Frederick David Rolfes David Rolfes

Hi family and friends, we are using this page to keep you all updated in one place. This will be easier for us to let everyone know about Davids progress. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement.


On the morning of November 18th, after staying at a cabin with friends in Gatlinburg, David took a fall down the stairs resulting in a traumatic head injury with a skull fracture from the back of his head to his forehead, and a brain bleed on both sides with some swelling. He was air cared to University of Tennessee medical center in Knoxville. When arrived at the emergency room, he was placed on a ventilator and sedation to reduce swelling and minimize his movement. 


After about a day he got taken off the ventilator and they reduced his medication in order to help him become more aware and responsive. His most recent CT scan showed a small increased area of bleeding which goes along with this type of injury, which is considered a frontal lobe injury. The neuro surgeon compared his injury to evolving like a serious bruise. We are to expect in short term some slight personality changes, impulse control and short term memory loss. 


He is currently still in the ICU with hopes of moving to an acute floor soon, which will help him start functioning independently and get stronger. There will be ups and downs with small changes but day by day David’s improving. He still has his humor, making us giggle and reassuring us that his personality is still in tact.  


Rehab will be the second part of his recovery phase in Cincinnati once is his released from the hospital.


Our family is grateful for all the prayers and support back home we have received. We will continue to keep you updated as he progresses through this journey.