Camron Brummond’s survival story

Life can change in the blink of an eye. June 15, 2008, Camron Brummond and his family of Bancroft had their lives change forever.

Camron, who was 18 and had just graduated in May, was driving to church when the left tire broke off of the axle. “He was running late, so speed may have been a factor as well,” stated his mother, Jolene Brummond. His vehicle left the road, rolling several times before coming to a stop.

Camron was transported to the hospital in Winnebago. “He was then taken by life flight to Mercy Hospital in Sioux City. He didn’t have any broken bones. He right lung was punctured and his spleen was damaged,” Jolene said. But, that wasn’t the worst of his injuries. “He sustained a traumatic brain injury and wasn’t guaranteed to live. The first three days were very crucial,” Jolene stated.

If he survived, the road ahead was going to be very long and challenging. “Camron was at Mercy for ten days. He was then transported to the Madonna Hospital in Lincoln. He was there for two months,” Jolene said. “ After he completed extensive physical and occupational therapy at Madonna, he then relocated to Quality Living in Omaha, where he also received the same types of therapy, for ten months.

Camron was very determined, even while semi-comatose. “He would sit in his wheel chair and do leg extensions. It was like he knew he had to move to get better,” Jolene stated. Once he was completely out of his coma, Camron had his own saying, “Go big or go home.”

Camron’s family was at his side through the entire recovery process. “I was there most of the time until I had to go back to school in August (she is a teacher). His grandmother was there during the week, then I would go on weekends,” Jolene said. Camron also had many visitors along with a big family/friend support group.

The accident took a toll on the family. Camron’s parents, siblings and other family members dealt with the accident in their own way. “I think in situations like this you go into shock at first. I turned to my faith and my family and friends,” Jolene stated. “My husband turned to his work. I don’t mean he wasn’t suffering, he was. A great deal.” There are also two other children in the family. “I worried about them as most of the attention at the time was on Camron. I feel they handled it the best they knew how,” Jolene said.

Life doesn’t come with a book of instructions. “There isn’t a script on how to handle a situation like this. You cope and try to keep it together,” Jolene stated.

Camron had outpatient therapy for four months after his release from Quality Living. “He is currently doing a therapy called Nuerofield therapy. It is a non-invasive brain stimulation to wake up the injured areas in the brain in hopes it will form new pathways,” Jolene said.

He continues to have ataxia, tremors, on his right side. “His speech has been affected, but that doesn’t stop his from talking. He is legible though,” Jolene stated. He also still gets a little off balance. “His walking has greatly improved and he has even ran in two 5k”s,” Jolene stated.

Camron is beginning his fourth year of college at Wayne State. He was accepted into the STRIDE program. “He has a tutor who writes for him and he gets some extra time to take his exams,” Jolene said. “His processing is a bit slower due to the injury.”

All brain injuries are different, making the recovery process different also. “All in all, I will have to say, Camron is a miracle. The doctors have been amazed a the progress he has made. He really should be in a wheel chair,” Jolene stated.

Camron wouldn’t have any part of that. “I am where I am today because of the Lord and all he has done for me,” Camron said. Faith saw the family through a horrible tragedy. “I give all the credit to God for my miraculous recovery. Doctors are wonderful people and we all thank God for them,” Camron stated. “Man is limited in what he can do, but God is not.”

Camron Brummond