Footy player, 28, who became a paraplegic after swallowing a SLUG as a dare at a 19th birthday party loses disability funding without warning - as his grieving mother battles mounting debts

by HoratioTarr Tue Mar 06, 2018 4:45 pm

In 2010 Sydney rugby player Sam Ballard swallowed a slug at a friend's party
Mr Ballard fell ill and was told by doctors he had been infected with rat lungworm
Mr Ballard was released from hospital in a wheelchair, three years after he fell ill

A grieving mother is trying to raise money after government funds were slashed for her son who tragically became a paraplegic after a party stunt went wrong.

In 2010 Sydney rugby player Sam Ballard, now 28, was dared to swallow a garden slug at a friend's party.

Soon after Mr Ballard fell ill and was told by doctors he had been infected with rat lungworm, News.com.au reported.

The worm is commonly found in rats but snails or slugs can be infected when they eat rodent droppings.

Rarely the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis causes an infection on the brain.

Tragically Mr Ballard contracted eosinophilic meningo-encephalitis and lapsed into a coma for 420 days.

In a Facebook post from 2011, Ms Ballard said she hoped her son would walk again.

'Sam is doing really well. He is still the same cheeky Sam, and laughs a lot. He will walk and talk again (thank god) but the time factor is was we don't know,' she wrote.

She later said the accident completely changed his life.

'It's devastated, changed his life forever, changed my life forever. It's huge. The impact is huge,' she said.

Mr Ballard was released from hospital in a wheelchair, three years after he fell ill.

Now aged 28, Mr Ballard is tube fed, suffers seizures and struggles to control his body temperate.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5467925/Sydney-rugby-player-paraplegic-eating-slug.html

by HoratioTarr Tue Mar 06, 2018 4:46 pm

This is why dog owners don't let their dogs eat snails and slugs. What an incredibly stupid thing to do.

by eddie Tue Mar 06, 2018 6:33 pm

What a really horrible way to fuck over your life. A simple dare at a party.

by HoratioTarr Tue Mar 06, 2018 7:32 pm

eddie wrote:What a really horrible way to fuck over your life. A simple dare at a party.

Horrible way to learn a lesson like that.

by magica Tue Mar 06, 2018 11:32 pm

Aww I feel so sorry for this man. Took a dare and will never be able to live a normal life again. Only 28, such a shame.

by Tommy Monk Wed Mar 07, 2018 12:34 am

Why benefits stopped...?

Maybe he isn't as bad now as is claimed...

by veya_victaous Wed Mar 07, 2018 4:45 am

Tommy Monk wrote:Why benefits stopped...?

Maybe he isn't as bad now as is claimed...

Footy player, 28, who became a paraplegic after swallowing a SLUG as a dare at a 19th birthday party loses disability funding without warning - as his grieving mother battles mounting debts 96bf9456d765c1b633a2fcb501bd575e

Nope, it's because Right Wing Gov't across the Globe are Evil Money grubbing geranium
that convince Dumb Asses that welfare is Scam so pollies can pay themselves more for doing less Evil or Very Mad

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/teenager-who-swallowed-garden-slug-as-a-dare-fights-government/news-story/7ada8f58d03de391055b13e9dade320d

Katie Ballard applied to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) when Sam became eligible for a $492,000 package in 2016.

But last September without warning, the NDIS texted Ms Ballard to say a review of his plan had slashed his allocation to around $135,000.

The massive funding cut was without explanation and around-the-clock care means the Ballard family are heavily in debt.

They owe a nursing service $42,000.

The NDIS told the Daily Telegraph it had been “working closely with the Ballard family” to find a resolution and increase Sam’s support package.

by Tommy Monk Wed Mar 07, 2018 2:08 pm

The OP says he will walk and talk again...

by eddie Wed Mar 07, 2018 5:09 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:The OP says he will walk and talk again...

Did you actually look at the guy in the photo?

by Original Quill Wed Mar 07, 2018 5:43 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:The OP says he will walk and talk again...

The OP quotes the mother to the effect that he will get better. It's hard to tell if that's wishful thinking, or fact.

by veya_victaous Wed Mar 07, 2018 10:45 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:The OP says he will walk and talk again...

NO, his MUM said she hopes he walks and talk again, 5 years ago when he was released from hospital after 4 years in Care Rolling Eyes

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Footy player, 28, who became a paraplegic after swallowing a SLUG as a dare at a 19th birthday party loses disability funding without warning - as his grieving mother battles mounting debts

Footy player, 28, who became a paraplegic after swallowing a SLUG as a dare at a 19th birthday party loses disability funding without warning - as his grieving mother battles mounting debts

Re: Footy player, 28, who became a paraplegic after swallowing a SLUG as a dare at a 19th birthday party loses disability funding without warning - as his grieving mother battles mounting debts

Re: Footy player, 28, who became a paraplegic after swallowing a SLUG as a dare at a 19th birthday party loses disability funding without warning - as his grieving mother battles mounting debts

Re: Footy player, 28, who became a paraplegic after swallowing a SLUG as a dare at a 19th birthday party loses disability funding without warning - as his grieving mother battles mounting debts

Re: Footy player, 28, who became a paraplegic after swallowing a SLUG as a dare at a 19th birthday party loses disability funding without warning - as his grieving mother battles mounting debts

Re: Footy player, 28, who became a paraplegic after swallowing a SLUG as a dare at a 19th birthday party loses disability funding without warning - as his grieving mother battles mounting debts

Re: Footy player, 28, who became a paraplegic after swallowing a SLUG as a dare at a 19th birthday party loses disability funding without warning - as his grieving mother battles mounting debts

Re: Footy player, 28, who became a paraplegic after swallowing a SLUG as a dare at a 19th birthday party loses disability funding without warning - as his grieving mother battles mounting debts

Re: Footy player, 28, who became a paraplegic after swallowing a SLUG as a dare at a 19th birthday party loses disability funding without warning - as his grieving mother battles mounting debts

Re: Footy player, 28, who became a paraplegic after swallowing a SLUG as a dare at a 19th birthday party loses disability funding without warning - as his grieving mother battles mounting debts

Re: Footy player, 28, who became a paraplegic after swallowing a SLUG as a dare at a 19th birthday party loses disability funding without warning - as his grieving mother battles mounting debts

Re: Footy player, 28, who became a paraplegic after swallowing a SLUG as a dare at a 19th birthday party loses disability funding without warning - as his grieving mother battles mounting debts