Anoka HS senior rising above diving accident

[Max]

Anoka HS senior rising above diving accident
by L.A. Jones
Union editor

As he likes to say, "the sky's the limit," for Anoka High School senior Blake Wahlberg. But it didn't look that way on June 1, 2003; quite the opposite actually.

Wahlberg, who was swimming at a friend's house in a four-foot above ground pool when he made the exuberant mistake of diving in head first, spent most of the summer and well into the fall and the onset of winter undergoing treatment and rehabilitation at both Mercy Hospital and the Sister Kenny Institute.

The diagnosis after his diving accident was an incomplete spinal cord injury involving the fourth and fifth vertebrates - a condition that doctors have said leaves little room for recovery, according to his step-mother, Lori Wahlberg.

"There's hope for some recovery, but it's not likely," she said. "But there has been some recovery."

To help offset some of the family costs to be borne by Lori and Wahlberg's father, Russ - specifically to equip him with a more advanced wheelchair for better mobility and for other special technology he may need in pursuit of his studies, family, friends and acquaintances of Wahlberg will be having a benefit for him Saturday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Be-Bop Sports Bar and Grill in Blaine.

After his diving accident, Wahlberg spent 17 days at Mercy Hospital followed by six weeks of intensive inpatient care at the Sister Kenny Institute.

"He had a lot of rehabilitation between the two places," Lori said.

It was at Mercy where Wahlberg had his first surgery to stabilize the back of his neck. Just recently on Nov. 4, he underwent a donor bone graft for the front of his neck, which has allowed him to get rid of the halo he had been wearing in favor of a less obtrusive neck collar.

"His determination and acceptance of this has been absolutely amazing," said Lori. "He's changed all of us."

That includes his three siblings, all boys, ranging in age from one and five to 15 years of age. It's sort of been a blessing in disguise," said an upbeat Lori about all the endearing experiences Wahlberg has brought to his family and his courageous character in the face of what for most would otherwise be insurmountable adversity.

"Even though it's been a terrible tragedy, it's also kind of a blessing," Lori said.

Wahlberg on a half-day basis has still been attending Anoka High School, where he earned an A for the first term in calculus this year, while he spends the other half of his days in occupational therapy.

"We feel his friends and connection to the high school are what keep him so positive," Lori said.

Prior to his diving accident, Wahlberg participated in football, on his church's softball team, liked just hanging out with his friends and was ironically an excellent swimmer, according to Lori.

"He's always been a good kid and has never caused any problems to speak of," Lori said.

The Wahlbergs are attempting to set up further rehabilitation, activities and classes at Courage Center for Wahlberg, where Lori and Russ hope he will continue to excel in his recovery, to as much of a degree as possible.

From his first day after his diving accident on June 1 of this year, according to Lori, Wahlberg has made amazing, albeit small strides of progress.

From being almost completely immobile, Wahlberg now has use of some of his arms and hands, particularly his left arm and hand, and he's just started to his move his feet.

What's next for Wahlberg in terms of his recovery is anyone's guess, but it probably rests a lot more with his self-determination than anything else, according to Lori, a nurse who has worked with quadriplegics and likes to assess situations conservatively.

"Blake likes to say the sky's the limit," she said.

Besides the benefit Saturday, Dec. 6, donations can be made to the Blake Ryan Wahlberg Irrevocable Supplemental Needs Trust in care of Wells Fargo, Anoka office, 2015 3rd Ave. N. Anoka, Minn. 55303.

For further information about the benefit, contact Mark or Denal Wahlberg at (763) 767-3319.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Top of Page
http://www.anokacountyunion.com/2003...8accident.html

[Leo]

PH

"All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given you."
Gandolf the Gray