Jake Coops-Blume, his dad Carl and sister Jorgina have bought a new house in Lampada Estate, Calala, custom-designed for Jake’s needs.

The 16-year-old was all smiles yesterday as he toured the house with some of the people who helped make their big dream happen.

Jake uses a motorised wheelchair after a spinal cord injury in a motorcross accident in April 2016 left him quadriplegic.

He was airlifted via Westpac Rescue Helicopter from the Coonabarabran track to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

The next morning he underwent a long operation to decompress his spinal cord, and install a plate and rods to fuse his fractured vertebrae.

With this and complications, he spent 21 days in ICU before being transferred to the orthopedic ward for recovery and, later, rehabilitation.

He has progressed to where he has some movement in his upper limbs, but no movement or feeling from his chest down.

Mr Coops-Blume said the family had no home – owned or rented – late last year when Jake was soon to be released from hospital.

He didn’t expect people to move mountains to help them obtain one, but only had to make one phone call before someone put up their hand.

“A mate recommended David Bright Homes, so I called in about October last year,” he said.

“I told [sales estimator Anthony Enks] my plans and my budget, which was going to be quite a lot smaller house.

“The following day, Ant rang me and said been speaking with Danielle and David [Bright] and offered to do the house at cost … which allowed us to make it bigger for Jacob and accommodate his needs a lot more.”

Mr Coops-Blume said it was “a lovely gesture and very exciting”.

“Thinking of a new house was just sort of a far-out thing to think of at the time – like, it was just a dream – but I contacted David Bright Homes and they just made it happen.”

Director David Bright said the company project-managed the build for free, and asked their regular contractors and suppliers to pitch in their time and materials – up to about $100,000 worth.

“When we contacted all of our contractors and suppliers, we were overwhelmed at their generosity,” Danielle Bright said.

“David Bright Homes would like to say a massive thank you to all the generous supporters who helped us build an amazing home for Jake and his family.”

Jake said the house would make everyday life “a lot easier” than it was in their current rented house.

“The doorways in our old house are pretty skinny and there’s not a lot of room to move around,” he said.

The new house has four bedrooms, two bathrooms – one that is wheelchair-accessible – and a double garage.

Its special features include wider doorways to fit Jake’s wheelchair, and bigger light switches and push-to-open drawers to suit his hand function. 

It also has ceiling hoists to help him move between his wheelchair and bed or couch, and a large L-shaped breakfast bar that can fit Jake’s wheelchair under it so the family can prepare and eat meals together.

There is a pantry-style room to accommodate his medical equipment.

Jake said he was looking forward to having a housewarming party and the family’s first Christmas in their new home.

He said his health was “pretty good” and he was “on the road to recovery”, but he still had a lot of appointments.

“I see Rural Fit physios twice a week and we’re always back and forward from Sydney.”

Mr Coops-Blume, who is an Essential Energy fleet co-ordinator, said he was very proud of both his children: Jake for “how far he has come and how he has handled everything” and Jorgina, 14, for how she pitched in with Jake’s care needs without fuss.

“It’s just part and parcel of life now,” he said.

“She’s so excited about living here, too.”