Max
12-15-2002, 11:58 AM
Injury strikes teen from old Monett family
Special to The Monett Times
Published December 13, 2002 4:00 PM CST
Jeff McCaffrey fights to walk as college football, normal life changes after vehicular accident
By MELONIE ROBERTS
Life can, and often does, change in a heartbeat.
That heartbeat of change happened to Jeff and Kathy McCaffrey on November 17, when they received the phone call that every parent dreads.
Their son, Jeff McCaffrey Jr., had been in an accident, and the emergency room doctor was on the other end of the line saying, "You need to come to the hospital right away."
In an instant -- a heartbeat -- their son's life had changed.
The 18-year-old Rockhurst High School honor roll graduate, football player, and defensive back for the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, had been paralyzed from the waist down from injuries received in an automobile accident.
Jeff and three other cadets from the prestigious academy were heading home from a weekend spent at Keystone when the driver of the car swerved to avoid colliding with a three-car pileup on the highway. He lost control of the vehicle, and the car rolled several times before coming to a stop. McCaffrey was in the back seat and received the major force of the impact, while his three friends escaped with minor injuries.
Following an all night drive from their home in Overland Park to Littleton Advantis Hospital, Jeff and Kathy McCaffrey learned that their son had suffered a crushed vertebra on his spinal cord. A four-hour surgery helped stabilize the injury, but for their son, the realization of the full extent of his injuries was slower to come.
He began to tell of his plans to return to college in time for finals, of a trip he wanted to make with the football team to a bowl game, of returning to the Academy where he had already completed a series of rigorous physical fitness training programs.
Four childhood friends flew to Colorado to offer their support. They learned about the sudden changes that had overtaken their long-time friend, of the pain and depression he was suffering, of the mood swings -- periods of hope followed by darker moments of deep despair -- and the futile wish that everything could be as it once was. Depression and anger are common emotions with spinal cord patients.
But there is hope.
Just before Thanksgiving, young McCaffrey started therapy at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, an institution renowned for treating patients with spinal cord injuries. Although, according to doctors, his chances of walking again are less than one percent, hope still reigns with his family and friends who continue to pray for his recovery.
Joyce Tinklepaugh, of Pierce City, McCaffrey's great-aunt, tells of his recent progress.
"We were hoping for some good news, but things are about the same, she said. "He's hasn't been able to start the rehabilitation therapy as of yet, due to some medical complications. He had to have surgery to correct a collapsed lung, among other things.
"He is at Craig Hospital at this point, and they expect him to be there for about eight weeks," she continued. "Other than that, there is no real update on his case. We would like to see a miracle, but doctors aren't being very optimistic. I don't know how much rehab can do for him."
Jeff is the great-grandson of the late Mary and Joseph McCaffrey. He also has five great uncles in the area: Jeff McCaffrey, Joel McCaffrey, Jim McCaffrey, Jerry McCaffrey and Jack McCaffrey.
Numerous family members and friends continue their daily prayers for his recovery. His football teammates even displayed their support by wearing his initials, J.M., on their helmets at the November 23 Air Force Academy game.
"We can't give up hope," Tinklepaugh said.
Those wishing to make donations to help defray the considerable medical costs associated with McCaffrey's hospitalization and treatment may do so by sending them to: McCaffrey Family Fund, c/o Bank of America, Attn: Bob Arthur, 1200 Main Street, 13th Floor, Kansas City, Mo. 64105.
Those wishing to send holiday greetings and messages of support may write to: Jeff McCaffrey, c/o Craig Hospital, 3425 S. Clarkson, Englewood, Co. 10110.
http://www.monett-times.com/NF/omf/monett/news_story.html?[rkey=0012740+[cr=gdn
Special to The Monett Times
Published December 13, 2002 4:00 PM CST
Jeff McCaffrey fights to walk as college football, normal life changes after vehicular accident
By MELONIE ROBERTS
Life can, and often does, change in a heartbeat.
That heartbeat of change happened to Jeff and Kathy McCaffrey on November 17, when they received the phone call that every parent dreads.
Their son, Jeff McCaffrey Jr., had been in an accident, and the emergency room doctor was on the other end of the line saying, "You need to come to the hospital right away."
In an instant -- a heartbeat -- their son's life had changed.
The 18-year-old Rockhurst High School honor roll graduate, football player, and defensive back for the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, had been paralyzed from the waist down from injuries received in an automobile accident.
Jeff and three other cadets from the prestigious academy were heading home from a weekend spent at Keystone when the driver of the car swerved to avoid colliding with a three-car pileup on the highway. He lost control of the vehicle, and the car rolled several times before coming to a stop. McCaffrey was in the back seat and received the major force of the impact, while his three friends escaped with minor injuries.
Following an all night drive from their home in Overland Park to Littleton Advantis Hospital, Jeff and Kathy McCaffrey learned that their son had suffered a crushed vertebra on his spinal cord. A four-hour surgery helped stabilize the injury, but for their son, the realization of the full extent of his injuries was slower to come.
He began to tell of his plans to return to college in time for finals, of a trip he wanted to make with the football team to a bowl game, of returning to the Academy where he had already completed a series of rigorous physical fitness training programs.
Four childhood friends flew to Colorado to offer their support. They learned about the sudden changes that had overtaken their long-time friend, of the pain and depression he was suffering, of the mood swings -- periods of hope followed by darker moments of deep despair -- and the futile wish that everything could be as it once was. Depression and anger are common emotions with spinal cord patients.
But there is hope.
Just before Thanksgiving, young McCaffrey started therapy at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, an institution renowned for treating patients with spinal cord injuries. Although, according to doctors, his chances of walking again are less than one percent, hope still reigns with his family and friends who continue to pray for his recovery.
Joyce Tinklepaugh, of Pierce City, McCaffrey's great-aunt, tells of his recent progress.
"We were hoping for some good news, but things are about the same, she said. "He's hasn't been able to start the rehabilitation therapy as of yet, due to some medical complications. He had to have surgery to correct a collapsed lung, among other things.
"He is at Craig Hospital at this point, and they expect him to be there for about eight weeks," she continued. "Other than that, there is no real update on his case. We would like to see a miracle, but doctors aren't being very optimistic. I don't know how much rehab can do for him."
Jeff is the great-grandson of the late Mary and Joseph McCaffrey. He also has five great uncles in the area: Jeff McCaffrey, Joel McCaffrey, Jim McCaffrey, Jerry McCaffrey and Jack McCaffrey.
Numerous family members and friends continue their daily prayers for his recovery. His football teammates even displayed their support by wearing his initials, J.M., on their helmets at the November 23 Air Force Academy game.
"We can't give up hope," Tinklepaugh said.
Those wishing to make donations to help defray the considerable medical costs associated with McCaffrey's hospitalization and treatment may do so by sending them to: McCaffrey Family Fund, c/o Bank of America, Attn: Bob Arthur, 1200 Main Street, 13th Floor, Kansas City, Mo. 64105.
Those wishing to send holiday greetings and messages of support may write to: Jeff McCaffrey, c/o Craig Hospital, 3425 S. Clarkson, Englewood, Co. 10110.
http://www.monett-times.com/NF/omf/monett/news_story.html?[rkey=0012740+[cr=gdn