Wednesday, April 7, 2010
A True Love Story...part 2
Many of you have called or written me regarding my last blog about Joey & Vanessa. While everyone had great feedback about their pictures, some wondered what had happened to Joey at such a young age. With their permission, I will share their story as it really is a bitter-sweet one!
Joey and Vanessa dated for six years prior to their engagement on May 1st 2009 - their 6 year anniversary. Vanessa was thrilled and being a wedding planner herself, commenced planning her dream wedding right away. Then on June 14th 2009 she received a telephone call indicating Joey had been in a serious accident while motor crossing. As it turns out Joey had been leading the way through a dirt bike trail in Quebec, something he had done many times before, but this time he hit a rock and flew off his motocross. As his friends were a distance behind, they found him sometime later; he was unconscious. Upon arriving at the hospital, the doctors felt his injuries were more than their medical staff could handle and consequently had the ambulance transport him to the Ottawa Civic Hospital, Trauma Unit. Joey had broken his spine from T4 to T6 and crushed his spinal cored leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. He was rushed into surgery at 11pm at the Ottawa Civic hospital, where they straightened his spine with two metal rods and 12 screws. I remember visiting Joey and Vanessa at the hospital about three days after this horrible accident, Vanessa was so strong and positive and even Joey was smiling in between drifting off to sleep. They spent the next two weeks in the Trauma Unit at the Civic Hospital as Joey recovered from his surgery.
On June 29th he was transferred to the Ottawa Rehabilitation Center where he would learn to live his life without any movement and minimal sensation from the chest down. Here he would go through intensive physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and learn more then he ever thought he would know about his body. All of this happening while they continued to make plans for their wedding on May 1st, 2010. On September 29th Joey was discharged from the rehab center and finally was able to come home. He is now fully independent driving his new car and keeping busy with many sports such as alpine skiing, cycling, sledge hockey, and cross country skiing. Now with most of their wedding plans in place they can't wait to marry each other and quite honestly, I can't wait to witness it!!!!!
Keep up the great work Joey; love you both!
Happy Planning Everyone!
Liz B.
Joey and Vanessa dated for six years prior to their engagement on May 1st 2009 - their 6 year anniversary. Vanessa was thrilled and being a wedding planner herself, commenced planning her dream wedding right away. Then on June 14th 2009 she received a telephone call indicating Joey had been in a serious accident while motor crossing. As it turns out Joey had been leading the way through a dirt bike trail in Quebec, something he had done many times before, but this time he hit a rock and flew off his motocross. As his friends were a distance behind, they found him sometime later; he was unconscious. Upon arriving at the hospital, the doctors felt his injuries were more than their medical staff could handle and consequently had the ambulance transport him to the Ottawa Civic Hospital, Trauma Unit. Joey had broken his spine from T4 to T6 and crushed his spinal cored leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. He was rushed into surgery at 11pm at the Ottawa Civic hospital, where they straightened his spine with two metal rods and 12 screws. I remember visiting Joey and Vanessa at the hospital about three days after this horrible accident, Vanessa was so strong and positive and even Joey was smiling in between drifting off to sleep. They spent the next two weeks in the Trauma Unit at the Civic Hospital as Joey recovered from his surgery.
On June 29th he was transferred to the Ottawa Rehabilitation Center where he would learn to live his life without any movement and minimal sensation from the chest down. Here he would go through intensive physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and learn more then he ever thought he would know about his body. All of this happening while they continued to make plans for their wedding on May 1st, 2010. On September 29th Joey was discharged from the rehab center and finally was able to come home. He is now fully independent driving his new car and keeping busy with many sports such as alpine skiing, cycling, sledge hockey, and cross country skiing. Now with most of their wedding plans in place they can't wait to marry each other and quite honestly, I can't wait to witness it!!!!!
Keep up the great work Joey; love you both!
Happy Planning Everyone!
Liz B.
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