January 17, 2008

January 17, 2008 was supposed to be a great day for John, Marcus and Jonathan (Marcus’ roommate and best friend since the age of 7) because they were flying from Baltimore to Seattle Washington and then driving to Hamilton Montana. John had a little bit of business to do, but more importantly the 3 guys were going skiing. John wanted Chris to go, also, but he has some serious work he is doing now at NASA. John spent the night at Marcus’ apartment because their flight was from BWI @ 0830 on a Thursday morning. The night before, John, Marcus, Catherine (Marcus’ girlfriend) and Jonathan all went out to Greene Turtle. They had a bit to eat, and few “brew skis”. They were home and in bed by 1230 because they knew they were going to be up at 0600. They were up and out by 0630, going through the city of Baltimore and getting to 695 and 95 by 0705. Marcus was in the far left lane and the traffic immediately came to a stop. Marcus had to swerve to the left shoulder because there was a mild fender-bender about 3 cars up. After the traffic was beginning to pick up again, the car directly next to Marcus flashed her lights to let Marcus know she was letting him in. Marcus was just beginning to accelerate off of the left shoulder, and checked his rearview mirror. He saw a “big truck swerve onto the left shoulder, directly behind us and tried to avoid hitting us, but, when he turned hard, the truck rolled over onto the car, rolling from the rear right side, landing on the front passenger side of the car. I tried to open my door, but the door was wedged up against the guard rail. I opened the window and then turned the car to off. Jonathan was able to open the rear left door and climbed out. I was calling dad and he said he was okay, he could move everything, but he could not get out.” When Marcus and Jonathan got out, Marcus quickly went to his luggage, because he had already placed his cell phone in his suitcase. He was in the process of calling 911, when a lady ran up and said she was a nurse, and she had already called 911. Obviously Marcus was driving, Jonathan was sitting behind John and John was in the front passenger seat. Now the true acts of heroism begin. Police officers (1 Maryland State Police Officer, and several Maryland Highway Authority, arrived first, followed by the paramedics, and then fire department. Even though he was severely trapped, the paramedics climbed into the car and started an IV. They assessed the situation and realized there was no way to extricate John until they removed the truck from the roof of the car. John was absolutely immobile and had requested that Marcus try to release his seat back, but Marcus was unable to reach it, in fact, he could never see his head because the metal was bent all around him. What we realized was the sunroof had collapsed around his head, and probably protected him from all of the glass. The Maryland Highway Authority, Officer Rook, tried to get to John and support his neck, but was truly unable to reach him. The truck was on top of the roof, totally trapping John. He was bent over the middle console. It took the firefighters several attempts to try to shore up the truck with pieces of wood, which really wasn’t lifting the truck. The truck continued to bear down on John, and he was alert, but worried and just wanted to get out. Finally the fire department used air bags to lift the truck off of the jeep roof. At this point, the roof of the jeep was level with the bottom of the window on the right side. John was under this. During the time when the firefighters were shoring up the truck, others had cut away the doors, and the hatchback area. As soon as they removed the roof, the paramedics were holding John in his same position until they could apply the cervical collar. They then positioned him in a sitting position and placed him on the long backboard. He was so relieved he shook the hands of at least 6 firefighters and paramedics. He was so happy to be free of the crush of the roof, and the truck.

The paramedics had been talking with him the entire time that the firefighters were trying to remove the truck. They had noted that his left arm was numb and cool to touch. They had requested a helicopter and were thinking of taking him by ambulance to Bayview Hospital, but overruled this decision and flew him by helicopter to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Unit. He was conscious and talking but received a battery of tests. CT scan revealed a dislocated cervical disc @ level 4 and 5. They knew at this time they were dealing with a high spinal cord injury. They then prepared him for MRI. He was in quite a bit of pain, being medicated intravenously every 30-45 minutes. He was also very anxious. The team was concerned he would not be able to lay still for the MRI, but was able to sedate him enough to obtain an MRI of the spine, and CT scan of chest and abdomen. We did not see him for almost 4 hours and when we were allowed in he had “his dislocation reduced”. He had screws into each side of his head, and had cervical traction applied. He said he was feeling so much better, and was ready to go home. One problem he looked like Frankenstein’s son! He was well medicated and we felt it was time to leave him. The team had decided that he would have surgery in the morning (0700-0800). We had been at the hospital from 0930 until 1700. We were exhausted but afraid to leave.

Marcus had been seen in the ER @ shock trauma, and was ruled absolutely okay. Jonathan thought he was fine, but upon x-ray of the right shoulder it was noted he had a separated right shoulder and fractured right scapula. He did not even know he had any injury. That just shows what adrenaline can do for you.

Both boys are doing well, and I cannot even imagine the helpless feeling I would have if my father was trapped with a truck over him, and I could not help. We consider Jonathan one of our boys, too, and I know Marcus was grateful to have Jonathan with him.

I must mention that the people here at Shock Trauma have been Angels. I don’t say this lightly. From the first person who spoke with us at the concierge desk, Marie, to the nurse caring for John, Megan, they have been wonderful. Harold, another nurse, also came to our assistance when Megan was unable to get to the bedside. Everyone has been kind, patient, understanding and supportive. These people do this everyday. You can’t fake this sincerity. They are truly Angels!