John Nyquist smiles at his son Brandon. Happy to have him back in Quesnel, both father and son know Brandon’s road to recovery will be a long one.
Badly injured in a bicycle/vehicle collision in early July, Brandon was airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital where he was put in a medically induced coma and underwent surgery on his leg.
His left leg was shattered and his right leg suffered severe ligament damage as well as artery damage in his right knee.
His orbital bone was broken, he had a brain stem injury, fractured neck vertebrae and a bruised spleen.
For Brandon, his first knowledge of what had happened came when he woke up from the coma.
“I was scared and a little mad, I didn’t know what had happened,” he said.
“I tried to stand up but fell right over.”
At that moment he wanted his dad, but John had, on the advice of the doctor, returned to take care of things in Quesnel, but was able to speak to his son on the phone. Those few words were music to his ears.
Everyone, including the medical staff were surprised Brandon was awake and alert.
John headed back down to Vancouver with a few family members and was relieved to find Brandon knew everyone, although unable to speak and somewhat unfocused and fidgety.
Having no recollection of the accident, the last thing Brandon can remember is heading home to make pizza for himself and his father.
“I’m sure I checked both ways but I guess not where the vehicle came from,” Brandon said.
Despite his amazing recovery so far, Brandon still can’t put weight on his right leg. He was transferred to the Quesnel hospital Aug. 11 but won’t be released until he can walk.
He’s off all but painkillers and is receiving physiotherapy on his legs.
As for the brain stem injury, John said there doesn’t seem to be any dramatic evidence of long-term damage but admitted the effects could surface long after the injury was sustained.
Having just turned 19, Brandon is anxious to get back to life before the accident but John is cautious, wanting his son to be fully recovered. Brandon thinks he’s hovering but John sees himself as careful and realistic about the healing process.
“I’m ecstatic to have my son in Quesnel,” he said with a huge smile.
“He makes me complete. For the past 16 years he’s been everything to me.”
For Brandon he looked over at his father and said quietly, “he’s a great dad.”
Neither John or Brandon know what the immediate future holds but they expect at least two months of physiotherapy, possibly at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre in the Lower Mainland.
Friends and family have worked tirelessly to raise funds to help John and Brandon with the mounting costs of such serious injuries.
“I want to thank everyone for all the community has done – the donations, kind words and thoughts,” John said.
“But a very special thanks to Jean Moxam, Breanne Nyquist and Anthony Troy Stewart Nyquist for going the extra mile to help.”
Brandon is heading down to the Lower Mainland for intense therapy at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre. John will be accompanying his son and providing moral support for his recovery.
