ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, August 18, 1996 TAG: 9608190025
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: guest column
SOURCE: GREG ROOKER
It has been two months since my son Jason's accident. His life was saved by CPR, but he has suffered substantial brain damage because of lack of oxygen.
Last week, Jason had the most significant improvement of his six-week stay at Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center in Charlottesville. In short, he had his best week yet.
When Jason entered Kluge, he was classified as a 5 on a neurosensory scale that measures response from 1-113. Through the first five weeks, Jason's condition changed only very slowly. He had reached only 18 on the scale. In four days last week, he progressed up to 32.
He is much more alert and capable of following people around the room with his eyes in a continuous manner. He is able to track objects vertically and horizontally. When not agitated, he has watched television for up to an hour at a time. He has smiled purposefully five times.
We believe, as do his therapists, that he senses our presence. He seem to draw special comfort from his maternal grandfather, Frank Vickers of Draper.
Last week, Jason took his first spoonful of food since his accident. Polly, his speech therapist, coaxed a couple of spoonfuls of ice cream into his mouth. After taking several moments to decide what to do with it, he swallowed. Today, he ate an ounce and a half.
He is still unable to use his arms or legs and cannot speak or signal. Most days, Jason is plagued with seizures that cause his muscles to cramp and remain rigid for hours.
Many of the doctors we have consulted have given us little hope for the future. Nevertheless Fran and I remain hopeful. Our hope has been fueled by hundreds and hundreds of cards, letters and gifts from all over the commonwealth. It has been breathed into us by the many friends and relatives who have become intimately involved in our tragedy. Many of them have graciously volunteered days of time and traveled great distances at no small expense to lend their hands, hearts and hope.
Among the most meaningful are the half dozen letters and two visits we received from parents who had also faced similar bleak prognoses. Sometimes over several pages they related their own seemingly hopeless situations; all of which over time and with great effort have continued to improve. Their message in a phrase: "Don't give up hope ... never give up hope."
Also extraordinary have been the scores of beautiful cards and messages from folks we've never met. They've come from as far away as Manassas, Norfolk and Covington. More than 35 Sunday school classes and churches have responded prayerfully and by mail.
My family and I rejoice in the comfort, strength and determination these friends, known and unknown, have lent us. We feel the thousands of prayers offered on our behalf are responsible for Jason's progress.
Shortly after the accident my wife related somewhat philosophically, "This is going to teach us new life lessons. We must be careful to learn them."
She was right. The most important thus far has been learning to get through each day, not on my own, but on the strength lent to me by loving people and by my God.
Commonly, people offer condolences, saying, "I just don't see how you're getting through this." My answer is "We're not. We're surviving each day only by the strength of those loved ones gathered around us."
Greg Rooker and his family live at Claytor Lake. He is president and publisher of Family Community Newspapers, which owns newspapers in Wythe, Bland and Smyth counties.
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