In the space of a few seconds, Dean Martelozzo’s life was split into two parts – a before and an after.
At just 20 years old, Dean was living the dream. Fresh out of university with a finance degree, he boarded a one-way flight to live the backpacker life in Europe. His first stop? A season snowboarding in the French Alps, where every day was about adventure, freedom and possibility.
But only three months in, a single accident on the slopes changed everything. A crash in the terrain park left Dean with a severe traumatic brain and spinal cord injury resulting in paraplegia. One moment he was upside down chasing the thrill of a jump; but little did he know that his life would remain upside down indefinitely.
After a month in intensive care in Grenoble Hospital, Dean was flown home to Australia, where he arrived at Prince of Wales Hospital. It was here, in a spinal ward bed as his brain recovered the ability to hold onto new memories that he slowly learned the enormity of what had happened. For many, such a diagnosis might have meant the end of ambition. But Dean chose a different path and his goals grew larger than ever.
What followed was months of intense rehabilitation – painful, exhausting and at times discouraging. Yet through every setback, Dean’s determination only grew stronger. He refused to let his injury define him. Instead, he set about rebuilding his life, piece by piece. That perseverance has taken him further than most could imagine.
While recovering, Dean found work, resumed his studies to earn an MBA and a Diploma of Financial Planning and built a successful career as an investment analyst. In 2015, he
co-founded Headlands Distilling Co., a now internationally acclaimed micro-distillery in Wollongong.
During the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dean and his team shifted gears from innovating world first spirits to focusing production on life-saving hand sanitiser, becoming a key supply to emergency services and hospitals across the Illawarra when the usual sources were unavailable.
But beyond personal achievement, what truly defines Dean is his commitment to giving back. The care he received at the Prince of Wales Hospital changed his life and he has
never forgotten it. Today, he is a passionate advocate for spinal cord injury research and a proud supporter of the Foundation.
“I’ve accepted my injury,” Dean says, “but I’ll never stop hoping for a cure. Whether it’s a breakthrough that restores mobility or something that simply makes daily life easier, every step forward makes a difference. I can’t wait to get back up and start making steps of my own.”
Dean follows every global advance in spinal cord research with keen interest, especially the groundbreaking work happening here in Australia, much of it supported by the Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation. His message is simple: progress is possible, but it depends on support.
When you donate to the Foundation, you’re not just funding research, you’re investing in hope. Hope for people like Dean, who refuse to give up. Hope for a future where paralysis isn’t permanent. And hope for breakthroughs that will change countless lives.
Dean’s journey is a testament to resilience, courage, and community. With your support, his story and the stories of so many others can one day end not with loss, but with recovery that leads to the next chapter of excitement.
As one of only two specialist spinal units in NSW, the Prince of Wales Hospital plays a critical role in rehabilitation and ongoing care for our patients. Click below to support our work.
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