Jordan Bowling.
Author | Carmelle Wilkinson
A student-led speech clinic run by Curtin University is not only helping brain injury survivor Jordan Bowling find his voice, but also providing hope on his long road to recovery.
Two years ago, the 23-year-old was living and studying in Sydney when tragedy struck.
Out celebrating a friend’s 21st birthday, Jordan became separated from the group in dense bushland and while navigating unfamiliar terrain in the dark he slipped and fell 13 metres down a steep cliff.
The accident left him with serious head injuries, and he was placed in a coma for several weeks.
“Jordan’s traumatic brain injury left him with multiple complications from the very rare, fast and, usually fatal, Propofol Infusion Syndrome, which left him paralysed,’’ his dad David said.
“After two months in a Sydney hospital, we were able to bring Jordan back home to Perth, where he underwent several more surgeries, including a craniectomy at Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital.”
The day after this photo was taken, Jordan woke from his coma.
While Jordan has made remarkable progress since the accident, he still endures moderate aphasia, cognition challenges, a stutter, epilepsy and struggles to walk long distances.
“The epilepsy medication makes any sort of rehab particularly difficult as he sleeps or rests most of the time with only one or two short periods of activity during the day,’’ David said.
Since starting the student-led speech sessions last March, David said Jordan had made wonderful progress in his speech journey.
“Jordan started the online sessions when he was still bed bound,’’ he said.
“Since then, he’s made meaningful progress in all areas learning to talk, walk and even play the guitar again.”
While other speech sessions were one-offs or designed for those much older, David said Curtin’s student-led program involved several sessions a term, with students genuinely invested in Jordan and his progress.
“These sessions have been a positive and unique experience for Jordan as he is learning with people in his same age group,’’ he said.
“Participants in other speech groups are well over 50 and having lost most of his friendships due to relocation or other reasons, the Curtin speech clinic has really given him enjoyment.
“Activities include photo descriptions and quizzes, with Jordan thinking about what questions to ask the students between sessions.”
Jordan said the student-led speech clinic had become a highlight of his week.
He said while other speech therapies had been repetitive and uninteresting, Curtin’s were fun and more tailored to someone his age and disability.
“They also took into account my likes and interests and created some Harry Potter based activities which has been good,’’ Jordan said.
Jordan with his mum, dad and siblings.
Jordan continues to reach personal milestone, most recently competing in Perth’s City to Surf.
Crossing the finish line with family, friends and members from Epilepsy WA, Aphasia WA and the Kings Park Warrior Youth Group, Jordan raised over $6000 for Activ – one of WA’s largest disability service providers.
Jordan’s City to Surf squad.
“After City to Surf we invited family and friends back to our home and Jordan played and sung a few songs for them on the guitar, which was a great moment,’’ David said.
“That’s the best thing about Jordan, his attitude and resilience. When you ask him to do something, whether it’s physical, language, music or whatever it might be in the day, he will always say, ok I’ll try.
“And that’s all we can hope for, really. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we fail, but we always try again. And the fact that Jordan always gives it a go and tries is the most important thing.”
Jordan has his sights set on more marathons.
With another marathon under his belt, Jordan now had his sights set on the next challenge.
“Maybe for the next one, I can run across the finish line,’’ he said.
Through the Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin offers an extensive range of clinical services for adults and children at both our Perth Campus and in the suburb of Cockburn.
Services include speech pathology, exercise programs, physiotherapy and psychology.
The student-led speech clinic has been running since 2016 and there are currently 65 clients.
For more information about Curtin’s Student-Led Speech Clinic please visit here.
Author | Carmelle Wilkinson
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