Injured Q-C student now sitting upright

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By Ann McGlynn | Thursday, November 9, 2006 1:36 AM CST | () comments

The Rock Island football player injured in a game nearly seven weeks ago has been accepted to a prestigious rehabilitation institute in Chicago, his mom said.

Travis Hearn, who now is being cared for at a specialty hospital in Sycamore, Ill., could go to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago as early as next week, said Colleen Stovall.

The move comes on the heels of a major accomplishment for her son: He sat upright in a wheelchair for the first time without complications on Monday. He has since been outside, she said.

Hearn remains paralyzed from the neck down. A ventilator continues to help him breathe.

“The bottom line for now is he is (paralyzed),” Stovall said. “The first two weeks I didn’t use that word.”

Hearn spends his days in a small room at Kindred Hospital, surrounded by family and friends. He likes to watch ESPN and MTV. His mom sleeps in a hospital bed next to him. His sisters, grandmother, aunt, coaches, friends and strangers visit.

The institute he will be going to has been named the “Best Rehabilitation Hospital in America” since 1991 by U.S. News & World Report.

Hearn is excited to go, Stovall said. The prospect of going there is what motivated him to sit upright.

He has faced much since his spinal injury during the Sept. 22 football game. He gets extremely hot, then extremely cold. He has severe back spasms. He panics because he feels like he isn’t getting enough breath. He gets nauseous.

He gets angry.

Leg braces prevent clots and muscle deterioration. As his mom showed a visitor the braces, her son slept. When asked if he could feel her move his legs, she said no.

“But we still touch him,” she said.

Stovall has been home once since they left Trinity Medical Center on Oct. 13. She boarded a Greyhound bus in the early afternoon a week ago Tuesday, returned to Rock Island to be with her family, then boarded the bus that evening to return to Sycamore.

A man who lives near the hospital took her to the bus station. John Brandmeyer heard about Hearn’s story through his parents and has visited the family every day, bringing them dinner or whatever they need.

He is one of the dozens and dozens of examples of how people have supported Hearn and his family, Stovall said.

“I just can’t say enough about how me, my family, really, really, really appreciate it,” she said while sitting in the hospital cafeteria. A leather briefcase packed with the cards she reads to her son and information about paralysis sat next to her. “Please keep us in your prayers.

“We have a long, long, long way to go.”

Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or amcglynn@qctimes.com.

Writing Travis

Travis Hearn’s mom reads him every card and letter he receives. To send him mail, address it to: Kindred Hospital, c/o Travis Hearn, 225 Edward St., Sycamore, IL 60178

Fundraisers

Saturday — The Knights of Pythias Uniform Rank and Alberta King Court No. 12 will sponsor a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon at Hiram Lodge No. 19, 321 W. 8th St., Davenport. Tickets are $5.

Nov. 19 — A 41-hectometer race will begin at 1 p.m. at the Rock Island High School tennis courts. A 41-decameter race will begin at 11:45 a.m. at the Rock Island High School track. The races are sponsored by the Friends for 41, which was Travis Hearn’s football uniform number. The entry fee will be $3 for elementary school students, $10 for middle and high school students and $15 for adults. Fees will be slightly higher on race day. For more information or a registration form, call David Nevling at (309) 721-1960 or (309) 756-0926.