Max
06-20-2003, 03:53 PM
storm will pass'
By Glenda Morey June 18, 2003
May 6 will forever be a day remembered by Michael J. Peacock II of Huffman. The 18-year-old dove into a pool injuring his spinal cord, changing his life and his family's.
"I remember jumping into the pool and trying to get to the surface to yell for help. I knew something was wrong and I was scared," Peacock said.
Peacock had gone to a friend's apartment complex to go swimming that May afternoon. When he and his friends had gotten out of the pool, Peacock decided to go in one more time.
After diving in, he said he thought he hit the side of the pool and could not feel his legs but could move his arms.
At that time, one of his friends saw his head bleeding and jumped into the pool to pull him out.
Bethany Sutton, Peacock's mother, said he told his friends not to move him, but to call 911 and herself.
Peacock has been a lifeguard for the past three summers and knew from his training not to move a person after a suspected spinal cord injury.
One of Peacock's friends called Sutton to tell her of the accident. She and one of her daughters rushed over to the apartment complex where Emergency Medical Services were taking over.
"He was crying and told me he couldn't feel his legs but could feel his arms," she said.
EMS determined his injuries were serious enough that he needed to be LifeFlighted to Memorial Hermann Hospital.
"I lost it at that point." Sutton said. "As I was crying Michael kept saying, 'it's ok mom.'"
Peacock said he remembered a little about EMS at the apartment complex but does not remember being LifeFlighted or being in the emergency room.
"I remembered the [Magnetic Radiating Imaging] MRI test and waking up in ICU [Intensive Care Unit] with a hard collar on my neck," Peacock said. "I also remember everyone making a big deal that Dr. Red Duke was my doctor [in the emergency room]."
Sutton said her ex-husband, Michael Peacock Sr., his family and Sutton's family met in the emergency room together.
"Michael's [Sr.] family and my family have not spoken to each other in 18 years," she said. "That was the first time my two daughters saw both of their grandmothers together."
Sutton said everyone has reconciled since the accident.
From the ER, Peacock was transferred to The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, the TIRR clinic in the medical center of Houston to start the process of rehabilitating Peacock's spinal chord.
On May 21, Peacock had surgery on the front of his neck.
Doctors placed a titanium plate on his cervical discs five, six and seven. These discs are located right below his skull. Since he had crushed his cervical disc six, it was replaced with a cadaver disc during the surgical procedure.
Peacock Sr. said spinal injuries will heal from the time of the injury up to 18 months to 2 years.
A week and a half after Peacock's injury he was placed in a halo. A halo utilizes screws that are screwed into the skull about a fourth of an inch to minimize movement from his neck and head, his father said.
Although the halo was painful when put on, Sutton said, her son has not complained much about pain.
Peacock lost motor skills of his sixth cervical disc but retains some skills of his seventh cervical disc. C-6
controls most of the hands, fingers and triceps with some wrist movement. C-7 controls wrist, biceps and some triceps. Peacock has no feeling from his nipples and below however, he can move his arms, shoulders, elbows and wrists. His hands and finger movement is limited but has been improving everyday Sutton said.
Peacock starts his day at TIRR by waking up around 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. At 9 a.m., he attends occupational therapy class where he is taught household duties.
Bethany Sutton, Peacock's mother, said TIRR will teach him to be self-sufficient.
"The doctors told me he will be able to go to college and drive again," she said.
After this class, he attends RAPPS class starting at 10 a.m. where he is educated in general spinal chord injuries. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Peacock has free time to eat lunch or goes outside.
One of the things Peacock said he likes to do at TIRR is to
workout and exercise. From 2 to 3 p.m., he goes to physical therapy and from 3 to 4 p.m., he exercises by lifting weights.
"His arms have become very strong since he started rehabilitation," Sutton said.
From 4 to 9 p.m., he said he stays in his wheelchair.
He has had friends from his high school class come to the clinic to help him during his exercise classes or come to spend the night.
"They [his friends] keep coming. We see someone everyday up here," Sutton said. "The kids have been awesome. Some slept in the ICU the night the accident happened."
A group of Huffman High School seniors, wearing their caps and gowns, went to TIRR the Monday after their graduation to attend graduation with Peacock, his mother said.
Principal Robert Schnuriger of HHS presented Peacock with his diploma. He completed high school with honors wearing a silver cord and a Texas Scholar medal.
Peacock plans to take off a year to recuperate then go to college to get a degree in Criminal Justice.
Sutton said they are all tired but not disheartened.
"It feels like we are in a storm, sitting back letting God drive," she said. "The storm will pass, so why be anxious? God will take care of us."
Sutton added, "We will not stop praying. "We believe he will definitely be well some day."
A barbeque benefit and silent auction will go on from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 22 at the Whiskey River Ice House on the corner of North Houston and Townsen in Humble.
In addition, a car wash will be held the same day at Joe's Crab Shack on Hwy 59 north at FM 1960 in Humble. The benefits are to help defray the medical expenses and the months of traveling to and from the hospital and lost wages. Money raised will also help in home remodeling for wheel chair accessibility as well as the cost of living from day to day.
