Agency helps its own volunteer

By S. Virginia De Herdt
Correspondent

In my years volunteering for Disabled Resource Services, I never foresaw I would turn to DRS for help myself. But after my 16-year old nephew in Indianapolis was injured in a diving accident last summer, I did.

On July 6, I learned Jordan was in intensive care awaiting surgery to stabilize his neck. He had suffered a C5-6 cervical spinal cord injury and had quadriplegia. Injury to any of the eight cervical sections of the spinal cord results in quadriplegia (tetraplegia).

I needed information for my family about what to expect and how to cope. Through DRS, I connected with several people I knew through my volunteer work. This process of support from people who had experienced SCI was quite helpful. The common thread that emerged was Craig Rehabilitation Hospital in Englewood.

I talked to DRS Supported Youth Employment Program Coordinator Connie Shull, who began working at DRS after her discharge from Craig Hospital.

She became paraplegic because of a lumbar spinal injury sustained in her 1999 motorcycle accident. She was 37 when she was injured, and owned an interior design and painting company at the time. Lacking family support, her friends helped her cope. One faithfully called her every week to check how she was doing, which helped Shull deal with depression and thoughts of suicide.

I talked with Ida Castilleja, whom I had met last June setting up silent auction tables for Wine Fest. Her son Josh, like my nephew, was 16 when he sustained his C1-2 spinal injury in 2002. Severe financial and emotional stresses led to the family losing their home and divorce. Castilleja had first visited with DRS for help when her then husband became disabled. Jennifer Bell helped them with paperwork and to get needed equipment. Having already learned how the system worked, Castilleja was better prepared when Josh was injured.

When Josh was discharged from Craig, Castilleja had finished certified nursing assistant training. As a CNA she could provide home care for Josh, be paid for such, and make enough to support her family, which includes two other children. She's proud Josh graduated this year from Fort Collins High School, though last February they had to move back to family in Texas when Castilleja broke her wrist and couldn't care for Josh. Thanks in part to the Hilton Fort Collins, they were able to attend Josh's graduation ceremony on May 22.

I talked with my friend Rob, whom I met in the early '90s. He was injured through a snow tubing accident as a young man. Rob explained why, based on his own experience, he would want his nephew to go to Craig. That spurred me to call and schedule a tour of Craig Hospital.

During times of despair, inside us lie dormant seeds of hope waiting for the right conditions to germinate. Such a seed took root in me when I toured Craig Hospital. Other family then visited the hospital and, like me, left Craig more hopeful than when they arrived.

On July 21, Jordan began a four-month stay. Jordan's time in ICU in Indianapolis was a time of chaos, uncertainty and deep despair for family and friends, whereas his time at Craig was a time of hope and learning what was possible.

Craig Hospital is a SCI Model Systems Center and provides acute care and rehabilitation for patients 16 or older who have spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, or both. As a result, staff has much experience dealing with SCI complications, such as blood clots, urinary tract infections and skin sores. Every patient at Craig works with the same team of experts through his or her entire time there. Craig advocates for families with insurance companies, provides subsidized apartments for families, and encourages family members to learn along with patients.

Proceeds from the upcoming Wine Fest will benefit DRS, a center for independent living that helps people with all kinds of disabilities. About 5 percent of those served have a spinal injury, according to Nancy Jackson. Currently, DRS is working on a local spinal cord injury support group.

Ginny De Herdt served six years on DRS's board of directors. She continues to support DRS and is extremely grateful for all she has learned about disabilities from people she's met through DRS.