Finding Hope Amid Tragedy
An international airlift out of Central America not only brought a mother and daughter back home, but the emergency care they received at Jersey Shore’s Trauma Center helped this grieving family move from despair to recovery.

Although Lori and Kim Anderson are still recovering from their injuries and grieving their lost loved ones, they are both happy to be together, happy to be home, and happy just to be alive.

Last April, the Anderson family of Bradley Beach — mom Kim, dad Dennis, and their 14-year-old daughter Lori — were vacationing in beautiful Belize, visiting family who reside there. But just as they were getting ready to return home, their paradisiacal getaway quickly turned into the worst kind of tragedy when they and four other family members were in a horrific automobile accident. The accident claimed the lives of Kim’s sister and nephew, and it left Kim and Lori in a coma, in a strange hospital, in a strange land.

A Family’s Worst Nightmare
After nine agonizing days of waiting at the hospital for some promising news, the family was offered few options from the local medical team in Belize. Dennis was told that his wife had only two days to live.

Spurred to immediate action by such dire circumstances, relatives near and far, along with the generous assistance of Kim’s employer here in the States, collaborated to make arrangements for Kim and Lori to be airlifted to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. The moment the badly injured mother and daughter arrived, the team at Jersey Shore’s Trauma Center was ready and waiting.

First Things First
The initial prognosis wasn’t good. Although both Kim and Lori were no longer comatose, the situation was still very serious. As Niveen Hanna, M.D., a critical care medicine specialist at Jersey Shore’s Trauma Center, explains, "Kim and Lori needed immediate attention. They had both suffered head injuries, they both had skin infections, and they were badly dehydrated. I also had to insert a chest tube for Kim’s collapsed lung." Each was admitted to the appropriate intensive care unit for timely treatment prior to necessary orthopedic surgery.

In Kim’s case, she had lost all feeling in her leg. Based on the extensive nerve damage the trauma team detected, they weren’t particularly confident that feeling would return. As for Lori, her hand suffered tendon damage and a fracture that had not been reduced; again, the medical team was unsure of how much mobility could be restored. In both cases, the experts at the Trauma Center were obviously disheartened by the lack of quality care administered prior to the air transport, for early emergency care clearly impacts the potential for positive future outcomes for patients.

All the more reason for the Trauma Center team to persist with prompt and professional ongoing care. David Polonet, M.D., orthopedic surgeon, elaborates on the care needed for Kim’s orthopedic injury: "Kim had a complex injury to the hip with severe fractures to both the ball and socket. The hip remained dislocated from the time of the accident until she arrived here. In combination with the sciatic nerve damage, this makes for a challenging case that will require additional operations." Yet the first operation went quite well: "Kim has regained feeling in the leg following her injury. This is a very important step that we are very happy with," says Dr. Polonet.

At last, with Lori on the mend and Kim’s initial successful surgery behind her, the Anderson family could start breathing a little easier.

Starting to Regroup
Kim talks about her first recollection at Jersey Shore: "I didn’t remember anything about the accident. After surgery, my first thought was just that I was happy to be alive. And I was just so concerned about my daughter the whole time I was hospitalized. I was so happy when she came into my room! Then, as I started to recover, I appreciated the kindness of the nurses and doctors as they checked on us."

Dennis, too, was impressed with the warmth and skill of the staff: "I was in shock when I got to Jersey Shore and didn’t know what questions to ask. But every day that I was there, the nurses, doctors, and entire staff treated me incredibly well. They explained things and always told me what to expect next. It has been a tough time, but we are very appreciative. I’m up to about 60 people on my thank-you list to the team."

A key member of this team has been neuropsychologist Theodore Batlas, Psy.D. who outlines his participation in the Andersons’ treatment: "When Kim and Lori first came through the Trauma Center, there were three clear needs: evaluation of the extent of their head injuries, testing for memory loss and cognitive reasoning, and the emotional aspects of dealing with the loss of loved ones. Through continued treatment, they are doing much better, and we will continue to work on these conditions."

Dr. Batlas adds an important cautionary note: "Even with more mild concussions, the public should be aware that longrange effects of head injuries need extensive evaluation and treatment, as there are important exercises and tools to enhance memory, language, and concentration skills."

Looking Forward
Today, Lori and Kim continue to undergo extensive physical rehabilitation, and Kim anticipates additional surgery on her hip. Despite their harrowing ordeal and the heartbreaking loss they have suffered, both have made great strides in their rehabilitation since they’ve been safe and sound back home.

With Lori having just entered high school this fall, Kim reflects on their experience: "We have come a long way and want to continue on this path. I have more perspective about the meaning of life and the importance of my family, and I am grateful for the care we have received at Jersey Shore. My goal, though, is to regain my independent lifestyle, including trips to the gym and walks on the beach." And that’s Meridian’s goal for Kim too.

– Ryan Younger