Bob's
Prayer
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In an effort to make Joe well, no stone was left unturned. Traditional medicine and therapies were administered as were many complementary approaches tried as well. Prayer, however, remains the primary road for these healing vehicles to travel.
Spiritual themes run throughout Joe's life and throughout this traumatic event as well. Joe is a very religious person and wrote the following words in the front of his bible, under the page for birth announcements. He had crossed out birth and wrote rebirth.
14 Nov 95
Accepted Christ's Death on the cross and attonment through his blood, therefore, by grace are we saved in faith and not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, that any man should boast. Thank you Jesus. Please renew my mind and help to build a stronger faith in You.
Bob was the man who was driving the car that hit Joe. Bob offered this prayer the night he visited Joe. The prayer was copied down and distributed to prayer groups around the country. Bob continues to pray for Joe and keeps in close contact with his family via email.
Bob's
PrayerJoe, this is Bob. Sorry we met the way we did, but I thank God for your life, your gifts, and the family that surrounds and supports you. I pray that the Lord will pour His healing power into you, making whole whatever is broken, and filling whatever emptiness is there. I believe that He has a purpose for your life and pray that He may bring your body, mind, and spirit to a wholeness. In the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Bob visits Joe and prays for his recovery.
Jennifer is a young woman who helped Joe at the scene of the accident. She was deeply moved by the event and came to see Joe often when he was in the hospital. Shortly after the accident, she accepted Christ into her life at the church that Joe had been attending.
Jennifer visiting Joe at the University of Cincinnati Hospital at the end of November.
One Sunday morning in early January, 1996 Joe's father set up a used Macintosh computer he had purchased prior to Joe's accident. He was feeling extremely sad and depressed at the time. While testing the computer he opened the Stickies, a desk accessory which comes with every Macintosh, to find the message "Praise the Lord for He takes care of His children". He instantly felt a sense of relief and joy and the feeling of dread left his mind. He felt for the first time Joe was going to be whole again.
A message of hope from God.
In
an effort to take his mind off the pain of this event, and to
pay his last respects to his father's brother, Joe's father attended
the funeral of Uncle Ed in early April, 1996. It had been five
months since the accident and his feelings of dread and sadness
persisted. His uncle had been a priest and served as the head
of the Holy Hill Monastery and Parish. Holy Hill is known for
healing and his uncle was particularly devoted to the sick. When
leaving Holy Hill his father took one last look around the beautiful
grounds which house life size replicas of the stations of the
cross built right into the hills. He came across the station where
Simon helps Jesus to carry His cross. Immediately a feeling of
understanding and calm came over him. He realized that this was
his cross to bear and it gave him comfort and strength.
The church at Holy Hill, Wisconsin.
ORIGINAL DIAGNOSIS - Diffuse
Brain Stem Injury with Contusions
MEDICAL SUMMARY
EEG-Confirmed diffuse brain injury. No obvious seizure potential.
Generalized slowness of brain waves.
C1&C2-Fractures are stabile; surgery not required. Cervical collar needs to remain in place for approx 4 months (Valentines Day). There is a fracture in the right, frontal collar bone (distal clavicle).
L2-Fracture is reasonably stabile; surgery apparently not required. There is a slight offset. Lumbar brace needs to be used for approx 4 months (Valentines Day).
RIGHT LEG-Fractured Tibia and Fibula; surgery not required. No body weight on this leg at this time. Needs to remain in a cast for approx 4 months?
TRACHEOTOMY-This is still necessary, since he is not awake enough to control his secretions without it. We will continue with size #8 for now. When the secretions are better controlled, and Joe demonstrates better voluntary control of coughing, swallowing and breathing; we can gradually progress to smaller orifices; occasionally capping; then finally complete trach removal.
STRESS ULCERS-Joe has a mild case of anemia. His body is going through a lot of stress. He is being given Pepsin to prevent stress ulcers.
BLOOD CLOTS-Joe is being given Heprin shots to prevent blood clotting in his legs. This can be discontinued when his voluntary leg movement reaches an acceptable level.
SEIZURES-Even though his EEG has no indicators that he might be prone to seizures, we still need to continue preventive measures a little while longer. We will transition Joe from Dilantin to Tegratol immediately, keeping the dosage at the lowest possible therapeutic level. Tegratol has a significantly lower sedating effect, and does not require interruption of the feedings.
INFECTION-Joe has three potential areas for infections:
(1) Sinusitus - Administering Afrin Nasal Spray and Sephrin for 3 weeks
(2) Lower Lobe (Lungs) Pneumonia - Administering antibiotic
(3) Diarrhea - Administering a flagellant
PRESSURE SORE on Skin Covering Tail Bone. NOTE: This wound, in addition to being infected with MRSA, took almost one year and two sacral flap surgeries to heal.
Joe suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and remained in
a coma for approximately one year. The Rancho Los Amigos scale
is used to rate the degree of brain injury and ranges from 1 to
8. Initially doctors gave Joe an overall rating of 2 (generalized
response) on this scale. This means that when they pinched him
he showed some signs of feeling the pain.
Joe lies quietly after arriving at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Acupuncture April 96 and Other
Herbal RemediesDr. Kim administers acupuncture to stimulate healing
.
Joe was the first patient to officially receive this type of treatment
at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. Our thanks has to go out to Dr.
Perlman, Joe's physician. Dr. Perlman has been very supportive
of the families variety of approaches to bring Joe out of the
coma.
Dr. Linkner, an Ann Arbor homeopathic physician, came to visit Joe in the hospital. He ordered arnica, a herbal for shock administered orally. Arnica was used until the time Joe went into the nursing home and even there for a short while.
A second homeopathic physician also from Ann Arbor, Dr. Scheerer, suggested Echinacea, a natural herb which boosts the immune system. Joe has been taking this since he was in the nursing home and has had very few infections. Dr. Scheerer was Joe's primary physician since he is the primary physician for the rest of the family. However, since Dr. Perlman was providing all of Joe's of the care at this time the family was able to switch Joe to Dr. Perlman..
Brother
Paul made Joe a dream catcher. Paul also made Joe an audio tape
so he could visualize a walk in the woods that they will take
together when Joe can walk again. Paul is responsible for most
of the complimentary treatments, including music therapy, Ginkgo
Baloba, (a herb to increase the flow of blood to the brain) and
other nutritional supplements. Paul also brought a host of people
who practice complementary healing techniques who gave their skills
and talents to help. Paul is a great brother.
Joe's younger twin half-brothers Steve and Mike, and younger half-sisters Karyn, Angie, and Tarah have also shown great courage and compassion. Having an older brother who has suffered a traumatic brain injury is difficult to understand, difficult to cope with, and difficult to accept. They have done all three remarkably well. The love that comes from these siblings is surely instrumental in his healing.
Paul, Joe's older brother.
AdriennaAdi, as she is called, is a wonderful, loving, and caring person who also practices polarity therapy. She brought flowers and joy when she came to visit. Not only would Adi give of her professional talents, but Adi would also give of herself. She would read to nourish his mind and spirit and massage his feet and soothe his body. Adi represents the best of the many caring people who have come into Joe's life. Unfortunately for us but lucky for those who live in California, Adi will be moving this summer. We will miss her. Thank you, Adi.
Adi comforts Joe during one of her many visits.
Last Updated 4/17/97
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