Cary firefighters, others honor former patient
On Tuesday, the Cary Fire Protection District and Flight for Life-Northern Illinois will gather together to honor former patient Mike Deibel and his family.
The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. the Cary Fire Station 1 at 400 Cary-Algonquin Road in Cary. Along with Mike and his family, many of the personnel involved, from dispatch to the hospital staff, will be in attendance.
On Aug. 11, 2001, 17-year-old high school student Mike Deibel's life changed forever. He was on his way to pick up a friend and go to a movie in Crystal Lake when he swerved to miss a cat in the road and hit a parked truck full of furniture.
Once on scene, Cary fire personnel began extrication and Flight For Life-Northern Illinois was requested to respond. A breathing tube was inserted so that Mike could breathe and he was flown to Lutheran General Hospital, a Level 1 Trauma Center.
Mike had a traumatic head injury, a partially collapsed lung, and multiple spinal fractures. He also suffered a stroke at some point following the accident.
Mike's parents were told that he virtually had no possibility for recovery and that they should consider removing him from life support.
Mike lay in a coma for 34 days and remained at Lutheran General on a ventilator for 58 days. His first breakthrough was when his mother, Susan, blew him a kiss goodbye and he responded with his own kiss.
Despite the odds against him, Mike was discharged to go home in November after over seven months in three different facilities.
Mike and his family have traveled a long and frustrating journey over the past six years that is nowhere near over. That journey has brought him from a month-long coma to graduating with his high school class -- with honors and a standing ovation -- just nine months after his accident.
He now is working toward a certificate in business and continues his recovery. It is the perseverance and attitude that Mike has exhibited since the accident, along with his family's sacrifices and commitment to his recovery that has made his amazing story possible.
He is an inspiration and role model, especially to those who have suffered similar debilitating injuries.
The role of EMS, air medicine and Level 1 Trauma Center personnel is to provide the opportunity for survival; the rest is up to the patient and their support system.
According to Lt. Andy Veath, "Mike is a shining example for us all.
"He is truly remarkable, not only because he survived a catastrophic brain injury, but because he has embraced life with a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard toward his goals, regardless of the struggles that recovery. It is the perseverance and attitude that Mike has exhibited since the accident, along with his family's sacrifices and commitment to his recovery that has made his amazing story possible," Veath said.
"Mike is an inspiration and role model to us all, especially to those who have suffered similar debilitating injuries."