There are mates . . . then there is Nate and Xavier.
Introduced through sport and bonded through near-tragedy, these two little boys share a friendship that has to be admired.
Earlier this year Nate, 7, suffered a serious brain injury when a metal pole went through his head during a Maitland Rugby Union Club grounds clean-up.
While still in a coma, Xavier Gollan, also 7, held Nate’s hand, told him he loved him and that he had scored two tries for him.
When Nate awoke, days later, he remembered what his little buddy had told him.
“Even though he didn’t acknowledge him at the time, he still remembered everything Xavier had said,” Nate’s mother, Kate Wetini, of East Maitland, said.
“It was truly amazing. But the thing about Xavier is that he doesn’t treat Nate any differently to how he did before and I think that’s wonderful. They are great little mates.”
Following emergency surgery and initial concerns for his life, Nate is progressing well, but the true extent of his recovery remains unknown.
“When it happened we didn’t know what would become of Nate,” Mrs Wetini said.
“The pole entered through the base of Nate’s skull and travelled right through his brain and came back out through the base.
“We didn’t know the pole went in all the way until after the surgery, but if it had gone five degrees either way it would have been fatal.
“The main thing they were concerned about was not only the bleeding, but also infection because the pole had actually come out of the ground covered in dirt and that went into his brain.”
Now Nate, physically, seems fine, but underneath the surface it’s a slightly different story.
“Everyone thinks he is so lucky, and he is, but there are problems,” Mrs Wetini said.
“He is vision impaired because his brain is telling him he can see everything, but he can’t, so he has to adapt to that, so driving may be an issue for him when he’s older.
“At school he struggles with understanding instructions and he has trouble finding words so we have to use a lot of charades.
"He also has a lot of behaviour issues and it’s almost like he’s four years old again.
“But the alternative is too difficult to comprehend.”
Following the freak accident the club launched the Nate Wetini Appeal – through The Mutual Building Society – to raise money for the Mrs Wetini and her husband Mita.
“It’s amazing how this town has rallied together to support us,” Mrs Wetini said.
“And we are doing well. Nate just wants to do what all the other little boys are doing and nothing will stop him.
“He is such a happy little kid. He just smiles all the time.”
