ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 4, 1997 TAG: 9701060037
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: LISA K. GARCIA STAFF WRITER
A Virginia Tech veterinary surgeon came home Friday after nearly two months of hospitalization following an accident that left him partially paralyzed.
Robert Martin, professor of surgery and director of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine's teaching hospital, finished his rehabilitation at the Medical College of Virginia hospitals in Richmond on Thursday, according to a family friend.
Martin fell 20 feet from a tree stand on Nov. 11 while hunting deer on his property. It was nearly six hours before a friend found Martin lying at the base of the tree. The fall severed Martin's spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed from beneath his ribs to his toes.
Lucy Paulette, a friend of the family, said members of Harvest Baptist Church, where Martin is a deacon, organized a welcome-home party for him that included a potluck supper Friday evening.
Paulette said Martin had been home only once the since accident.
"He did come home Christmas Eve and went back Christmas Day night," she said. "I think he's doing great; he has a really good outlook."
Although Martin completed several weeks of rehabilitation in Richmond, he will not immediately return to work. Paulette said Martin will continue his rehabilitation at area hospitals and is expected to return to work as soon as he is able.
The dean's office of the vet college organized a fund to help pay bills related to the accident. Anyone who wants to donate should call Joyce Morgan in the dean's office at 231-7910 or mail checks made out to the "Robert A. Martin Fund" to Joyce Morgan, Office of the Dean, VMRCVM, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va., 24061.
LENGTH: Short : 39 linesby CNB