I have a son who is a TBI survivor. His name is Fred. He was in a hanging accident at age 15 in 1976. He was in a non-responsive state until 1978. He began with a few phrases of speech.

Due to his severe brain damage he could not move his limbs and despite attempts at therapy he had many contractures. His knees and elbows contracted and his hands contracted into a clenched position.

In about 1980 Dr. Kurt Niemann at Russell Ambulatory Center at University of Alabama at Birmingham, performed tendon sectioning to relieve the contractures for hygiene purposes. Fred was in casts for both arms and legs. After that he had to wear steel braces to prevent more contractures. He was able to sit in a wheelchair and learned to operate it somewhat using his hands to roll the wheels.

He made sufficient progress to attend EPIC (Educational Program for the Individual Child) School in Birmingham, Alabama and later at Hayes High School Special Education where he received a diploma for completion of that training.

He later moved into my home with full time nursing assistants. About 8 years later one of his nursing assistants who was a pre-med student told me he thought Fred would walk if he had high topped shoes like basketball players wear. Amazingly that happened! No one including doctors said he would walk up until that time.

Today Fred is in the ARC of Jefferson County, Alabama residential and day programs. He walks without assistance and even climbs stairs.

Fred attends an obstacle free camp in Alabama funded in part by Easter Seals. He is certainly a living, breathing miracle. Just recently he has begun talking in short complete sentences again.

Email Joann