By JESSE GRAHAM
IN THE aftermath of an horrific car crash 10 months ago, Pam Krstic says the Healesville community has come out in support of her and her husband, as he continues on a long road to recovery.
But Ms Krstic said the pair will have to say their goodbyes to the town soon enough, as they search for a house better suited to her partner’s recovery.
Ray Krstic was involved in a serious head-on crash in Lilydale, after losing control on a wet and oily road, on Sunday, 7 December, 2014.
Ms Krstic said her husband was heading to the third and final day of a golf tournament, where he was first on the leader board, when the crash occurred – he lost control and drove into the path of an oncoming four-wheel-drive.
Though the other car’s occupants came away with injuries of their own, Ray ended up in the Royal Melbourne Hospital with his back broken in two places, broken ribs and a broken pelvis, among other injuries.
As his neck was shaken sideways, Ray’s arteries stretched, which Ms Krstic said resulted in strokes on both sides of his brainstem, leaving him locked in and unable to move – except for blinking.
Since then, Ray has been making a slow recovery, and now has use of his right hand and right leg, with movement in his left leg improving.
Ms Krstic said he was currently undergoing rehab at St Vincent’s Community Rehabilitation Centre.
“He’s feeling very lucky to be alive, but it’s very difficult for him, because he can’t speak,” she said.
Ms Krstic said there had been an “amazing” response from the community, especially from the Healesville Soccer Club, whose members organised a fund-raiser on 28 August at the Don Road Sporting Complex.
As a result of the evening, $10,300 was raised for the couple, which Ms Krstic said would be used to help them relocate to a house better equipped for his recovery in coming years.
“It’s just incredible – there are no words to describe how you feel when you’re supported like that,” she said.
“We realise that we are incredibly lucky in a small community like Healesville – that’s one of the benefits you get.
“It’s really sad, but at the moment, we can’t live in Healesville, because it’s just too hard for transport – our house isn’t suitable for a wheelchair, so we have to sell it and find another place,” she said.
Ms Krstic said she wanted to thank everyone who had supported Ray in some way, whether through visits to the hospital, in organising the fundraiser, and anyone who had rallied around the couple since the crash.
