I survived eight months dodging bullets on the battlefield in Afghanistan. But a cruel twist of fate meant my greatest battle had only just begun

Joel Sardi’s life changed when he slipped on a banister at the age of 23 and broke his back, paralyzing him.

The former soldier was already struggling with life as a civilian after spending five years in the military, including eight months dodging bullets during his deployment in Afghanistan.

He had served as a dedicated gunner for five years and couldn’t help but think his horrific injuries, which left him paralyzed from the shoulders down, were “utterly unfair.”

“I slipped on a banister and fell ten feet before landing on my back. It wasn’t until I woke up at the Royal Adelaide Hospital two and a half days later that I learned the extent of my injuries,” he said.

“I looked at my hands and tried to move my fingers, but they looked like someone else’s hands.”

Now 31, Joel can still imagine the hours he spent crying in his father’s arms, doubting his future.

“No one can break their neck and be at peace with it,” he said.

“I cried with Dad and said, ‘I can’t. It’s not fair’.’

He had always been physically fit and had survived a war zone, so it was impossible to believe that a kick could be his downfall.

Joel felt like a burden to his girlfriend Elisa, with whom he had been together for six years.

“I’ll never forget turning to her and saying, ‘If this journey gets too hard or you don’t want to face the uncertainties about the outcome of my injury, you can walk away, and I’ll never blame you. ” ,’ he said.

But her reaction changed his life and outlook.

“With a smile, she looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘I’d rather be anywhere else right now.’ Those words and her unwavering support have stayed with me ever since.”

Elisa remained proudly by Joel’s side for another three years as the couple faced every challenge together.

“During a spine rehabilitation program in California, I had a special dinner planned for us. She didn’t know that behind the scenes me and my trainers were preparing something extraordinary,” said Joel.

“That night I gathered all my courage, got down on one knee and asked Elisha to be my wife. Her answer was a resounding ‘Yes.’

Joel assumed the worst when he became paralyzed. It was an unexpected curveball and there were times when he thought it might get the better of him.

But he has learned to thrive thanks to his wife’s unconditional support.

Today, Joel works as a motivational speaker and he and Elisa are the proud parents of two daughters.

“While I still endure the relentless nerve pain, struggle with body temperature fluctuations, and battle daily spasms, this journey has taught me invaluable lessons,” he said.

“I’ve discovered the power of slowing down, thinking deeply, taking measured breaths, and sharing my burdens with others. It’s a transformation I never thought possible, and through it I’ve found a strength within me that knows no bounds.’

Before the accident, Joel had spent five dedicated years as a gunner in the Australian Army’s 7RAR.

“When I was 19, I decided to give the military a shot through a gap year program. Once I got into the infantry, I was hooked. Just a month later, I eagerly signed the full four-year contract,” he said.

“Serving in the infantry was like a dream: training, shooting guns and hanging out with my good friends. It was even better than what you see in movies or on TV. I couldn’t wait to experience a broadcast in Afghanistan.”

Joel had read about it, seen it on the news and heard stories, and the thought of serving his country in such a challenging and impactful way was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

At the age of 21 his dream came true: he landed in Afghanistan.

During the eight-month deployment to Tarin Kowt and Kandahar, Joel played a variety of roles, including providing personal protection to officials during critical encounters with their Afghan counterparts.

“Even though I thought I was prepared for anything, Afghanistan showed me another side of life that made a deep impression on me,” he admitted.

“Witnessing the loss of fellow soldiers and confronting the grim realities of the locals, such as a young boy with a prosthetic leg due to a devastating injury, opened my eyes to the harshness of the world.

“At home, some kids complain about minor inconveniences like Wi-Fi problems, while others endure unimaginable hardship.”

After returning from Afghanistan in December 2013, Joel faced the challenging transition from soldier to civilian life.

It was then that he had his life-changing accident.

Joel spent ten days at the Royal Adelaide Hospital before being transferred to Austin Hospital in Melbourne for specialist treatment and then moved to the Royal Talbot Rehab Hospital.

“Every day was a struggle to regain some independence and adjust to my new life as a paralyzed patient. Throughout it all, I kept reminding myself that life isn’t supposed to be fair; it’s an opportunity.’

After his discharge, Joel returned to his family’s home, confined to a wheelchair.

“The medical bills were piling up and I was so worried about how we were going to pay for all this,” he said.

Then the RSL Victoria, led by the Greensborough Sub-Branch, stepped in to offer their support. Unable to qualify for funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), the Greensborough RSL sub-department and other sub-departments generously provided funding for accessibility renovations to his parents’ home.

They also paid for the couple to attend a specialty spine clinic in the US for a year.

Joel is not living the future he envisioned when he left the military. But he has learned to embrace it.

He spends his days teaching others to do the same while continuing to push beyond his own limitations thanks to the unwavering support of his family.