Home > Gwinnett > Rick Badie / My Opinion > Archives > 2006 > March > 12
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Baby steps to recovery
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
He hasn’t returned to school yet.
When he does, it’ll be in increments. One class at a time. Baby steps.
That’s all Trevor Sanford takes these days. Back in December, the Meadowcreek High sophomore was attacked by two male students after a basketball game. The suspects have been disciplined by the school district, but their punishment cannot be disclosed. They were arrested and charged as adults and their court cases are still pending.
Trevor spent two weeks in the brain trauma unit at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite. He’s undergone 45 days of outpatient therapy.
And he’s still not back.
“Sometimes he talks like a 7- or 8-year-old,” said Tim, his father. “Some days, you almost have to lead him by the hand.”
Trevor didn’t know the boys who jumped him or why they chose to. Not that it would matter. How do you justify something like that? Crazy.
Last week, I got an e-mail from Sue Faina of Concord, Calif. She’d read my columns about Trevor online and wanted to share a similar story.
In February, two boys blindsided her 18-year-old son with a skateboard, hitting the high school senior on the left side of the head. He has facial damage that’s healing. The spirit, though, is another matter.
“As we have found out, something like this affects so many,” Faina wrote. “Our community is rocked by this vicious attack because everyone knows it could have been their child.”
Yours. Maybe mine. So we care.
Trevor has had to relearn some things. To dress himself. To brush his teeth. On a good day, he might chat with friends on the phone or listen to music. He’s even doing a little schoolwork at home. His cognitive skills are way off, though, so he’s enrolled in an aftercare program.
He wants to return to Meadowcreek, to be a Mustang again. His parents won’t let him. Berkmar High maybe, but not the ‘Creek.
When he does return to school, he’ll have to work his way up to a full schedule.
Baby steps. Giant heart.
