Help Blaise Bounce Back from Three Fatal Blows
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The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all. ~ The Emperor (Pat Morita) in "Mulan" (1998).
And rare and beautiful he is…Blaise Coco III is the eldest child of three born in South Philadelphia on Dec. 27, 1969. Growing up he was a typical, good-looking, blue-eyed, energetic (some would say ornery), athletic boy who participated in wrestling, baseball, and basketball. The girls loved him and he seemed to have a bright future ahead of him.
Years later, we were living in New Jersey with our mom and visiting our dad on weekends. The summer before his senior year of high school, when Blaise was 16, our Dad and his partners rented a beach house in Avalon, NJ, and we vacationed there every other weekend. One cool day in June, the guys played basketball in the morning and then met us on the beach in the afternoon. After getting sweaty on the court, Blaise went into the ocean for a quick dip and the unimaginable happened. He hit his head on a sand bar and broke his neck. The crowd that formed around the water was what clued us in to what had occurred. Seeing our father cry for the first time in our lives is what clued us in on the severity of the situation. Blaise spent the next four and a half months in the hospital and rehab, and it was becoming clear that he would probably never walk again. That November he joined his senior class in a wheel chair…quadriplegic. Trying to cope with his loss, he pushed through the tears and the pain, worked hard, and earned his degree; he received his diploma with the rest of his classmates…what an accomplishment! Blaise did not stop there; he went on to Temple University and graduated college with a degree in business. He got a job at UPS and worked there for the next 18 years. He got a car with hand controls and learned to drive. He built his upper arm strength and was able to put his wheel chair in and out of his car himself. House, job, car…Blaise was as independent as the rest of us.
As time passed, Blaise not only lived with, but actually embraced his condition, and became an inspiration to those who know and love him, those who knew his story, and those who marveled at his strength. Through-out his multiple stays at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Blaise made so many friends, both patients and staff. He was sort of like the mayor over there; everyone knew him. He helped numerous newly injured patients see that this was not the end of their lives, just a new way of living them. The permanent impression he has made on so many is a testament to his character.
(Breast Cancer Walk Mother's Day Every Year)
Despite the fact that things that most of us take for granted were very difficult for him, Blaise continued to be the guy who rather than asking for help, helped all he could in any way he could. He has always been that type of person. There are endless examples, but here are some that come to mind. When our mom was in danger of losing her home because she could not afford the taxes, Blaise bought the house so they could continue to live there. When he met who he thought was the girl of his dreams, he not only helped maintain her home and take care of her kids, but he also helped take care of her ailing grandfather in ways that would be challenging for anyone let alone someone with his physical limitations. He has loaned or given people money when he was in debt himself. He has let people move into his house while they saved enough money to get back on their feet. He has been a second father to his niece and nephews and his best friend’s kids. He takes care of them, runs them everywhere, spends his last dime on them, and spoils them rotten. Blaise is a kind, loving, and generous man. We have been blessed to have him by our sides all these years.
Here is a testimonial from our cousin Dawn who helped put this page together: “My name is Dawn; as most of you may know I am Blaise’s cousin. We have grown up together from the time we were babies. We have been through happy times, sad times, and hard times. We have always been there for each other. Blaise has been a big part of my life and I love him like a brother. He has done so much for me and my family. Blaise is going through one of the roughest times in his life; he is the type that will not ask for help. When I look at him and see the pain that he is in, the struggles he is going through, I have to help. We want Blaise to continue to make us laugh, fill our hearts and lives with love and joy, to be the infectious person he is…with his contagious smile that lights up a room, his selflessness, and his courage. Most of all we need your help to raise the funds necessary to allow Blaise to keep being Blaise.”
