Helping St Pat’s alumni in tough times

AT just twenty-two years old, Teyden Pearl suffered a stroke so severe that doctors warned him he may never walk again.

Two blood clots on the left side of his brain meant the professional animator was almost completely paralysed. He spent weeks in hospital.

Mr Pearl said the stroke has affected all aspects of his day-to-day life.

“I used to be a really energetic person, but now I basically need help with everything. I also have a lot of trouble with comprehension and communication,” he said.

Having attended St Patrick’s College between 2010 to 2013, Mr Pearl was not aware that the school’s Old Collegian Association had taken notice of his illness.

The OCA then reached out to Mr Pearl to check if he needed any assistance during those tough times and a short while later, sent him a brand-new office chair to assist with his rehabilitation.

Mr Pearl is one of many old collegians that the Association has helped through the pastoral care program.

Founded in 2017, the initiative provides former St Patrick’s College students with practical assistance during their times of need.

The school’s director of community development Paul Nolan said the pastoral care program aims to extend the college’s relationship with its alumni.

“This program isn’t just for students who graduated from St Pat’s, it’s also for those who only attended for a couple of years, like from year 7 to year 8,” he said.

The strategy intends to help old boys who encounter a sudden tragic event, such as an unexpected job loss or illness.

Assistance derives from a volunteer network and can include simple handyman tasks at home, providing supermarket vouchers or offering legal and financial advice.

In the future the OCA hopes to broaden the pastoral care program to include current students and their families, as to assist with the ramifications of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Mr Pearl is attending community rehabilitation sessions two to three times a week and is working to regain the skills and functions affected by his stroke.