Cole has been approved as a candidate for Deep Brain Stimulation
Miami Township, Ohio - On Monday the annual Play for 4 golf tournament and social outing was held at the Oasis Golf and Conference Center. In this LOVELAND MAGAZINE VIDEO Scott Schlesner was asked take the microphone after dinner to up-date the crowd about the progress of his son Cole.
On a Sunday in May of 2009 Cole was pitching in a little league game at Kwanis Park in Loveland and was struck in the head by a line drive hit from an aluminum bat. He was air-lifted to Cincinnati Children's Hospital and immediately had surgery to relieve the increased pressure from his skull. He was then placed in a drug-induced coma until his brain healed.
Cole has since made steady and remarkable progress and fairly quickly resumed studies at Loveland High School. However, according to Scott, Cole has two medical issues that remain; Hemi-dystonia, a secondary condition/disease he developed after his accident which causes him difficulty with his speech and right side movements, and is skull hasn’t healed properly. Scott Schlesner said recently:
Therefore, we’ve spent significant time & energy searching the planet for expert opinions and possible treatments. The good news is that after a number of dead-ends and disappointments (Our trip across the country to LA Children’s Hospital being one of them) we now believe we’ve potentially found light at the end of the tunnel.
Doctors have recently been able to identify the problem area in Cole's brain that is causing the hemi-dystonia and Cole is now scheduled to have surgery to correct the problem later this summer or early Fall with an advanced surgical procedure at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Cole’s Neurologist believes he’ll achieve somewhere between 70-100% improvement with his physical and speech challenges using the Deep Brain Stimulation .
Cole will also have skull reconstruction done at Cleveland Clinic sometime this Fall.
Scott Schlesner also commented receltly about all of the good news the family has received lately:
I've read successful climbers of Mt. Everest describe the view of earth from the top of the highest peak on the planet as beautiful and breathtaking, unlike anything else they'd ever experienced. They've also shared that their sense of accomplishment in reaching the top was overwhelmingly joyful. Those descriptions seem to fit perfectly with what I believe Cole will experience when he's made it to the top.
Cole said tonight that he wants to get back to playing baseball. He said he will spend a few days at the Mayo Clinic, return home and be right back to school.
Play for 4 was formed by Loveland Area residents after Cole's injury in 2009 to provide financial assistance for adolescents who suffer traumatic brain injuries due to an athletic related activity and those responsible for the expenses associated with their care. They have also raised money to provide local teams with fielding helmets and have become a leading educutational voice across the nation to advocate their use.
Each year, Play for 4 raises money through fundraising events - and private and corporate donations. You can go to their Web Site to learn more - and to make your own donation.
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