When someone has endured the drastic change of no longer being able to walk, you would never expect he would be dealt another devastating blow. However, in 2012, what probably stemmed from an ingrown hair ended up causing an abscess of Blaise’s spine that continues to attack the bones and can never be fully eradicated. He has had countless surgeries to replace weak bone with rods and screws. Last year alone, there were eight surgeries. The hard-ware continues to attract infection in shorter periods of time each year. When this occurs, first surgery is performed to remove the hard ware, then Blaise is put on IV antibiotics for 6-8 weeks, afterwards additional surgery is needed to replace the hard ware, followed by a hospital stay to get strong enough to go to an acute rehabilitation facility where he learns how to adapt to the new hardware and go home. The surgeries have helped some, but the limitations increase as more hardware is introduced. Blaise has lost the ability to bend the way he used to. The metal rods do not allow him the flexibility that normal bones do. He now needs assistance to get in and out of his car, in and out of his wheel chair…things he was once able to do himself. He is also in a great deal of pain…pain he will have for the rest of his life. On September 14th and 15th (our deceased mother’s birthday), Blaise had a combined 24 hours of surgery to remove almost all of the bone in his spine and install hardware from the base of his skull down to his pelvis. After coming through that he was placed in a sub-acute rehabilitation facility where he had to remain at a 30-degree angle for 12 weeks. How do you get your mind in a place where you can stay sane laying in a strange place for 3 months? It was very difficult, but as always, Blaise picked his head up and made the most of it. His positive attitude became difficult to maintain when the insurance company decided that once he no longer needed IV antibiotics it was not a medical necessity for him to be at the rehab. He’s quadriplegic; he couldn’t get up to go to the bathroom or transfer in and out of bed. What sense does that make? In his eighth week of bed-rest, he began paying $500 per day to stay some place where the care was less than par.
Once again, after persevering through all of this, you could not imagine the universe to be so cruel as to strike a third catastrophic blow, but it did, and it seems to be the worst one yet. Several months ago, on November 14 at 9 P.M., in his 9th week of bed-rest, Blaise experienced shortness of breath as his only sudden symptom. With no notification to family, Blaise was finally taken to the ER at 2 A.M. This began his latest multi-hospital stay where he still remains. Apparently, Blaise had an infection (probably gall bladder), that led to pneumonia, that led to septic shock that was shutting down his organs causing the need for a respirator, that led to a heart attack, meds then led to serotonin syndrome which then caused him to become unconscious. After nearly dying multiple times, when he was finally pulled from the respirator, Blaise’s speech was slow and slurred…labored. We were told it was a side-effect of the medications and it would wear off in 48 hours, when it didn’t, they said two weeks. When that didn’t happen, on Dec. 27th, Blaise’s birthday, doctors decided they should do another brain scan to test for stroke; something already ruled out on previous scans. When that was again clear, on New Year’s Day, they diagnosed him with anoxic brain injury (deprivation of oxygen to the brain), which means permanent damage. Blaise has had violent tremors that cause his vitals to escalate including blood pressures in the 200s. They cause him pain and discomfort and he is deathly afraid of their reoccurrence. He has recently been moved to rehab where they are trying to help him regain his strength. We are not sure what his condition will be at the end of his stay.
So many of Blaise’s friends reached out in concern when they heard what happened; we could only keep up through Facebook posts. Again, the effect he has had on people is unsurpassed and touching. One friend wrote how he helped him get through his recovery and see that there were still good things to come for him in life…that he could survive and thrive along this new path life had paved for him. Another friend messaged saying he was friends with Blaise in high school, and wanted to fly in from Texas for the day to see him. A former boss came to visit. An ex’s niece. A friend from Florida. How many people are so loved that others would go to such great lengths to show their support?
Blaise currently has no income. Though he was working for the government when this began, he obviously is no longer able to do so. We are not sure when his insurance with them will run out. In addition to over $200,000 of medical expenses already incurred, Blaise needs an electric wheelchair, a van, and either home nursing or care in another step-down facility after being discharged from his current placement. If he is able to come home, it will have to be with family and the home will have to be renovated to properly accommodate him. This is a man who would give you the shirt off his back, (if he hasn’t already). Please support Blaise by giving what you can to help him heal and live as independently as he can after all that he’s been through. Also, please, help us spread the word on social media by sharing his gofundme page on Facebook, twitter, and any other platform you participate in.
