Rugby hero helps make a patient’s dream come true

Staff at a North Lincolnshire hospice have helped make a patient’s dream come true by arranging for him to meet his Rugby League legend.
 
The team at Lindsey Lodge Hospice and Healthcare arranged for former Samoa international rugby league player Mose Masoe to make the trip to its Burringham Road base to meet Wellbeing Centre patient Ashley, who is one of his biggest fans.
 
Mose last played for Hull Kingston Rovers in a pre-season friendly game in January 2020, watched by Ashley and his family, where an innocuous tackle caused a devastating career ending spinal injury, which left him paralysed.
 
Ashley who has Erb’s Palsy, has continued to follow Mose’s recovery and sees him as a true hero, who inspires and motivates him when he is engaging in his own rehabilitation. His family even had a pair of custom-made trainers created especially for him, with Mose’s portrait and player number on, which he wears on his visits to Lindsey Lodge.
 
Lindsey Lodge Occupational Therapist Sarah Hodge said: “We sent a photo of the trainers to Mose’s physiotherapist and when Mose saw them, he wanted to meet Ashley in person before he returns back to Australia next month.
 
“With the help of Ashley’s family and the team at Lindsey Lodge, Mose waited in our rehabilitation gym – where he surprised Ashley and spent the morning with him.”
 
Mose said: “Ashley really inspired me today. Watching the grit and determination through the pain just to get up out of his chair to take the photo, I felt every bit of it with him.”
 
He added: “Keep smashing the rehab and keep inspiring others like you have me!”
 
Sarah add: “Thank you so much to Mose for sharing such an amazing morning with us talking all things rugby and rehab, and for giving Ashley so much inspiration – he will forever be his hero!
 
“This truly is an example of what our hospice and healthcare services are all about, and I’m extremely proud of all of our team for making it happen.”