How Three Remarkable Kids recovered From Brain Injuries or Illness
Doctors, researchers and therapists continue to make advances in how they diagnose and treat children with brain injuries and conditions. Today, parents have more reason to hope for a strong recovery than they ever did in the past. We're bringing you three remarkable stories of kids who have overcome great odds to recover from brain injuries or other conditions.
Parents of children with brain conditions know that the concept of "recovery" is a relative term on an indefinite timeline. However, through early diagnosis, treatment options and sheer determination, most of the people these kids interact with don't have a clue about the struggles they've overcome.
Below you will read about the struggles, journeys and blessings that three different families experienced as a result of in-utero stroke, traumatic brain injury and Asperger's syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder.
Our thanks go out to the Perlow, Primo and Jones families who shared their stories to raise awareness and give hope to others. Each emphasized their gratitude toward the many St. Louis area doctors, therapists, educators and other professionals who have helped their children reach new heights in their recovery.
by Michelle B. Mueller
The Journey of Greg Primo, 17 It was the third inning of an American Legion baseball game in June 2007. The then 15-year-old pitcher Greg Primo was ready to get the third batter out. His best friend, the catcher, gave him a signal to throw a fastball.
A moment later, a line drive hit Greg's head so hard that it flattened part of the baseball. The ball, with an estimated speed of more than 100 miles per hour, hit Greg just above the right ear.
When Greg arrived at St. Louis Children's Hospital, he was unable to speak or use the left side of his body, recalled his father, Mike Primo. A CT scan showed a compression fracture and bruising between the brain and skull.
When doctors in the pediatric intensive care unit noticed the next morning that Greg began slipping into a coma, a neurosurgeon applied two probes directly onto his brain to measure pressure and oxygen levels. When the monitors show a decrease in oxygen or an increase in pressure, doctors can give the patient medication to address the problem and sometimes prevent further damage to the brain.
Greg's mother, Joan Primo, and father, Mike Primo, say the probes made the biggest impact on their son's successful outcome.
Dr. Jose Pineda, director of the neurocritical care program at St. Louis Children's Hospital, said the oxygen monitoring probe debuted at Children's about a year before Greg's accident.
"The most severe injuries warrant this when you still have hope that the patient can recover and that the brain can recover," Pineda said. "It's something very promising for a certain group of children, and Greg was one of those children."
Doctors kept Greg in a drug-induced coma for four days to allow his brain to begin healing. When he awoke, Greg was slurring his speech and his left side was uncoordinated and numb. His vocal cords also were affected, leaving him hoarse and unable to change pitch or tone.
Therapy started immediately. Greg had to relearn how to drink out of a cup and tie his shoes; he had to deliberately and methodically think about putting one foot in front of the other to walk.
Nine days after the accident, Greg stepped into his south St. Louis home and grabbed his beloved guitar. Although his fingers on his left hand were numb, he managed to play.
"Not having my guitar—that was theworst part of being in the hospital," Greg recalled.
While recuperating at home, singing and playing guitar became Greg's main form of therapy. Soon his voice returned to normal. He regained feeling in his arm and fingers, and his guitar playing improved.
For six weeks, Greg's physical therapy sessions progressed from walking on a treadmill with support from his therapist to eventually running sprints similar to basketball suicide drills.
Although Greg still struggles with short-term memory loss as a result of the accident, medication has improved his academic performance at Vianney High School in Kirkwood. His reaction time isn't up to full speed, he said. He realizes his emotions are slightly dulled.
Life, however, is far from dull for Greg.
Since the accident, Greg has chosen to put away his baseball glove. The infamous baseball with a flat side now holds a place of honor in a plastic case in his living room. He is focusing on his passion—his band, known as City Lights. Gigs keep him busy most weekends.
Greg's talents as a vocalist and guitarist not only accelerated his recovery, but also have allowed him to give back to the hospital that saved his life. Last spring, his band raised more than $18,000 with a benefit concert at Blueberry Hill in University City for Children's neurocritical care unit.
He hopes more children can successfully recover. Eight months after his accident, Greg's best friend—the catcher in his last baseball game —died from a traumatic brain injury in a car accident.
Greg's brain continues to heal. According to Pineda, neurocritical care and rehabilitation start at the scene of the accident and never ends. Both his family and his doctors are in awe of how far he's come.
"Greg went from an injury where many kids die to an exceptional outcome doing things that many people cannot do," said Pineda. "I couldn't memorize all those songs and sing and play like that. He’s doing amazingly well."
Read the remarkable recovery stories of Alllison Perlow, 8, and Elena Jones, 11, in the Spring, 2009, issue of St. Louis Kids Magazine, on newsstands now.
The second annual Greg Primo All-Star Concert benefits the Pediatric Neurocritical Care Program at St. Louis Children's Hospital, which cares for critically ill children with brain injuries. The concert features City Lights; Danny Liston and Pat Liston of Mama's Pride; The Kings of Soulard, Jimmy Lee Kennet, Tony Campanella and Steve Pacaro; and Honeytribe, featuring Devon Allman. Tickets to the concert, held at Casa Loma Ballroom, 3354 Iowa Ave., St. Louis, are $30. VIP admission packages are $100. For more information or tickets, visit primoallstars.com or call 314-568-5759.
