Former Cronulla Shark Nathan Stapleton is sharing his journey of resilience and adaptation four years after a severe on-field incident in 2022 left him paralyzed from the shoulders down.
Stapleton, who sustained the injury during a rugby game, spoke on the "Unfiltered" podcast with Andy Raymond about his experience and the strategies he employs to navigate daily life. Despite the significant physical challenges, he emphasized the importance of a positive mindset.
"Everyone has a choice in life - is your cup half empty or half full," Stapleton said. "I always try to find a positive in everything and it's relationship building, that helps me massively day-to-day."
He recounted being present for the birth of his second child just two months after his injury, while still in intensive care, highlighting the support he received. "Its huge mate, the hospital was so accommodating, behind the scenes the amount of work they put in," he told Raymond. "Because I was stable but I was stable-ish, so to witness it, I will never forget it, I still get to see this and support Kate."
Stapleton acknowledged that he experiences both good and bad days, with the latter often stemming from his inability to participate fully in activities with his young sons. He described finding creative ways to engage with them, including allowing them to stand on the back of his wheelchair for rides.
"My oldest said the other day said ‘I wish you didn't play that game because we could have piggybacks’, so I said just stand on the back of my chair and I will take you for a ride," he shared. However, he also noted the difficulty when seeing his sons wrestle or play ball with support workers, activities he cannot join.
He attributes his resilient outlook in part to his mother's influence. "I get a lot of that from my mum she was a very positive person," Stapleton explained. "No one likes a 'Debby Downer'. Sometimes in life things don't go your way but I'm all about opportunity, just because something bad happens you have the opportunity to make it good."
The former player also discussed how his reliance on daily care has fostered patience and empathy. "It has taught me a lot of patience, I was never a patient guy, just get it done, but it has taught me a lot of patience and thinking a lot about others. Now I am a bit empathetic because I wonder if I am asking too much."