©Lake Houston Sun 2003
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By Glenda Morey June 18, 2003
May 6 will forever be a day remembered by Michael J. Peacock II of Huffman. The 18-year-old dove into a pool injuring his spinal cord, changing his life and his family's.
"I remember jumping into the pool and trying to get to the surface to yell for help. I knew something was wrong and I was scared," Peacock said.
Peacock had gone to a friend's apartment complex to go swimming that May afternoon. When he and his friends had gotten out of the pool, Peacock decided to go in one more time.
After diving in, he said he thought he hit the side of the pool and could not feel his legs but could move his arms.
At that time, one of his friends saw his head bleeding and jumped into the pool to pull him out.
Bethany Sutton, Peacock's mother, said he told his friends not to move him, but to call 911 and herself.
Peacock has been a lifeguard for the past three summers and knew from his training not to move a person after a suspected spinal cord injury.
One of Peacock's friends called Sutton to tell her of the accident. She and one of her daughters rushed over to the apartment complex where Emergency Medical Services were taking over.
"He was crying and told me he couldn't feel his legs but could feel his arms," she said.
EMS determined his injuries were serious enough that he needed to be LifeFlighted to Memorial Hermann Hospital.
"I lost it at that point." Sutton said. "As I was crying Michael kept saying, 'it's ok mom.'"
Peacock said he remembered a little about EMS at the apartment complex but does not remember being LifeFlighted or being in the emergency room.
"I remembered the [Magnetic Radiating Imaging] MRI test and waking up in ICU [Intensive Care Unit] with a hard collar on my neck," Peacock said. "I also remember everyone making a big deal that Dr. Red Duke was my doctor [in the emergency room]."
Sutton said her ex-husband, Michael Peacock Sr., his family and Sutton's family met in the emergency room together.
"Michael's [Sr.] family and my family have not spoken to each other in 18 years," she said. "That was the first time my two daughters saw both of their grandmothers together."
Sutton said everyone has reconciled since the accident.
From the ER, Peacock was transferred to The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, the TIRR clinic in the medical center of Houston to start the process of rehabilitating Peacock's spinal chord.
On May 21, Peacock had surgery on the front of his neck.
Doctors placed a titanium plate on his cervical discs five, six and seven. These discs are located right below his skull. Since he had crushed his cervical disc six, it was replaced with a cadaver disc during the surgical procedure.
Peacock Sr. said spinal injuries will heal from the time of the injury up to 18 months to 2 years.
A week and a half after Peacock's injury he was placed in a halo. A halo utilizes screws that are screwed into the skull about a fourth of an inch to minimize movement from his neck and head, his father said.
Although the halo was painful when put on, Sutton said, her son has not complained much about pain.
Peacock lost motor skills of his sixth cervical disc but retains some skills of his seventh cervical disc. C-6
controls most of the hands, fingers and triceps with some wrist movement. C-7 controls wrist, biceps and some triceps. Peacock has no feeling from his nipples and below however, he can move his arms, shoulders, elbows and wrists. His hands and finger movement is limited but has been improving everyday Sutton said.
Peacock starts his day at TIRR by waking up around 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. At 9 a.m., he attends occupational therapy class where he is taught household duties.
Bethany Sutton, Peacock's mother, said TIRR will teach him to be self-sufficient.
"The doctors told me he will be able to go to college and drive again," she said.
After this class, he attends RAPPS class starting at 10 a.m. where he is educated in general spinal chord injuries. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Peacock has free time to eat lunch or goes outside.
One of the things Peacock said he likes to do at TIRR is to
workout and exercise. From 2 to 3 p.m., he goes to physical therapy and from 3 to 4 p.m., he exercises by lifting weights.
"His arms have become very strong since he started rehabilitation," Sutton said.
From 4 to 9 p.m., he said he stays in his wheelchair.
He has had friends from his high school class come to the clinic to help him during his exercise classes or come to spend the night.
"They [his friends] keep coming. We see someone everyday up here," Sutton said. "The kids have been awesome. Some slept in the ICU the night the accident happened."
A group of Huffman High School seniors, wearing their caps and gowns, went to TIRR the Monday after their graduation to attend graduation with Peacock, his mother said.
Principal Robert Schnuriger of HHS presented Peacock with his diploma. He completed high school with honors wearing a silver cord and a Texas Scholar medal.
Peacock plans to take off a year to recuperate then go to college to get a degree in Criminal Justice.
Sutton said they are all tired but not disheartened.
"It feels like we are in a storm, sitting back letting God drive," she said. "The storm will pass, so why be anxious? God will take care of us."
Sutton added, "We will not stop praying. "We believe he will definitely be well some day."
A barbeque benefit and silent auction will go on from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 22 at the Whiskey River Ice House on the corner of North Houston and Townsen in Humble.
In addition, a car wash will be held the same day at Joe's Crab Shack on Hwy 59 north at FM 1960 in Humble. The benefits are to help defray the medical expenses and the months of traveling to and from the hospital and lost wages. Money raised will also help in home remodeling for wheel chair accessibility as well as the cost of living from day to day.
©Lake Houston Sun 2003
Reader Opinions
Be the first person to voice your opinion on this story!
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http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=8394409&BRD=1582&PAG=461&dept_id=184354&rfi=6