raise funds for the 'Wheels For John' campaign.

Andy Naylor, chairman of the John Blower Trust Fund, said the event had been a huge success but the evening had exhausted John.

He said: "John is suffering quite badly with spasms which take a lot out of him."

He said specialists at the hospital were considering an operation to prevent the spasms, which involved inserting a pump into his back.

The gala event raised more than £7,000 for the campaign.

This means the specially customised vehicle to transport John to and from hospital has now been ordered and is due to arrive in May.

There will be more fundraising events coming up over the next few weeks to help raise money for the John Blower Trust Fund, including a rugby extravaganza on the May Bank Holiday weekend.