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Nava
"Anything is Possible"
by Pam, Nava's
Caregiver
Nava is the first
ventilated sailor in the world to sail solo.
Nava, who
has just turned 21, was born in the Cook Islands and
came to Australia aged one. She was involved in a motor
vehicle accident at 4 years of age, and since then has
been totally ventilator dependant. She fractured both C2
and C3 vertebrae and is paralyzed from the neck down.
She spent eighteen months hospitalized before release to
24 hour registered nursing care at home.
Nava is
an extremely intelligent, vibrant and caring young woman
who doesn't know what it means to give up. She attended
Concord Public High School and attained her School
Certificate, and since then has gone on to complete two
T.A.F.E. accredited arts courses with the aim of
eventually attaining a graphic arts degree. She is an
extremely talented mouth artist.
She first
became aware of sailing and the existence of Sailability
Australia during a vacation, but because of her
dependency on a ventilator, didn't believe it was
possible for her to sail. After follow up with Jackie
Kay (from Sailability and Access Dinghy Foundation) and
Chris Mitchell (Access Dinghy designer and builder), her
dreams came to fruition in October 2000 with National
media coverage launch of "Pantha" and her first
experience at doing ANYTHING totally unaided by nurses
or caregivers.
This was
her first truly independent activity since the accident
that was to change her life completely and forever, &
the sense of freedom and achievement it's given her is
immeasurable.
In
February 2001, after just four months of sailing
experience, Nava competed in the International Access
Dinghy C'ships where she came in at a commendable 8th in
the Open Division sailing against experienced able
bodied sailors. She was presented an Encouragement Award
by the then Governor General, Sir William Deane.
Then in
October 2001, Nava flew to Florida and competed in the
North American Access Dinghy Championships. She was
accompanied by four caregivers and her father.
Nava won
gold and silver medals.
Servo Assist Controls
Ventilator Sailing Protocol
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