“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” ―Charles Dickens
And rare and beautiful he is…Blaise Coco III is the eldest child of three born in South Philadelphia on Dec. 27, 1969. Growing up he was a typical, good-looking, blue-eyed, energetic (some would say ornery), athletic boy who participated in wrestling, baseball, and basketball. The girls loved him and he seemed to have a bright future ahead of him. Years later, we were living in New Jersey with our mom and visiting our dad on weekends. The summer before his senior year of high school, when Blaise was 16, our Dad and his partners rented a beach house in Avalon, NJ, and we vacationed there every other weekend. One cool day in June, the guys played basketball in the morning and then met us on the beach in the afternoon. After getting sweaty on the court, Blaise went into the ocean for a quick dip and the unimaginable happened. He hit his head on a sand bar and broke his neck. The crowd that formed around the water was what clued us in to what had occurred. Seeing our father cry for the first time in our lives is what clued us in on the severity of the situation. Blaise spent the next four and a half months in the hospital and rehab, and it was becoming clear that he would probably never walk again. That November he joined his senior class in a wheel chair…quadriplegic. Trying to cope with his loss, he pushed through the tears and the pain, worked hard, and earned his degree; he received his diploma with the rest of his classmates…what an accomplishment! Blaise did not stop there; he went on to Temple University and graduated college with a degree in business. He got a job at UPS and worked there for the next 18 years. He got a car with hand controls and learned to drive. He built his upper arm strength and was able to put his wheel chair in and out of his car himself. House, job, car…Blaise was as independent as the rest of us.
As time passed, Blaise not only lived with, but actually embraced his condition, and became an inspiration to those who know and love him, those who knew his story, and those who marveled at his strength. Through-out his multiple stays at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Blaise made so many friends, both patients and staff. He was sort of like the mayor over there; everyone knew him. He helped numerous newly injured patients see that this was not the end of their lives, just a new way of living them. The permanent impression he has made on so many is a testament to his character.
(Breast Cancer Walk Mother's Day Every Year)Despite the fact that things that most of us take for granted were very difficult for him, Blaise continued to be the guy who rather than asking for help, helped all he could in any way he could. He has always been that type of person. There are endless examples, but here are some that come to mind. When our mom was in danger of losing her home because she could not afford the taxes, Blaise bought the house so they could continue to live there. When he met who he thought was the girl of his dreams, he not only helped maintain her home and take care of her kids, but he also helped take care of her ailing grandfather in ways that would be challenging for anyone let alone someone with his physical limitations. He has loaned or given people money when he was in debt himself. He has let people move into his house while they saved enough money to get back on their feet. He has been a second father to his niece and nephews and his best friend’s kids. He takes care of them, runs them everywhere, spends his last dime on them, and spoils them rotten. Blaise is a kind, loving, and generous man. We have been blessed to have him by our sides all these years.
Here is a testimonial from our cousin Dawn who helped put this page together: “My name is Dawn; as most of you may know I am Blaise’s cousin. We have grown up together from the time we were babies. We have been through happy times, sad times, and hard times. We have always been there for each other. Blaise has been a big part of my life and I love him like a brother. He has done so much for me and my family. Blaise is going through one of the roughest times in his life; he is the type that will not ask for help. When I look at him and see the pain that he is in, the struggles he is going through, I have to help. We want Blaise to continue to make us laugh, fill our hearts and lives with love and joy, to be the infectious person he is…with his contagious smile that lights up a room, his selflessness, and his courage. Most of all we need your help to raise the funds necessary to allow Blaise to keep being Blaise.”
