Window of Opportunity
Date: August 23, 2004

As he had done so many times before, Jeff stood on the diving board, peered down and dove head-first into the cool depths. But this time was different, Jeff cleanly entered the water, then struck his head on the bottom of his family’s pool. He knew immediately that he would never walk again.

The impact caused a burst fracture at the critical C5-C6 vertebrae. The 22-year-old parcel delivery man immediately lost all sensation below the middle of his chest. He was taken to Floyd Medical Center where he was treated in the Emergency Care Center and then moved to the Intensive Care Unit. Jeane Yarbrough, Floyd’s Neurosciences Care Coordinator, quickly established a relationship with Jeff and his family, probably because of her expertise, possibly because she and Jeff share the most infectious smile I ever have seen.

Jeane began working with Jeff and his family to devise a plan that would take him through rehabilitation and help him return to daily living with adaptations to his new limitations. At her desk, covered with papers and files of the many patients whose care she coordinates, Jeane began to look at the options for Jeff. Over the years her commitment to her patients and expertise in neurology has helped Jeane to build relationships with nurses, physicians, hospitals and clinics throughout the country. Through this network, Jeane keeps abreast of new treatments and approaches to the care of individuals with brain or spinal-cord injury, and amid all the papers on her desk, Jeane came upon a note about a clinical trial for patients like Jeff.

The still-experimental treatment takes blood and tissue from the patient and cultivates white blood cells from the samples over a 72-hour period. The white blood cells are then injected into the spinal cord just below the injury site.

After some initial inquiries, Jeane met with Jeff and his parents to ask if they would be interested the program. There were some major catches: First, time is of the essence. There is a 14-day window of opportunity to be tested, accepted into the program and to have the new procedure performed. Second, the trial is currently available only in Denver, Colorado, and Tel Aviv, Israel. Thirdly, the Denver program was full. Jeff would have to fly to Tel Aviv for the procedure.

With the approval of Jeff and his family, Jeane sent details about Jeff’s injury to the program managers, and Jeff was accepted into the trial. That called for quick action. Jeane enlisted Floyd Medical Center’s Social Services and Patient Registration departments to help get Jeff to Israel within the window of opportunity. Her persistence inspired our efforts. Working with Congressman Phil Gingrey’s office, we were able to get Jeff a passport in record time. Jeff’s parents packed their bags, and, on the morning the family was scheduled to fly to Israel, the telephone rang. A slot in the Denver program had come open. Jeff needed to abandon his plans to fly to the Middle East.

Airline tickets were exchanged for tickets to Denver, and when it came time to go to Denver, it was Jeane who climbed into the back of the ambulance and rode with Jeff to the airport.

Jeane and Jeff remain in contact. Jeff calls at least once a week to give Jeane a progress report, and Jeane is encouraged by what he tells her. Jeff is now able to feed himself and brush his own teeth. He has begun to dress himself, and he reports that some sensation has returned to the back of his left leg. Doctors say that Jeff may continue to see improvement for up to a year after the procedure. Jeff, who will return to Rome on September 17 with a job waiting for him, has hope where there was none before.

I am thankful to work with people like Jeane who are so devoted to our patients. Her wisdom, knowledge and caring heart are making a difference. In addition, her work to help our patients is helping to spread the news about Floyd’s commitment to going well beyond expectations. When Linda Lyle in Congressman Gingrey’s office helped us secure Jeff’s passport, she commented that she did not know Floyd did such a great job for the constituency until this came along.

What she doesn’t know is this kind of thing happens regularly at Floyd.

<<back to Outstanding Story Archives