George’s Story

Site created on January 22, 2019

George was in a serious car accident around 7:30pm on Monday, January 21st on Merle Hay road in Des Moines/Urbandale Iowa. He was taken by ambulance to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines with a head injury and other minor fractures. Cory, Sophie, and I arrived at the ER not knowing what had happened other than he had been taken there by ambulance.  We were relieved to find out that he had survived, but he sustained major trauma to his head and brain. Part of his skull above his right eye was dented in and he had a major concussion. He has fractures to his occipital bone below his right eye, his collar bone, a rib, a MINOR BREAK in his L5 lower vertebrae and an inconsequential fracture in his pelvis. 

Newest Update

Journal entry by Brigid Ernst

1 year ago.

1 year ago, our lives changed forever and we began the journey of George’s recovery from his brain injury. It is hard to even think of what we have been through this past year and how far he has come. 

Since I last posted, George started classes at Grand View University. He’s taking it slow and going part time for now. In the fall, he took 7 credits earned Bs in his Intro to Psych and Psych Careers Seminar classes and is working on finishing up a paper for his Freshman seminar class. As the first semester moved on, he found that all of the assignment deadlines were more than he could manage at once, but thankfully his caring instructor, advisor,  and the disabilities coordinator worked with him to extend the deadline. We are so lucky he is in such an understanding environment. 

This semester, George is taking on 11 credits (3 classes again, but two are four credits.) So far, it has been going well, but we know later in the semester it could become more challenging. We just take one day at a time! 

We have also begun working with a new, amazing neuropsychologist who has done some extensive evaluation of George’s cognitive function. There are some areas that have damage that will probably be permanent, but since we are still in the first 18 months, she is recommending more therapeutic treatment to help him heal and learn ways to cope with and compensate for deficiencies. We are not sure exactly what this will look like, but we are looking into both therapeutic and educational programs that will specifically help him with more complex tasks and skills that will help him be successfully independent someday. 

We are so incredibly grateful for how far George has come, especially considering a year ago tonight his survival was in question. Not a day goes by that I don’t look at him with amazement and gratitude. We definitely couldn’t have made it without the outpouring of love and support from our family, friends, and coworkers. 

 

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