'I'm living each day like it's a birthday' - A year ago Craig Hickford was close to death and today he is back on his feet

The Hickford family (from left) Toby (5), Stacey, Craig and Grace (8) prepare to celebrate Christmas together. Photo / Supplied / Otago Daily Times

Nearly a year ago, Craig Hickford was on life-support and close to death. Today, he is back on his feet and looking ahead to Christmas with family.

When Craig Hickford decided to train as a teacher, he thought a large part of his life would be dedicated to educating future generations - not himself.

After the popular Brockville School principal was knocked off his bicycle by a four-wheel-drive ute in Fairfield last February, he was left fighting for his life with a major brain bleed.

For several weeks, the 44-year-old was in Dunedin Hospital's intensive care unit on life-support, and his initial prognosis was not good.

So much so, doctors talked about switching off the former Canterbury Rams basketball player and multisport athlete's life-support.

Fortunately, his family resisted.

Since then, he has come off life-support and started therapy, and is astounding doctors with his physical and mental progress.

"I've surprised doctors and therapists along the way, just with my ability to re-learn things and get up and walk and run and do things."

Mr Hickford puts his amazing recovery down in part to his ability to tap back into his teaching skills to help himself re-learn everything he lost following the accident.

"I think being a teacher has helped me to recover quicker.

"There's a method in learning. I'm using those methods to re-learn skills.

"Basically, after a brain injury, you have to start again. It's a scary thing.

"It's just the basics at the start - you learn how to use the toilet again, how to dress yourself ..."

Another consequence of the injury is ongoing memory loss problems.

He can remember things like his wedding day and his children being born, but there is a "big void" around the accident.

"I can't recall much of the last year."

Two things he certainly hasn't lost are his ability to learn and his sense of humour.

He says he has now learnt to read and write again - well enough to be able to pick out any mistakes that appear in the Otago Daily Times.

While his teaching skills are playing a significant part in his recovery, he says another major factor has been the "unwavering support" he has received from his wife, Stacey, and their close friends.

His well-known stubbornness has also played a major part."I like to prove people wrong. I didn't like the idea that people would tell me I couldn't do things.

"I've never been good at accepting that you can't do something. I'm stubborn to the max."

As for a return to teaching, Mr Hickford is pretty pragmatic. But he is also very determined.

"I'm too stubborn to say no. I do think I will be able to return to teaching in some form or other. There's a wee bit of a hidden ego in there somewhere.

"But it's a long-term goal. I'm not thinking that far ahead at the moment. I'm just making the most of each day. I'm living each day like it's a birthday."

Last week, Mr Hickford moved with his family from Dunedin to Christchurch, where he has a larger family support network to help with his continuing recovery.He believes he is appreciating the festive season more than most people this year, because he nearly wasn't here to celebrate it with his family.

"I really appreciate the fact that Christmas has come and family is here, and that I get to do stuff with them."I appreciate my kids so much more. I live for my children."

• The driver of the vehicle that collided with Mr Hickford's bicycle was charged with careless driving causing injury and has pleaded not guilty. The trial starts early next year in the Dunedin District Court.