Update and Doctor's Letter
I will give you a quick update and then the family has a very important letter to share with you.
Matthew is eating solid foods again - with a great deal of effort and encouragement on his parents' part, but this is good progress back in the right direction. We do not know at this time if Matthew's release date will be extended past June 30th. It all depends on the doctor's accessment of Matthew's current condition (and the doctor has been ill recently).
Flooring is going in this week in the basement at grandmother's house. The carpet was pulled up last week. Volunteers are also working on the driveway and the concrete slab this week. A very generous donation of concrete is MUCH appreciated! At this time a vehicle has not been secured.
The following joint-effort letter was written by a rehabilitation psychologist, and Matthew's Case Manager. It is our hope that this letter will explain a great deal about Matthew's condition and be a reminder that this isn't a temporary change in the Kurz' family's lifestyle and they need all the help and support we can give them.
Rachel Asburry
June 1, 2006
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is to offer some insight into the nature of the injury suffered by Matthew Kurz. Matthew was involved in a motor vehicle collision on January 25, 2006. Available records indicate that this collision occurred as a result of blinding by the sun that prevented Matthew from seeing a stopped bus, which Matthew's car struck from behind.
Matthew incredibly survived the collision, but suffered a very severe traumatic injury to the brain (TBI). The nature of the injury involved the whole brain, with widespread damage to the axons of the brain (the part of the brain cells that deliver information to other parts of the brain). Consequently, during much of the early part of his hospital stay Matthew was in a coma or near coma.
As is typical in injuries of this severity, Matthew is making very gradual progress. He is now no longer in a coma, and is able to visually establish eye contact with others. However, he is unable to walk, talk, or communicate reliably even in non-verbal ways. He remains totally dependent on others for care, even for activities as basic as feeding himself or brushing his teeth.
Whether he will ever regain the ability to take care of basic activities of daily living such as feeding and toileting himself is not certain, and will not be known for years. Almost certainly, Matthew will be left permanently disabled by this injury. It cannot be assumed that he will regain the ability to walk, and in all probability will need to rely on a wheelchair for mobility.
The rehabilitation team at Rusk Rehabilitation Center, working closely with Matthew's family, is striving to help Matthew regain as much function as is possible. We have found that perfect prediction of outcome after traumatic brain injury is not possible, and sometimes people exceed expectations and make incredible gains. Unfortunately, it is also true that many patients with severe TBI remain permanently and fully disabled, despite the best efforts of the patient, the family, and the medical/rehabilitation professionals.
In Matthew's case there is reason to be hopeful since it is still very early in the rehabilitation process. However, it is extremely important that all involved (directly or indirectly) in providing care and support to Matthew and his family understand that this is a very severe injury from which Matthew will be healing for years. At this stage, all involved should understand that he will be totally dependent for the foreseeable future on those who love and support him. It is not realistic to assume that he will be able to walk any time in the near future, and in order for him to return to the community with his family (where he belongs and has the best chance of healing) it will be critical that the home setting be accessible for a person in a wheelchair.
There is much misunderstanding and misinformation about traumatic brain injury in the general public, often fueled by very inaccurate portrayals of TBI and recovery in the popular media. Unfortunately, these misunderstandings create great difficulties for survivors of TBI and their families. Research demonstrates that one of the best things that can help people recover and adjust to TBI is an understanding and supportive community. This letter is written in an attempt to help create a better understanding among Matthew's home community of the substantial challenges he will face the rest of his life related to this injury. Please do what you can to be supportive and understanding of Matthew and his family.
For those interested in learning more about TBI, you are encouraged to contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri at www.biamo.org or the National Brain Injury Association at www.biausa.org.
Thank you,
Joseph H. Hinkebein, Ph.D., ABPP(Rp)
Clinical Associate Professor
Rehabilitation Psychologist
University of Missouri Medical Center
Lisa Scott, MA
Rusk Rehabilitation Brain Injury Case Manager
Matthew is eating solid foods again - with a great deal of effort and encouragement on his parents' part, but this is good progress back in the right direction. We do not know at this time if Matthew's release date will be extended past June 30th. It all depends on the doctor's accessment of Matthew's current condition (and the doctor has been ill recently).
Flooring is going in this week in the basement at grandmother's house. The carpet was pulled up last week. Volunteers are also working on the driveway and the concrete slab this week. A very generous donation of concrete is MUCH appreciated! At this time a vehicle has not been secured.
