October 15th, 2013
This is the day that Jesse’s life and the life of his family was changed forever. This is the day that he jumped in a friend’s car to go visit another friend in central Illinois. This is the day that he could have died, but somehow survived. This is the day he underwent his first 3 hour surgery on his neck and spine.
This is the way it appeared to his parents:
Updates 1 & 2 were sent out on October 15, 2013:
From: Dave Sternberg
Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2013 8:55 PM
Subject: Jesse Update #1
No, I’m not an asshole who thinks email is the way to communicate, but when you drive 4.5 hours to a hospital, just to get there 5 minutes after they started him on a three-hour or longer surgery, believe me, writing this email is better than just sitting here hoping he’s okay and wishing we could turn back the clock to this morning. Plus I’d rather say it once in an email, than have to tell the story to each of you individually, that’s way too hard and there’s a lot of you on this email. We’ll know more after the surgery and the doctors come talk to us. We’ll sleep at his side tonight in the ICU and probably for the next several nights, who knows.
Here’s what we know: the girl driving is okay and being transferred to a hospital in Schaumburg. She must of rolled the car because the other hospital said it was on fire when bystanders pulled Jesse and her out of the car before the paramedics got there. Jesse had his seat belt on, but the actual seat came off the bolts on the floor and as a result he broke his neck and badly injured his spine. They are trying to put both those things back together right now since he had only a little movement in one arm and that was it.
Whether you pray or just believe in positive thinking, we, Jesse, could use all you have of both right now.
Love you all – Dave
#2 – midnight
Not good….his spinal cord was torn apart by a burst vertebrae, he’s a quadriplegic now. parents hug your kids and don’t let them out of your sight. Kids, don’t think you’re invincible, you’re not. Not sure what to do next…or how to break it to him when he comes to tomorrow…the doctors thought today was the worst day of our lives, but tomorrow will be far worse….thanks so much for all your prayers and emails, they mean a lot to Kathy and I. hug your kids