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for persons dealing with
traumatic brain injury.

STORIES OF AMAZING RECOVERIES

Submitted By: Belinda Zack
Telephone: 250 832 2983
Email: belindazack@hotmail.com

hi my story is about my son. july 13 2006, the worst day of our lives, our then 20 year old son had a quadding accident [atv]. He was with his best friend, out for a nights stay, way up fly hills in salmon arm, b.c. they got up there and decided to take a short ride to watch the sunset. both very mature hard working kids. well that short ride without a helmet, almost cost him his life.

brandon was in the lead, marty just behind him, as marty rounded the corner there was brandon unconcious and not breathing.....thank god marty new CPR and finally got him to start vomiting. well the cell phone reception was poor marty managed to get through to 911, then called his sister and brother-in-law as they knew the area very well. the ambulance couldn't get up the mountain, so martys sister and husband drove them up in their 4x4, they brought them down to the ambulance, i got that horrible call at 11pm, all they could tell me was he was uncountious, i have never been so scared in my life.

We waited at the hospital, it seemed like eternity, finally the ambulance arrived, with our sons lifeless body, they rushed him in, while we just waited and prayed. after they trached him they called us to a little room where the dr told us he didnt think he would make it to kamloops, which is an hour away... well i hit the floor, talk about a parents worst nightmare, it was happening, and we were helpless. the dr a nurse and the two paramedics rushed him off. we couldnt drive of course, so martys dad drove us, it seemed like eternity... we finally got there, with the ambulance just behind us. they rushed him in, he had a ct scan which showed tons of small bleeds in the brain, theres nothing we can do, just wait and see i remember those word so clearly... he was moved to icu where we didnt leave his side, we stayed in a family room, with a couch and loveseat right next to icu, but mostly with our son. watching your child lay there uncocious on a ventelater wow it was the scariest thing we had ever had to deal with.

after two weeks in icu, they moved him to the stepdown unit, he was in and out of contiousness, mostly out, i sat with him 24 hours a day, while my husband travelled home a bit as we have 2 younger children and one older. it was an awfull 11 months in hospitalsand many complications, at one point he weighed 70lbs, it made us sick to see him like that. he finally came home april 2007. in a wheel chair, paralized on the left side, life changing doesn't even seem to describe it. at the 8 month mark his girlfriend broke up with him, his son was 7 months old at the time of the accident, so that was tough. but we brought him home, he was much better, but still not the same brandon....

In november 07, he went to the centenial center for brain injury and is currently there, they have done some amazing work with brandon, he is walking with a walker in physio, his speech is near perfect, his left side is still causing trouble, his arm is pretty much useless, but we are never giving up that he will be a functional walker one day. he has a very positive attitude and he is so young, only 22, we are so very proud of him, he has a purpose here and he will overcome this nightmare. its almost 2 years now and its still there like it was yesterday. this is truly our miracle son...