Ugly News

[Zephik]

My Best Friends friend (and his girlfriend), who is someone I have known forever and have much respect for has been in a terrible car accident. I'm going to share what my best friend wrote and let you guys know what the situation is. Maybe some of you can take a few seconds of your time and just put in a lil prayer for him. or if your not religious, just read on and look at the picture of what was his Subaru WRX. It's amazing that they aren't dead. I'll thank god for that much, but I'm going to hold out for that final thank you until I know what his mental state is when he wakes up. He is younger than I am (19) and is a very bright and intelligent guy. He has alot to look forward to in life, so I am really hoping and praying hard that he makes it out okay.


Saturday night, my roomate and best friend of more then 10 years, Mike Prusek and his girlfriend Alex hit a young moose on their way home from Mike's parents house.
Then seconds later they were struck from behind at full speed by a 1 ton pickup hauling a trailer.
Mike was driving his Subaru WRX which was then launched forward almost 250 feet and then into the ditch.
The Jaws of Life were used to cut mike's door off Mike was rushed to the hospital and Alex was
pulled out of the car through mikes side seconds later and rushed to the hospital right behind mike.
When they arrived mike was unconciouse and his puples weren't responding. He imidiately got a cat scan and the
doctors that mike had sustained severe head trauma and had developed a brain hemmorhage
and his brain was swelling. They preped him for the OR instantly. they needed to cut a chink of his skull off
so that they could suction out the blood and relieve the swelling.
Alex arrived and was responsive but very shaken up. she had recieved a laceration on the back of her
head and needed about 13 stiches and her shoulder was very bruised, but somehow she still managed to keep her smile. she was released that night.
As soon as mike was done with surgery they took him into ICU (Intensive Care Unit). and his family were allowed to
see him. his head was bandaged up and there was not a single other mark anywhere on his body. He was breathing with a resperator and was completely unconcious.
the surgeon ( Who is the father of one of our old friends and we thank you sir for your amazing talent and everything you have done for mike, and thank
you and your family so much for your support me and my adopted family are eternally grateful to you), he informed us that at this point his vitals
are stable but as for and damage that may have been done to his brain, there was no way for them to tell until he wakes up. we just have to wait for the swelling
to die down and for him to regain his strength enough to wake up, which will take some time, possibly weeks.
First both his parents went in and saw him, then they let Alex sit with him alone. I was allowedin next with alex.
I have seen some amazing people in my life but none can compare to the one sitting next to mike holding his hand...
As i walked in ALex turned and looked at me with her tear drenched eyes and smiled at me and had the strength to ask me how i was doing...
all i could do was smile back and she laughed...
i'm sorry to tell you that everytime i had heard that laugh before now i had thought that it was annoying....sorry alex :)
but i heard that laugh from a choked up madly in love girl and ill never think that again. Mike smiled inside too i think.
the next morning she actually walked in... when she had left the night before she was in a wheelchair. she came in that morning with a smile and i don't think she left mike's side once that entire day...
she walked in and sat beside him and she talked to him. and she started humming for him and the doctors say his vital signs got so much stronger once he heard her...
Thank you alex, I personally owe you so much...
i look forward to being the best man at your wedding...

as of right now mikes vital signs look promising and the doctors are very pleased with the progress that he has made in such a short time. but we wont know anything till he wakes up
at this time he is not allowed to see anyone but family.
as anything progresses i will post updates on his situation

http://a490.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/63/l_62cb347a13c47f4e240134c5134c42d1.jpg


Right now, his brain is swelling pretty bad and they have been doing surgery to release some of the pressure. I'm really hoping that it starts to go down soon. We don't know what his mental state is going to be until he wakes up, but other than that. He is pretty much fine. A few bruises, but no broken bones. His girlfriend has a few bruises and a nasty gash on the back of her head. But she too is in pretty good condition for what has happened.

[Ironcat]

I am sure I am not alone in saying my thoughts are with you and your friend.

[Nagoshi]

Damn, that should've hurt. I feel sorry for them, I hate these truckers. Hpe your friend will get better in the next days, even if I dont really know you.... damn sad story. I have him in my thoughts.

