About Chris Cox - Updated October 27, 2009

October 13, 2009
(Following extracted from NTAF South-Atlantic Catastrophic Injury Program NC)

Chris’s Story

My son, Christopher Wayne Cox, is a 33 year old who suffered a life-changing injury in a motorcycle accident on August 26th of this year. The impact of the collision broke his left leg, tibia and under his knee cap and tore his carotid artery which led to a massive stroke on the left side of his brain. Chris has spent most of September in hospitals and a rehab center. He has had two surgeries on his left leg and extensive occupational, physical and most importantly speech therapy.

Chris graduated from Narrows High School, he loves music and he played in several bands in our area. Chris moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina where he is well-known and loved for his music and the person he is. He has many friends who are waiting for him to get back to his music and his life.

In spite of Chris’s struggles, he remains strong and hopeful of returning to a productive and active life. Chris will need follow-up medical care and ongoing speech and physical therapy. He wants to sing and communicate again. Right now it is a struggle to express his words and sentences, since the stroke affected the side of the brain that controls speech. He has what is known as Aphasia and Apraxia. At this time Chris is on crutches and with therapy will hope to improve from there. He is struggling with his speech and this is where the outpatient therapy will be so important to us.

To assist with the immense challenge of financing uninsured therapies and injury-related expenses, a fundraising campaign has been established with the NTAF Catastrophic Injury Program. NTAF is a nonprofit organization that assists people needing organ/tissue transplants or who have experienced catastrophic injuries. (Note: Click here for more info)

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Permalink Reply by LauraH on October 27, 2009 at 7:00pm: Following is an email that I received from Chris' mom today, October 27, 2009:

Laura, I am so glad you have been posting information about Chris. He is here in Radford, Virginia with me and my husband for his recuperation. He needs speech therapy to aide in his aphasia from the stroke. He still has not been able to put weight on his left leg that was badly broken. He is progressing very well. He still has trouble with speech and understanding, but he has come a long, long way. We are trying to raise money to aide his bills, since he did not have any medical insurance. The website allows people to donate to a fund as a charitable tax free contribution and then we send in his bills and they are paid from the account. Anything you can do to help us is appreciated. Thanks again for caring and your interest. Debbie