ZINE WRITER CULLEN CARTER HOSPITALIZED AFTER BIKE ACCIDENT
From Allyson Carter at ccarter@ticon.net
"Last Tuesday night (April 1st), on his way home (biking) from class,
Cullen was hit by a pickup truck who apparently never saw him, even
though he had lights on his bike. It was right at dusk. Cullen hit
the windshield, then hit the roof, denting it, and then landed in the
bed of the truck. The man did stop, and the police have done a full
investigation. The DA decided not to press charges, but that's
another story.
Right now, Cullen is in a deep coma. He suffered a brain injury
(called Diffuse Axonal Injury), which is similar to what happens to
boxers when they get a hard right hook and are knocked unconscious
(it is also similar to shaken baby syndrome); although to a much
greater degree.
He was wearing a helmet, which probably saved his life. He also
suffered a broken left hip, broken bones in his face, bruised lungs,
cracked ribs, vertebrae fractures (which do not affect his spinal
cord) and some facial lacerations which were probably caused by the
windshield. He is not breathing on his own; they inserted a
breathing tube at the scene to stabilize him (which is standard
procedure). He is stable; he is not in immediate danger of dying at
any moment.
Right now his main issue is the brain injury. He is in the ICU at
Froedtert Hospital here in Milwaukee (where they have been wonderful
to me and the rest of the family) and they are doing everything they
can, but it's basically a "wait and see" kind of deal. With brain
injuries they really can't judge how or if someone will recover from
them. Some do, and some don't. It sometimes can take a very long
time to know exactly what kind of brain damage you're dealing with.
He does show a few encouraging signs, though. He can hear voices in
the room, because his brain activity changes when someone talks to
him. He can feel pain, (although I don't think he is in constant
pain from his injuries) and reacts to light. They are checking his
neurological signs every hour. The nurses told me that it's really
too early to expect improvement, but he is holding his own, and not
getting worse, which is good. He does now have a touch of pneumonia,
which they are treating with antibiotics.
Tomorrow he is scheduled to have surgery to have a trach tube
inserted into his throat so he can breathe through that. Once the
trach is in, they would wean him off the ventilator. They think his
lungs will be able to breathe on their own, but because of the coma
he needs the trach to do so. He really does have great doctors who
are very experienced in this sort of thing helping him, and I know
they are doing their best and what is in Cullen's best interest now.
I am hanging in there and trying to remain "thinking positive", which
is easier at some times than others, but all our families are here to
support me and they're all helping me with Veronica, our 2 1/2 yo
daughter. She doesn't really understand, and she's just happy that
all her Nanas and Grammies and Papas are here and they all take her
out to get ice cream for lunch. She hasn't seen him, and probably
won't; at least not until the breathing tube is out.
They are saying that he could remain in the coma for a long time;
maybe never recovering. We won't know what kind of long term
prognosis we have until 9 to 12 months have gone by.
Cullen's brother and I also are setting up an email list so everyone
who wants can stay updated on his condition. If you hear from anyone
who would want to be on that list, have them email me at this
address [above]. We plan to update it every Wednesday, whether there's news
to report or not. That way, no one wonders what's going on with
him. It's been impossible for me to keep up with all the friends and
family who call and write to express their concern and support, and I
imagine this will become even more of a problem as more people find
out.
Please send out good thoughts (or prayers, as the case may be) for
Cullen.
Thank you so much. Allyson"
*********************
To help Cullen's family with bills and expenses, please give to the
Cullen Carter Benefit Fund. To do so, visit any Bank Mutual
(formerly Mutual Savings Bank) location throughout Wisconsin. To
find a branch location near you, you can visit their website at:
http://www.bankmutual.com/locations.html
If there is not a branch location near you, you may also send a gift
via the U.S. Postal Service to:
Bank Mutual
Corporate Headquarters
4949 W. Brown Deer Rd.
PO Box 245034
Milwaukee, WI 53224-9534
attn: Legal Department
Checks should be made out to : Cullen Carter Benefit Fund
To contact Bank Mutual with questions, please call (414) 354-1500 or 1
(800) 358-5070, fax # (414) 354-5450.
Thank you!"
[ Thanks to Asha Anderson and Davida Gypsy Breier ]
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