Remembers me how the road can be dangerous...

[xRyokenx]

I hope all goes well for him, you, his girlfriend, his family, and everyone involved...

[SgtM]

Looking at that picture, I would have to agree that it's amazing that they are still alive. Best of luck to them in their recovery.

[azminisk8r]

ow and dude sorry hope he comes back to normal soon

[Zephik]

Thanks so much for your kind words guys. It means alot. I'll let you all know if he comes out okay or not. I have a feeling its going to be okay though. :)

[Drum Thumper]

I will most certainly keep your friend and his g/f in my thoughts and prayers.

And Nagoshi, a 1 ton truck is a heavy duty pickup, not a tractor rig. Most likely a farmer or rancher. Or maybe a Building Contractor.

[Commando]

Good luck to them. That must have been scary as hell.

[XcOM]

my thoughts go out to them, wishing them the best for a speedy and promising recovery.

I am suppurised they suvived that from the photo, Good job it was a suburu, shows how strong they are.

[.Maleficus.]

Wow, it's amazing they survived that. My cousin had something similar happen about 6 months go with his friend. They hit an icy patch on the highway and went flying into they ditch. My cousin was ok, but he lost his best friend though...

Car accidents are scary as hell, and I hope that your friend makes it out ok. I wish the best of luck to all of you, as I know that tending for his needs right now must be taxing on all of you.

[simon275]

Hope he gets better and is back on his feet soon.

[GT40_GearHead]

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

_______________________

[Redundant]

I hope he gets better soon.

On brain swelling, I read, that if they cool his skull down only about 10 degrees after massive impact trauma, the chance of him having brain problems (a stroke was it?) goes down significantly. Something you might want to look into.

And to lighten the mood: May the Force be with him. :)

[chaksq]

My thoughts go out to your friend, and all of his family and friends.

[Ichbin]

yaz may or may not be religious, but im praying for you and your mates.

Best of luck to you guys.

[Rudsta816]

i know a guy from another forum that almost hit a deer on the road and if he had it would have flipped into his windsheild :( thankfully it didnt.

[GT40_GearHead]

if i remember correctly there is a safety test called the "the moose test" that is similar to hitting deer, horse or any other 4 legged large animal, the idea is that the windshield must not permit any intrusion

[xmastree]

Hope he pulls through...

[Commando]

My bad, that's what I get for just scanning a post, I'm sorry I didn't realize your friend was still in a coma. I just scanned down and saw that they would probably be ok from the main injuries.

I took some emergency medicine when I was younger, as a Wilderness First Responder. The whole brain swelling thing is usually like a 48 hr thing if I remember correctly. They keep the pressure manageable with meds. That's why the golden hour is so critical, to get the meds to control the swelling. Usually if it is a bad head injury they will purposefully keep the guy medically asleep to let the swelling go down first and to prevent further injury. But I don't think they do that past 48 hrs so hopefully he'll just wake up with a bad headache.

Tell their families good luck and we're thinking about them.

[Zephik]

Mike is getting progressively better these last few days. Very very good news to hear. He's still unconscious so we dont know what he will be like when he wakes up... but we all have our fingers crossed and our hands in prayer that he is okay. Thanks again guys, I appreciated the lack of flaming a ton. :) ;)

I'll let you all know when he wakes and what the situation is from there. Again, thank you so much, I'm sure all of your good thoughts and prayers has helped!

[Aero]

Glad to hear it Snowfire. Hopefully he continues on this upward path and awakes soon. :)

[Zephik]

Here's the update I promised you guys.

http://caringbridge.org/cb/inputSiteName.do?method=search&siteName=mikeprusek

He's out of the hospital now and into Physical Therapy. Aka PT. I'm not exactly sure on what his mental condition or anything is. I've too afraid to ask.

Anyways, just wanted to put this out for anyone who was wondering what has been happening. Thanks again guys.

I'm also going to lock this thread. It doesnt need to be open any longer. Again, thanks for all of your good thoughts and prayers. I'm sure they helped!