The following joint-effort letter was written by a rehabilitation psychologist, and Matthew's Case Manager. It is our hope that this letter will explain a great deal about Matthew's condition and be a reminder that this isn't a temporary change in the Kurz' family's lifestyle and they need all the help and support we can give them.
Rachel Asburry
June 1, 2006
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is to offer some insight into the nature of the injury suffered by Matthew Kurz. Matthew was involved in a motor vehicle collision on January 25, 2006. Available records indicate that this collision occurred as a result of blinding by the sun that prevented Matthew from seeing a stopped bus, which Matthew's car struck from behind.
Matthew incredibly survived the collision, but suffered a very severe traumatic injury to the brain (TBI). The nature of the injury involved the whole brain, with widespread damage to the axons of the brain (the part of the brain cells that deliver information to other parts of the brain). Consequently, during much of the early part of his hospital stay Matthew was in a coma or near coma.
As is typical in injuries of this severity, Matthew is making very gradual progress. He is now no longer in a coma, and is able to visually establish eye contact with others. However, he is unable to walk, talk, or communicate reliably even in non-verbal ways. He remains totally dependent on others for care, even for activities as basic as feeding himself or brushing his teeth.
Whether he will ever regain the ability to take care of basic activities of daily living such as feeding and toileting himself is not certain, and will not be known for years. Almost certainly, Matthew will be left permanently disabled by this injury. It cannot be assumed that he will regain the ability to walk, and in all probability will need to rely on a wheelchair for mobility.
The rehabilitation team at Rusk Rehabilitation Center, working closely with Matthew's family, is striving to help Matthew regain as much function as is possible. We have found that perfect prediction of outcome after traumatic brain injury is not possible, and sometimes people exceed expectations and make incredible gains. Unfortunately, it is also true that many patients with severe TBI remain permanently and fully disabled, despite the best efforts of the patient, the family, and the medical/rehabilitation professionals.
In Matthew's case there is reason to be hopeful since it is still very early in the rehabilitation process. However, it is extremely important that all involved (directly or indirectly) in providing care and support to Matthew and his family understand that this is a very severe injury from which Matthew will be healing for years. At this stage, all involved should understand that he will be totally dependent for the foreseeable future on those who love and support him. It is not realistic to assume that he will be able to walk any time in the near future, and in order for him to return to the community with his family (where he belongs and has the best chance of healing) it will be critical that the home setting be accessible for a person in a wheelchair.
There is much misunderstanding and misinformation about traumatic brain injury in the general public, often fueled by very inaccurate portrayals of TBI and recovery in the popular media. Unfortunately, these misunderstandings create great difficulties for survivors of TBI and their families. Research demonstrates that one of the best things that can help people recover and adjust to TBI is an understanding and supportive community. This letter is written in an attempt to help create a better understanding among Matthew's home community of the substantial challenges he will face the rest of his life related to this injury. Please do what you can to be supportive and understanding of Matthew and his family.
For those interested in learning more about TBI, you are encouraged to contact the Brain Injury Association of Missouri at www.biamo.org or the National Brain Injury Association at www.biausa.org.
Thank you,
Joseph H. Hinkebein, Ph.D., ABPP(Rp)
Clinical Associate Professor
Rehabilitation Psychologist
University of Missouri Medical Center
Lisa Scott, MA
Rusk Rehabilitation Brain Injury Case Manager
posted by Randy Asburry @ 11:01 AM
2 Comments:
At 2:44 PM,
Anonymous said…
Thank you for the update. It is so hard to believe that Matthew will be this way forever. It has to be so heart rendering for Pastor and Brenda. Hopefully he will be able to come home soon, so they can resume some normal life. I know he his a pesistant young man. He is in our thoughts and prayers. M talbott
At 6:42 AM,
Anonymous said…
Thank you for the update. Just one comment - as I read the letter it does not say he will be this way forever - it is still early in the rehabilitation process and there is reason to be hopeful - we the community, family and friends need to be hopeful, supportive and not give up and say he will be this way forever - only God knows that answer. Matthew is a determined young man, as I have been by his side and cared for him in the hospital and at rusk (to give Brenda and Pastor some time off)and one can see that he has not given up.
M. Mehrens
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