Oct. 13, 2002--
News Specialist Ed Yeates has the story.
Sunday afternoon, Jeff Schirm stood as best man at a
friend's wedding -- a toast to a man who was his
therapist during rehab. Nobody could have ever
imagined this.
Ed Yeates/Eyewitness News: "Four years ago, Jeff
was shot in the back and left for dead. He was in a
coma for more than five months at LDS hospital. With
little or no hope for recovery, the family considered
pulling the plug."
Kim Cassett/Jeff's Sister: "Very emotional time for me
and my family. I remember the day we came back and
talked about it as a family and called other family
members and contemplated that decision."
When Jeff finally came out of the coma, his family was
there waiting -- especially his sister.
Jeff Schirm/Brain Injury Victim: "She got me out of
that hospital. I mean, I would probably be still sitting in
there if it wasn't for her."
Like most victims of brain injury, Jeff has memory
problems. He doesn't recall details of the shooting. In
fact, he remembers nothing three years prior to the
crime. He supplements even his short-term memory
with a calendar.
But despite memory and some fine motor deficits, he
funtions on his own, has a job, rents his own
apartment, thanks to a lot of work from determined
therapists.
Kim Cassett/Jeff's Sister: "Rehab without walls going
in, and, you know, 10-20 hours a week, and working
with him individually and me working with him on the
other hours. It was just effort and completely worth it.
Completely worth it."
That "worth it all" came in the form of an award
Thursday from the Brain Injury Association of Utah.
Appreciation not only to those who brought him this
far, but to Jeff himself, whose determination keeps him
moving ahead, a day at a time.
Jeff Schirm/Brain Injury Victim: "Not sitting at home.
Don't like that at all. But I like going out and doing
things."
The Brain Injury Association says Jeff has touched
many lives over the past four years, giving other
victims hope for recovery.
