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rang. I just barely heard my mother on the other end of the line, with her
voice breaking, all she could say was “it’s your brother, there’s been an
accident." God I can’t help from getting emotional just typing this. Now
understand, I helped raise my brother and he is my best friend. All I wanted
to know was if Ted was going to be OK, but she couldn’t give me an answer,
she just said that Ted was in critical condition and in a deep coma in the
Intensive Care Unit and that the Doctor’s have requested the family to be at
the hospital. I was hysterical, not knowing what direction to go. I just had
to stop, sit outside, and pray, and at that moment, I felt my brother hug me
and saw that wonderful warm smile of his and that gave me hope.
I flew back to Baltimore that day and received clearance once I arrived to go
straight to the hospital, to the ICU to see my brother. OH God, my
beautiful baby brother lying there with tubes and wires and machines
keeping him alive, I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing. My brother who
was outgoing, popular, successful and on his way to the top, was lying there
so still. One of the ICU nurses told me that he more than likely would not
survive.
Now you wonder how this accident happened? As there is no pretty
accident, this was just unexplainable. A Dodge 4x4 Truck was left in the fast
lane (not disabled or broken down but left there) on one of Baltimore’s most
dangerous expressways at 2 AM. My brother and his girlfriend were driving
home from a pleasant evening out in separate vehicles. Ted’s intentions
were to propose upon their arrival home. As he rounded the curve he saw a
truck and it looked as if it was moving until he noticed at the last second it
was stopped, he tried to veer out of the way but he risked smashing into his
girlfriend or hitting a cement wall. With going to the left or right no longer an
option he then pulled up his emergency break, leaned over to the passenger
side of his car and went under the truck. He had his seatbelt on and the
airbag deployed. His injuries were all internal; he did not hit the
windshield. His brain ricocheted inside of his skull upon impact at 55 miles
per hour. He had hemorrhaging and sustained damage to his left frontal lobe.
The next morning after my arrival my family and I met with Dr. Neil Naff, the
doctor who performed the Brain Surgery (removing the left front portion of
his skull because of the swelling and blood clots) on my brother. He sat
everyone down in a private room to explain Ted’s condition. Dr. Naff
basically told us that Ted would have a 5% chance to live, and if he did
survive, he would most likely be a vegetable for the rest of his life. I looked
at the Doctor and all I could say is, “I will not lose my brother”, I went down
to the Hospital Chapel, asked the pastor if he could please come to the ICU
and pray with us, and if he could come as often as possible to pray with us,
that we really needed him. 3 weeks went by and we prayed and I stayed by
his side every moment I could, I would sing to him, always talk positive
around him, encouraging him to fight. I would play him my CD and CD’s of
other artists. Tons of friends and family were there at the hospital, filling the
waiting room just to be there for Ted.
One day the Doctors came to tell us that they saw a glimmer of hope
towards Ted’s survival from a CAT SCAN. That gave us hope. One of the ICU
Doctors asked me if the surgeon had spoken with me about the CAT SCAN
and I had repeated his positive report, this Doctor proceeded to tell me that
his information was false and that he was just trying to make us feel good,
that the test was worse. I basically told him, “It’s all up to the power of
prayer at this point”’ he then shrugged and said “Well, if that’s what you
believe”, I smiled and said, “That’s what I believe!!" The next day, I got a
frantic page while on my way to the hospital. I called the ICU and my
mother answered. She wanted to know where I was and if I didn’t hurry I
was going to miss Ted! I was extremely confused, but would you believe as
Doctors walked out of the ICU scratching their head, Ted that next morning
after my conversation with that ICU Doctor, had miraculously improved
enough over night and he was taken off of the critical list.
I ran into the ICU before they transported him to his own room, and looked
into his eyes, even in a coma his eyes were open. I asked if I could give him
a kiss, told him I LOVED HIM, he gave me a slight smirk and a tear ran out of
his eye. I knew in my heart we were all going to struggle through this and if
it took every bit of energy I had he was coming home. At this point I stayed
at the hospital day and night, sleeping in a chair and finally a cot. The
hospital staff was so impressed with the love, faith and support of our family
and the numerous friends that visited everyday, that they made special
arrangements to have Ted transferred to the biggest suite in the hospital,
normally set aside for VIP’s. Ted was never left alone. One morning after a
restless night of caring for my brother, this song came to me. During the
next few weeks while taking care of my brother I completed "Teddy’s Song".
My family and I never stopped believing that faith and love couldn't pull him
through this, and with that, neither could Ted's strength and will to live. He
has now learned to walk and talk again, he and his girlfriend ended up
getting married fourteen days after his release from inpatient rehab by the
minister I met in the Chapel that first morning. Ted deals with the everyday
obstacles with a positive attitude working towards his recovery. We still
struggle at times, but to every doctor’s amazement, he has recovered more
than medicine could explain. They call him a miracle; I call it love and faith.
I wrote this song during the most tragic and inspiring time of my life. I feel
that this song came from a very special place and I was just the tool to get it
out there to be heard. I hope when this song is heard it will help to inspire
others and help get them through a difficult time in his or her life or give
them the strength to know that we can overcome anything in this world. Ted
still cries when he hears this song. Many miracles came out of this accident;
We are always surrounded by blessings even during our most trying times.
Also Look for the Song Penned by Christi titled "WHY", which was also
inspired by her brother Ted.
Peace and God Bless.
the accident.
For more
photos of
Teddy,
click here
