Aaron Kruzer Aaron's Recovery Road

Aaron’s Recovery Road

After enjoying a concert at Around the Corner Saloon Friday, October 12, 2018, Aaron Kruzer was found down at 4 am. the 13th in a private driveway one half mile from the bar.  At a stop sign opposite the home, a Nunzio's Pizza driver's headlights caught Aaron's body laying perpendicular to the driveway, arms at his side, as if he just laid down to rest. When the rescue squad came he was given 2 doses of Narcan, but it didn't rouse him, and he was taken to Lakewood Hospital. Realizing they weren't able to care for him, Aaron was Lifeflighted (ground) to MetroHealth Medical Center. He was found to have a fractured skull and brain bleed, resulting in surgery days later, to temporarily remove part of his skull, making room for his brain as it swelled. We heard it was a good thing it was raining that night, because that may have kept him alive.

The only wounds on Aaron's body were a gash on his left palm, a small scrape on his left elbow and one on his left knee. There was no outside evidence of injury to his head whatsoever. Even with the police involved we never figured out what happened to Aaron. He called an Uber at 2 am. as was planned, but was not picked up. His wallet was at the bar; we know he was drunk, and Google maps recorded this half mile as a walk.
 
Aaron stayed in ICU for about 6 weeks, most of that in an unconscious state, then another couple of weeks on a regular floor. Just before Christmas 2018, we were blessed to be accepted into the Brain Rehabilitation Center (the old Deaconess Hospital) for a month of intensive speech, physical and occupational therapies. David and I both wept when the doctor who makes those decisions came to Aaron's room, heard he was in a worship band and offered to pray for him. 

Aaron's TBI (traumatic brain injury) was so severe that he didn't wiggle his toes on command for a month. Over time, with lots of hard work, Aaron learned how to walk again, talk and feed himself, etc. Though he is on disability, and can't drive because the TBI left him right-side blind, he is totally capable of taking care of himself, his son and our puppies, if necessary. Aaron shops for himself,  does his own laundry, cooks his own food, and helps out around the house. 

He is a joy and friend to those he meets at the gym, at church, and anywhere people gather. This boy is no longer shy.