William – The hope of a pain-free future
At 34 years old, William is navigating life with the aftermath of a devastating ski accident. What was meant to be a recreational trip turned into a life-altering event when he suffered a traumatic brachial plexus injury, a severe nerve injury that left his arm paralysed and his body in constant pain.
But for William, it wasn’t just the loss of movement that changed his life.
It was the pain that followed.
It’s a cruel thing. I’m grieving the arm… but the pain is number one because it’s day in, day out. It’s hard to look down the track and stay positive. William
William experiences a relentless burning sensation in his arm and neck, the kind of pain that makes daily life feel unbearable. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries, trying various medications, and exploring alternative therapies, nothing has brought lasting relief.
Even more heartbreaking is his growing fear that he may not be able to be the kind of father he’s always wanted to be.
“I was hoping to become a father at some stage… that used to be all I wanted to do — to be a good dad.
And now it scares me that I might not be able to do that.”
Hope on the horizon
William’s situation isn’t unique. Millions of people live with chronic pain caused by nerve injury, arthritis, endometriosis, migraines, Parkinson’s disease and more.
But thanks to the generosity of supporters, researchers at the Bionics Institute are developing a potential breakthrough: hybrid nerve stimulation — a world-first therapy that combines light and electrical stimulation to target pain at its source.
For people like William, this innovation could mean something once unimaginable: a life no longer defined by pain.
Find out more about our chronic pain research
