|
Derek and his family need your help today!
If
you would like to help send a donation to the address below:
Attn: Derek Wenhold
Special Needs Trust
Univest National Bank and Trust
10 West Broad Street
Souderton, PA 18964
A young man in Sellersville is trying to get his life back after a horrific accident
that sent his car spinning 800 feet crashing down an embankment,
leaving him in critical condition.
20-year-old Derek Wenhold was left in a coma and medical experts told his family
if he did survive, he'd only be one step above brain dead.
Derek proved everyone wrong and has begun the healing process, but now he needs
help reaching his goal before time runs out.
Derek leans on his mother for every step, moving forward with pure willpower
as he works on relearning everything from how to walk to how
to talk.
"I came a long way," he said.
Like his speech, every movement is labored after a devastating car accident in
Sellersville last January.
Derek's brain was so badly injured, doctors believed he would never come out
of his coma.
His mother, Marie, refused to consider organ donation and with each
visit, Derek's family looked for a sign that he was still with them.
Four months later after the crash, their wish was granted.
"It started with an eyebrow, he would answer questions with his eyebrow," Marie
said.
After the silent signals came grunting and now he can finally answer back.
"I haven't stopped, just don't give up," Derek said.
Little movements are big tasks, but he has even regained his sense of humor.
His mother is proud of how far he's come, but she is also getting anxious because
time is running out.
"They can go so far as 18 months before they plateau," she said.
It has been a year since the accident, so Derek is left with six months until
his brain will stop repairing itself.
He will need non-stop physical therapy, so his mother wants to convert their
shed into a therapy room so he can make the most of these next months.
"If he can put forth the effort that he's putting forth, the least we can do
is give him the opportunity to do it," Marie said.
Right now it's just a dream, since the family does not have the money built the
room, but they hope maybe someone will help them.
They have already witnessed one miracle.
"I'm king of amazed I got through this," Derek said.
Derek knows he'll never skateboard again, but he believes that if he works hard
enough he'll get what he wants most.
"To have a normal life," he said.
Derek's mother lost her job when she started taking care of her son full time,
so they are very low on funds for medical expenses and the cost of the therapy
room.
If you would like to help send a donation to the address below:
Attn: Derek Wenhold
Special Needs Trust
Univest National Bank and Trust
10 West Broad Street
Souderton, PA 18964
Back to Projects Page |
Click here to view CBS3's
Stephanie Abrams Special Report on Derek Wenhold
|
