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Ryan Saavedra
Student Graduates After Being in Coma Nearly One Month
Hi! My name is Ryan Saavedra. On September 30, 2005, during my homecoming football game, I suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. I fell into a coma and awoke nearly one month after my injury on my 18th birthday, October 25th. Soon thereafter, I was taken to the Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital where I would stay until I left in January of 2006. While there, the dedicated team of doctors, therapists, nurses, aides, and teacher worked rigorously to help me get back. From sunrise to sunset the team of professionals helped me to relearn all the things we take for granted in our day-to-day lives. This was no easy task for them for when I first arrived to the rehab unit I could barely hold my head up, speak, or walk. I was in a semi-aware state, relied on a feeding tube for my nutrition, and had numerous other problems.
Well, I am happy to say that almost three years after my injury I have graduated high school with a standard diploma and will be attending college in the fall! I continue to receive therapy as an outpatient three times a week and also go to bio- and neurofeedback twice a week. My schedule these last few years has been pretty busy with therapies and school, but I don't believe I would have come this far without the help and support from the medical and education community.
My plan for the future is to attend Miami-Dade Community College in the fall of 2008 and later transfer to Florida International University. I'm not really sure what career I would like to pursue now. I had always thought of going into the marketing and advertising world. But, I have recently started thinking about becoming a social worker - I think I could do some good in this realm - I would be able to help people who are challenged every day by some form of a disability and share with them my experiences. I would prove to them that life does not have to end. It is with commitment and perseverance that we are able to obtain our heart's desire if we don't give up. Yes, life may not be the same as it used to be, but there is life - and when there is life, there is hope for a better tomorrow. I am living proof of that!
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