When someone has endured the drastic change of no longer being able to walk, you would never expect he would be dealt another devastating blow. However, in 2012, what probably stemmed from an ingrown hair ended up causing an abscess of Blaise’s spine that continues to attack the bones and can never be fully eradicated. He has had countless surgeries to replace weak bone with rods and screws. Last year alone, there were eight surgeries. The hard-ware continues to attract infection in shorter periods of time each year. When this occurs, first surgery is performed to remove the hard ware, then Blaise is put on IV antibiotics for 6-8 weeks, afterwards additional surgery is needed to replace the hard ware, followed by a hospital stay to get strong enough to go to an acute rehabilitation facility where he learns how to adapt to the new hardware and go home. The surgeries have helped some, but the limitations increase as more hardware is introduced. Blaise has lost the ability to bend the way he used to. The metal rods do not allow him the flexibility that normal bones do. He now needs assistance to get in and out of his car, in and out of his wheel chair…things he was once able to do himself. He is also in a great deal of pain…pain he will have for the rest of his life. On September 14th and 15th (our deceased mother’s birthday), Blaise had a combined 24 hours of surgery to remove almost all of the bone in his spine and install hardware from the base of his skull down to his pelvis. After coming through that he was placed in a sub-acute rehabilitation facility where he had to remain at a 30-degree angle for 12 weeks. How do you get your mind in a place where you can stay sane laying in a strange place for 3 months? It was very difficult, but as always, Blaise picked his head up and made the most of it. His positive attitude became difficult to maintain when the insurance company decided that once he no longer needed IV antibiotics it was not a medical necessity for him to be at the rehab. He’s quadriplegic; he couldn’t get up to go to the bathroom or transfer in and out of bed. What sense does that make? In his eighth week of bed-rest, he began paying $500 per day to stay some place where the care was less than par.
Once again, after persevering through all of this, you could not imagine the universe to be so cruel as to strike a third catastrophic blow, but it did, and it seems to be the worst one yet. Several months ago, on November 14 at 9 P.M., in his 9th week of bed-rest, Blaise experienced shortness of breath as his only sudden symptom. With no notification to family, Blaise was finally taken to the ER at 2 A.M. This began his latest multi-hospital stay where he still remains. Apparently, Blaise had an infection (probably gall bladder), that led to pneumonia, that led to septic shock that was shutting down his organs causing the need for a respirator, that led to a heart attack, meds then led to serotonin syndrome which then caused him to become unconscious. After nearly dying multiple times, when he was finally pulled from the respirator, Blaise’s speech was slow and slurred…labored. We were told it was a side-effect of the medications and it would wear off in 48 hours, when it didn’t, they said two weeks. When that didn’t happen, on Dec. 27th, Blaise’s birthday, doctors decided they should do another brain scan to test for stroke; something already ruled out on previous scans. When that was again clear, on New Year’s Day, they diagnosed him with anoxic brain injury (deprivation of oxygen to the brain), which means permanent damage. Blaise has had violent tremors that cause his vitals to escalate including blood pressures in the 200s. They cause him pain and discomfort and he is deathly afraid of their reoccurrence. He has recently been moved to rehab where they are trying to help him regain his strength. We are not sure what his condition will be at the end of his stay.
So many of Blaise’s friends reached out in concern when they heard what happened; we could only keep up through Facebook posts. Again, the effect he has had on people is unsurpassed and touching. One friend wrote how he helped him get through his recovery and see that there were still good things to come for him in life…that he could survive and thrive along this new path life had paved for him. Another friend messaged saying he was friends with Blaise in high school, and wanted to fly in from Texas for the day to see him. A former boss came to visit. An ex’s niece. A friend from Florida. How many people are so loved that others would go to such great lengths to show their support?
Blaise currently has no income. Though he was working for the government when this began, he obviously is no longer able to do so. We are not sure when his insurance with them will run out. In addition to over $200,000 of medical expenses already incurred, Blaise needs an electric wheelchair, a van, and either home nursing or care in another step-down facility after being discharged from his current placement. If he is able to come home, it will have to be with family and the home will have to be renovated to properly accommodate him. This is a man who would give you the shirt off his back, (if he hasn’t already). Please support Blaise by giving what you can to help him heal and live as independently as he can after all that he’s been through. Also, please, help us spread the word on social media by sharing his gofundme page on Facebook, twitter, and any other platform you participate in.
“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” ―Charles Dickens
Organizer
Tracy Coco
Organizer
Bear, DE