Charity climb to thank medical staff and Archie Foundation
AN Aberdeen teenager who broke his back in a horrific sledging accident is to climb the Eiffel Tower just seven months on, to raise money for The Archie Foundation, the charity which supported his recovery.
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Filip Cegar (13) had to learn to walk again after the freak accident in Bieldside in December 2022, which resulted in him breaking both his back and breastbone.
In the first operation of its kind to be carried out in Aberdeen, surgeons at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH) had to realign Filip’s spine and fix his spinal cord in place to prevent any further damage.
He has made such a positive recovery he is now preparing to leave for Paris next week to scale the 674 steps up the famous landmark and say thank you to the team which cared for him.
The money Filip raises will be used to buy a recliner chair for the hospital’s High Dependency Unit, which will allow other families to sit by their child’s bedside in comfort.
Any additional money will help to fund a room in The Archie Foundation’s Family Centre, where families such as Filip’s parents Petar and Irena can stay at RACH at no cost while their child is a patient.
For Filip, a pupil at Cults Academy, December 8, 2022, started like any other day.
“Me and my best friend were going to sledge at the golf course,” he said. “We had been there many times but we saw a place we had never been to before so we decided to go from the very top of the hill and just close our eyes and rush to the bottom.
“The last thing I remember is feeling fear and I remember my friend pulling me up on to the sledge, but he couldn’t manage to pull me all the way up. He had to run back up to the golf clubhouse to get some help.”
Filip’s dad Petar rushed from the family home in Milltimber to the golf club, to find his son lying on the ground and unable to move.
“I had spent many hours watching Filip and his friends sledge but that day the boys went on their own for the first time. When I got there, he was lying there on the snow. People were around him covering him with jackets,” Petar explained. “We didn’t know what was happening but we could see he couldn’t move his legs or arms and he was screaming in pain. The first estimates were not good.”
The injured teen was taken by ambulance to the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, where he was met by a major trauma team. He underwent an urgent operation led by consultant neurosurgeon Mr James Walkden, to realign his spine and fix the bones in place, preventing damage to his spinal cord.
Petar remembers: “Filip was literally broken in half because he broke his back and sternum. Before the operation, Mr Walkden said he didn’t want to raise any hopes, but luckily he didn’t break his spinal cord. I can’t tell you the feeling – I had to sit down. Immediately after the surgery Filip started to have some control and some movement, not even 24 hours on.
“I can’t praise the professionalism of all the staff enough. The Archie Foundation gave us a room and we were shown so much patience and goodwill. We could not have asked for more.”
Filip was then transferred to the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit in Glasgow, where he had to learn to walk again.
“Nothing that serious had ever happened to me before. I was so happy the surgery worked but I was so weak and tired lying in bed and I didn’t know if I was going to be OK. The physiotherapist helped me first to stand up, then slowly start walking, and over the course of two weeks I was already climbing up the stairs.”
He was able to enjoy a family Christmas after being allowed to go home on the day before Christmas Eve and is now back at his beloved football training sessions.
The family is also grateful for the support they have received as members of Kippie Lodge in Aberdeen.
“Training with me in the gym has been an important part of Filip’s journey. I still had to work though and could only go at certain times. Normally children are only allowed in the gym during specific times but the team at Kippie Lodge made an exception for Filip because they could see how important it was to his recovery,” said Petar.
Filip’s last operation took place on July 7, when his surgical team removed all the metal from his spine. He’s now aiming to be ready for his upcoming Parisian challenge.
“I know so many people say it, but never stop believing it will get better. That’s what my family and everyone here at the hospital managed to do and mentally that has contributed massively to my recovery,” Filip added. “Now I want to use my fitness to raise money for the Archie Foundation to give something back as they were such a huge support to me and my family.”
The Archie Foundation exists to transform experiences and outcomes in healthcare and bereavement for babies, children and families across North Scotland. The charity’s vision is that all children in the region will have equal access to world-class healthcare and bereavement support, delivered in a child-appropriate environment and manner.
Paula Cormack, chief Executive of The Archie Foundation, said: “Filip’s incredible story is an inspiration to us all and his recovery is testament to the skills of the medical team involved in his care.
“We were able to support his family at the point of crisis by providing a room for Petar and Irena and other family members, to ease the pressure a little and allow them to focus on Filip after his accident.
“We are delighted that he has chosen to fundraise for The Archie Foundation and particularly to raise money for a recliner chair so parents can sit comfortably during those long and very anxious hours by their child’s bedside. We can’t wait to hear how Filip gets on in Paris!”
To make a donation to Filip’s JustGiving appeal, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/irena-cegar-1687853974800
Visit www.archie.org/getsupport/ for more information about the practical, financial and emotional support available from The Archie Foundation.
