{"id":18652,"date":"2023-05-02T09:44:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T01:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/friends\/?p=18652"},"modified":"2025-07-23T13:30:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T05:30:54","slug":"unwavering-strength-resilience-and-grit-shines-in-road-to-recovery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/friends\/unwavering-strength-resilience-and-grit-shines-in-road-to-recovery\/","title":{"rendered":"Unwavering strength, resilience, and grit shines in road to recovery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ted Lee at his graduation in February this year.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Author | Carmelle Wilkinson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday April 20, 2021 started out like any other day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curtin mechanical engineering graduate Ted Lee was cruising along Tonkin Highway on his motorbike headed for uni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eight weeks out from completing his studies, he could almost see the finish line, when tragedy struck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI remember riding to uni that day, the sky was a little overcast and being peak hour, it was quite busy on the roads, but nothing out of the ordinary,\u2019\u2019 Ted said.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI misjudged the distance between myself and a 4WD and clipped it, which caused me to fall off my bike and onto the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnfortunately, a semi-trailer just happened to be passing by at that exact moment and it went right over me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ted said while the moments following the accident were a little hazy, he could never erase the pain he felt all over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEverything was in slow motion, but I remember the pain, everywhere hurt,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thirteen days later Ted opened his eyes in an ICU ward at Royal Perth Hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was in such a bad way when I arrived that the doctors placed me into a medically induced coma,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy parents were told I had a two per cent chance of survival.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\"Ted<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ted celebrated his 23rd<\/sup> birthday at hospital with his family by his side.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ted\u2019s catastrophic injuries included severed arteries, several broken bones and damaged spinal nerves which led to paraplegia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI lost a scary amount of blood, I am very lucky to be alive,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a month and a half in ICU, Ted was moved into a trauma ward for another three months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis was probably the hardest time in my life, I went to a dark place,\u2019\u2019 Ted said.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe room I was in had no windows, so I\u2019d spend my days just staring at the ceiling and going through the motions. Waking, eating and then wishing to go back to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can\u2019t recall how many times I broke down, but it was a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf it weren\u2019t for my incredible girlfriend and my mum and dad, I couldn\u2019t have done it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After 275 days in hospital and 30 surgeries, Ted was finally able to go home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ted<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After more than nine months in hospital, Ted was thrilled to head home.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the limitations that came with being in a wheelchair Ted was more determined than ever to return to Curtin and complete his degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter all that I put my family through I not only wanted to do this for me, I wanted to do this for them,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo make them proud.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Returning to campus had its challenges, however, Ted credits his supportive professors and peers for making the transition as smooth as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy professors made sure that I could complete my laboratory-based thesis within the constraints of my health and safety limitations, and I cannot express how grateful I am for that,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was also very fortunate that Curtin is quite accessible, so aside from maybe taking longer to get to class because I had to avoid the stairs, it wasn\u2019t that difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year, Ted graduated with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (with First Class Honours) and Bachelor of Finance (with Distinction).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ted at graduation with his dad Lawrence, mum Josephine, girlfriend Grace Wilkerson and sister Amy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s also started working for an engineering consultancy firm where he carries out hydraulic calculations, system modelling and engineering design work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially, drawn to Curtin for its focus on sustainability and social impact in engineering, Ted hopes to one day make positive change in the field, where he can lead projects that create meaningful social, economic, and environmental benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also hopes to somehow use his story of survival to help others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not exactly sure what I\u2019ll do, but I have been asked to give talks,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to use my story in a positive way though, I don\u2019t want to stand up there and preach to others about the dangers of riding a motorcycle.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, Ted admits he humbly regrets ever purchasing one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wish someone had stopped me. My parents tried, but I was young and stubborn and many of my friends had motorcycles,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy mum even tried to make some crazy deal with me, like if I bought the motorbike, I had to eat red meat again. At the time I was a vegetarian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile I have many regrets, this is actually something I\u2019ve only recently come to accept. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There were times in the past where I wished the truck had finished me off, but reaching where I am today, I am so grateful. Some riders aren\u2019t as lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While life may have new challenges, Ted maintains a positive outlook and hopes his story can help others overcome their own personal struggles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would never assume to know what other students are going through, but if you do have personal things going on and are finding it hard to balance uni then my advice is to take your time,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGo at your own pace, no one can judge you for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don’t have to put all this pressure on yourself. Don\u2019t be afraid to take a step back every now and then if you need it, and when you\u2019re ready you can fully recommit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think when you\u2019re mentally ready you perform better. I don\u2019t think I could have gone back and finished my degree if I wasn\u2019t mentally ready.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two years on, Ted is determined to move on and live his best life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe other day my girlfriend and I received the keys to our new home, and we are now looking forward to moving in,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And while, the former travel enthusiast won\u2019t be climbing the Rockies again anytime soon, it doesn\u2019t seem to faze him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere will be other adventures. I\u2019m just happy I\u2019ve reached a place where I am at peace and happy and I hope I can use my story to inspire others in some way,\u2019\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Author | Carmelle Wilkinson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

___<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n \n\n

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