Bill Walters is nearing his return to action, after suffering a devastating knee injury that meant he couldn’t walk for two weeks.
His reconstructive knee surgery ended his Premiership dreams last season and has kept him out of action so far this year.
But the injury has been bigger than just what fans see on the field and in his rehabilitation as his wife Rachel can attest to.
With Billy unable to walk, Rachel went from wife and mother to full-time carer as well.
So serious was his surgery and subsequent pain, that his wife had to help him shower as he was unable to do so for himself.
Rachel, an occupational therapist, may have been familiar with helping people who are unable to move around, freely but it being so close to home, and having to manage their two children made it a far harder task.
Rachel Walters had to help her husband Billy Walters shower after his ACL tear left him needed knee reconstructive surgery
Rachel admitted being a full-time carer for her husband along with looking after her two young children was a taxing experience
It was also a struggle for Billy who Rachel described as a ‘hands-on-dad’
But with Billy so close to returning to the field, it will finally close a chapter on what has certainly been a difficult time for the family.
‘It was harder than I thought it would be,’ Rachel told the Courier Mail.
‘I never thought I would be showering my husband, I thought that might wait a few years.
‘I’m so pleased for Bill that he is back playing, it’s been a long process and we’ve both shed some tears along the way.
‘His knee injury happened at the worst time, he was coming off-contract and there was a lot of uncertainty, but hopefully he plays well and he can move forward with the Broncos.’
Having two young children to chase around, certainly added to what was already a pretty big job to manage for Rachel.
‘I underestimated what it would be like having two young kids while he was recovering,’ she said.
‘Last time we didn’t have children, so that made a huge difference.
‘That initial period after the injury was really tough. Billy was basically on the couch 24-7 for two weeks and I know how guilty he felt not being able to help out.
‘Billy is such a hands-on dad,’ Rachel said.
‘He’s active with the kids, he cooks, and he’s always around.
‘Going from that to essentially solo parenting while also being his full-time carer, juggling work and daycare, was incredibly challenging.’
Rachel also mentioned that she had to undergo a shift in mindset and get used to the fact that Billy could not do many things for himself at the time
Rachel also mentioned the shift in mentality she had to undergo, as someone who spends their career encouraging people to do things for themselves.
‘Normally I’m encouraging people to do things for themselves, but with Billy I was playing the nurse. I kept thinking, ‘Can you do it yourself?’ she questioned.
‘Then I’d remind myself this was a pretty serious injury and he genuinely needed help.
‘We were lucky to have a really supportive family around us, but it was still tough.
‘I’d come home, cook meals, look after the kids and then help Billy.
‘He was on crutches for six weeks and couldn’t carry anything.
‘I’d bath the kids, clean up and then help him shower.
‘The pain he was in was significant.
‘At that stage I was definitely a full-time carer.’
