Spring 2013 - Memorial Hospital of South Bend

Tiny Movements—AccomplishmentsTeen is learning how to live again with the help of therapy“Your daughter has been in a car accident and is unconscious.”Michael and Tonja Pokuta’s worst fears became reality afterpicking up the phone in August 2011, to learn one of their threechildren had been involved in a life-altering crash five miles fromtheir home. And everything changed for the LaPorte County familyin an instant. Lauren, 17 at the time, was riding in the frontpassenger seat of her friend’s vehicle. Her friend turned onto ahighway and was T-boned on Lauren’s side by another car.First, the UncertaintyMemorial’s MedFlight transported Lauren to Memorial’sLeighton Trauma Center. She suffered a fractured clavicle,pelvis and cheekbone, but the most significant injury was toher brainstem. She spent three months in the hospital, thefirst 2½ weeks in a coma.When she woke from the coma, Lauren was in a vegetative state.Her family, friends and the medical team caring for her wereuncertain what to hope for.“A brainstem injury is complicated and mysterious. They justtold us whatever progress she makes, be grateful and hopeit continues,” Tonja says.“It’s been one hurdle afteranother. But it’s also beenone success story afteranother. Lauren isbreaking all the barriersherself. She is a miracle.”- Michael Pokuta, Lauren’s dadLauren was on a ventilator for 2½ weeks, but even morestaggering, a feeding tube was her only source of nutrition fornine months because she couldn’t swallow. Watching and waitingdefined those initial days in the hospital, as Lauren’s familystood by her bedside hoping and praying. She remained in avegetative state for the remainder of 2011, unable to move inany deliberate manner.Celebrating the Small StepsThen on New Year’s Eve 2011, Lauren made her first real movement,a high-five to a friend. It was a major breakthrough forLauren, and gave the Pokuta family new hope for their daughter.“We all take the smallest things for granted,” Michael says. “Iremember the day she gave the high-five and we all celebrated,because that gave us the boost we needed.”12 PULSE | Memorial Hospital of South Bend • 574.647.6800