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Michael Einfeldt
Michael Einfeldt, the Eastport teenager who suffered a serious head injury in a Northampton car accident in January, has awakened from his medically induced coma, according to a friend of the family.
Since the January 8 accident, Mr. Einfeldt has become more aware of his surroundings, explained Laura Herr of Eastport, who knows the Einfeldts through their home parish, the Eastport Bible Church. The 18-year-old is still being treated in the Intensive Care Unit at Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was airlifted immediately following the single-car accident.
“It seems like he is more aware of people around him,” Ms. Herr said in a text message this week. “He will squeeze my hand when I talk to him at times. But he is still not fully aware. At least not yet.”
As a result of Mr. Einfeldt’s head trauma, he will have to relearn certain things, though Ms. Herr said she does not know exactly what that will entail at this juncture.
“[I] don’t know that they can say at this point,” Ms. Herr said of Mr. Einfeldt’s doctors. “I do know that they are happy with his progress but, again, he has a very long way to go.
“I’m learning that brain injury is different and has a more up-and-down course,” she continued. “Every case is different, and we are all just praying for the best.”
Mr. Einfeldt suffered the injury after his car hit a patch of black ice on County Road 51 near Lake Avenue, left the road and struck a utility pole. He was airlifted to Stony Brook and, in the ensuing weeks, doctors have tried to alleviate pressure that had built up in his brain.
“The family is very hopeful, but it will be a long recovery,” Ms. Herr said. “There are lots of things that we are thanking God for, and the family is so thankful for all of the prayers, for sure.”
Amanda Bernocco on Feb 15, 2016