A dad who drove hundreds of miles a week and transformed his van into a camper to be by his son’s side as he recovered from a life-changing brain injury is now preparing for a very different family Christmas nearly a year since the teenager’s devastating car accident.
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On January 11 2022, Loghlin Kirk, also known as Lockie, now 18, from the Isle of Man, lost control of his car just minutes from his home, leaving him with critical injuries, including a life-changing brain injury.
The fractures caused in the crash left Lockie blind in one eye and unable to speak, but his father 48-year-old Dan Kirk, a sawmill operative, has been travelling up to 700 miles per week to ensure he is there to support his son in his recovery.
Over 11 months after the crash, Dan is over the moon his son is now talking and has even renovated his van into a camper so he can stay by his son’s side as he recovers 142 miles away from home at the Walton Centre in Liverpool.
Now the family are about to celebrate their first Christmas since the accident and though their festivities will be changed, the tight-knit family are overjoyed to be together.
“It’s been a tough year for the whole family,” said Dan, who lives with his wife, Lauren, a 48-year-old animal health nurse and their three children, Harrison, 22, a plumber, Deena, 19, a student nurse and Torin, seven.
He added: “But Lockie has done really well. He’s improved so much since April. It’s been hard for everyone.”
Driving to see his friends on January 11 2022, Lockie’s life was changed forever when he lost control of his car on a narrow road.
“It’s a road that we use every day to get to work,” explained Dan.
He added: “It’s a few minutes from our house. He was probably driving a bit too fast, but it was just a combination of things really that caused the accident.”
But Dan is keen to not concentrate on the crash.
“If I’m honest I’m not interested in how it happened,” said Dan.
He added: “Lockie tells me he’s sorry. I think he realises what happened.
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I’m not angry in the slightest, I can’t be angry on top of everything else.”
After Lockie was airlifted to the Aintree hospital in Liverpool he was later transferred to the Walton centre, where he has been staying ever since.
“He had severe head injuries on the temporal lobe over his left eye, which left him with a brain haemorrhage,” said Dan.
He added: “He had facial fractures as well. Due to the skull fracture and the facial fractures, the matter that goes around the brain to stop the brain touching the skull was seeping through.
“He also had a haemorrhage that went across his optic nerve and leapt into his left eye as well. So he’s blind in the left eye.
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However, medics managed to save Lockie’s sight in his right eye.
“They’ve never really given up,” said Dan.
“Lockie had a hole in his right eye from a piece of glass. We were very lucky that they found it.
“They had to pinch the skin together, they likened it to trying to glue the hole in a leather belt together.”
He added: “But he has 20/20 vision in his right eye now. They are my heroes.”
After driving up to 700 miles a week between the Isle of Man and Liverpool, Dan has converted his van into a camper to stay close to his son.
“I was getting up at six in the morning and driving to the Walton centre every day,” said Dan.
He added: “I was doing about 700 miles a week. It destroyed me, 100 miles a day of motorway in horrible traffic.
“So, I decided to convert my work van into a camper. I did it all myself, it’s nice and warm and has a heater.
“I now stay in Liverpool a few nights a week.”
But while Dan and Lockie are in Liverpool, the tight-knit family miss each other greatly.
“I think you both feel the other person has it harder,” said Dan.
“My wife is at home with the kids, I’m just in a little bubble of Lockie.”
He added: “It’s been nearly a year and I’ve been home a couple of times. You do get pangs of guilt for being away but we support each other.”
Thanking the kindness of strangers after raising £29,660 on the family’s GoFundMe, Dan is overwhelmed by people’s support.
“We feel very lucky,” said Dan.
He added: “It’s given us a security blanket, without it I would have probably had to go back to the Isle of Man.
“The Isle of Man Steam Packet gave Lauren a reduced boat fair so she could travel at a lower cost and people have been raising money for us.
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After working hard on his recovery, Lockie is now able to speak with his dad.
“I remember when we showed him a video of him dancing on TikTok,” said Dan.
“It’s really about our family and his shoulders started to move. We realised it was him moving to the music. That was really special.
“After the accident in January he didn’t really do anything until April.”
He added: “I would probably have half an hour a day where I felt like I had a connection with him, where I felt I could ask him to do things like open his mouth or blink.
“I can’t imagine what it was like for Lockie and when I asked him, he remembers very little.
“Now he’s able to speak and communicate, whereas in April he was only saying one or two words.”
He added: “He’s come so far.”
The 18-year-old is even reconnecting with old friends.
“His good friends have started to come and see him now,” said Dan.
He added: “They’ve been asking for a while, but we wanted to protect Lockie.
“Lockie is a very caring boy and I think these people know this. His friends have been really supportive.”
Now the family are planning for Christmas, and though it will look very different to their usual festive celebrations they can’t wait to celebrate with Lockie.
“Christmas is becoming like a hurdle to get over, not something to savour and enjoy,” said Dan.
“But we are so glad to spend it with Lockie. We’re all coming to Liverpool to spend Christmas with him as a family.”
As the family prepare for the future, Lockie’s recovery is at the heart of their plans.
“We’re looking at longer-term rehab,” explained Dan.
“The Walton Centre and Sid Watkins have been amazing and we are so thankful for all their help. The staff have been brilliant and even visit Lockie on their days off.
“I think whatever happens next we’ll be in Liverpool.”
He added: “We would also like to thank the Home from home at the Walton Centre who we stayed with from January to March.
“No matter what we’ll do what we have to for Lockie.”
Lockie is determined to work hard on his recovery.
“I’m doing well and working hard,” said Lockie.
“It’ll be nice to have all my family together for Christmas, I’m looking forward to playing board games like dominos and snakes and ladders, as well as eating lots of chocolate.”
Donate to the family’s GoFundMe here – gofundme.com/f/help-lockie-and-his-family
