By Jacob Werkmeister
My journey with CHOC started on Dec. 18, 2016, when my dad and I were hit by a car. The weeks following the accident were terrifying, and my 18-month rehabilitation process afterward was physically and mentally challenging. Now, I’m doing incredibly well and so is my dad.
My dad and I were in a movie theater parking lot in South Orange County. We’d just seen the latest Star Wars movie. We were standing next to our car when a driver careened off a nearby road at 100 miles per hour and hit us. I was immediately knocked unconscious and flew into a nearby body of water. I was completely submerged and almost drowned. I suffered a traumatic brain injury, broken shoulder and multiple facial fractures. My dad and I were not initially expected to survive. I was rushed to CHOC at Mission Hospital. I underwent multiple tests, scans and procedures, including one to drain leaking cerebral spinal fluid.
I don’t remember much of my time at CHOC Mission – I was comatose for most of my first week there. I finally woke up on Christmas Eve, and over the next 10 days I made significant progress – sitting up and even taking a few steps.
During this time, my dad was recovering at Mission Hospital. Thanks to the partnership between CHOC Mission and Mission Hospital, my mom was able to go back and forth between my room and my dad’s room without even having to leave the building.
CHOC doctors and nurses exemplify kindness and caring. One of the kindest things they did for us was allow my dad and I to see each other. Once we were both awake and extubated, they brought my dad up to my room. The simple act of allowing a father and son to see each other and hold each other’s hand was instrumental in our healing process.
Dr. Gary Goodman, medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit at CHOC Mission, was incredible. He kept my parents well-informed about my care and progress. Every single nurse who treated me went out of their way to also ensure that my mom felt cared for. She was included in every conversation about his care.
My mom has been a nurse for 25 years. She works with the American Hospital Association and helps hospitals implement strategies to improve outcomes for patients and make care as safe as possible. Because of her clinical eye, she noticed everything that happened with every shift. Even during the holidays or shift changes, she always said my care at CHOC Mission was impeccable. This shows the entire team’s commitment to excellence.
Despite being incredibly complicated trauma patients, with high-alert medications and surgeries, neither my dad nor I experienced any adverse events during our hospitalizations. We both received perfect care.
My dad and I went home after around two weeks. Next, I started 18 months of rehabilitation through CHOC. I worked with an occupational therapist and a physical therapist. I had to relearn how to walk, hold a pencil, do math, read and remember things.
I also worked with Dr. Sharief Taraman, medical director of neurology at CHOC, and Dr. Jonathan Romain, a CHOC neuropsychologist, as part of CHOC’s concussion program. Even though I wanted to speed up my recovery so I could try and get back to playing baseball, Dr. Taraman and Dr. Romain made sure I was safe.
Before the accident, I was a lifelong baseball player. After the accident, no one imagined I would play baseball again. Not only did I return to baseball a few months after the accident, but I recently signed a letter of intent to play baseball for Ohio Christian University.
This journey has taught me so much. I really shouldn’t be alive right now. Now, I don’t let the small things get to me. I know I can get through anything.
Our family could never repay our gratitude to CHOC. We are so thankful for everything CHOC has done for us.
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Learn more about CHOC’s Neuroscience Institute
CHOC Hospital was named one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024-25 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings and ranked in the neurology and neuroscience specialties.
