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The Rice Thresher
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by LIORA DANAN THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF Hanszen College sophomore Brook Ames remained at Hermann Memorial Hospital in good condition at press time. Lovett College senior Michael Erfe was released from the hospital March 16 and returned to his home in DeSoto. Both members of the George R. Brown Forensics Society were airlifted to the hospital March 13 following the debate team's highway accident on its return trip to Houston that night. Baker College freshman Dan Henning died at the scene of the accident. Debate coach Dan West said that when he visited Ames on Monday, he looked like he was improving. Ames said he is feeling better but had some digestion problems earlier in the week and is also still recovering from his March 14 leg surgery. "They put a rod in my femur, which was broken in four places," Ames said. "It's still very tender and difficult to move." Ames said he is currently undergoing physical therapy and doctors are hoping to be able to release him today. "It'll be a decision based on how much I can move and where I can stay," Ames said on the question of whether he will return to Rice or go home once released. Erfe said he has been resting at home and is not quite ready to return to Rice. "Right now it's pretty hard to concentrate on things like writing a letter or reading a book," he said. Erfe suffered two broken ribs and bruising, but internal injuries to Erfe's spleen never developed, according to Lovett Master Spike Gildea. "I'm feeling a lot better. My ribs kind of hurt still, but not as bad," Erfe said. "My lower back has a lot of bruises." Erfe said doctors have told him to wait six weeks before engaging in physical activity. Gildea said Erfe will return to Houston on Monday for a checkup to determine if he can return to school. "The question is whether they're going to define attending classes as physical activity," Gildea said. Assistant coach Chris Aspdal, who was driving the minivan that was hit by a pickup truck, suffered a concussion that resulted in some short-term memory loss. "My memory is coming back," Aspdal said. "The doctors said it won't be entirely back for about two to three weeks. As far as recalling the accident - that will probably never happen. ... I literally have no recollection of that evening." Aspdal said that aside from minor headaches, he is doing well. Wiess College freshman Andrew Courtwright, a passenger in the same minivan, said his knee still hurts and that its condition has not changed significantly since he was released from the hospital March 17. "I feel better, but my knee's still messed up and so is my back," Courtwright said. Courtwright said he will have another doctor's appointment in two weeks to determine exactly what is wrong with his knee and back. Brown College junior Rifi Newaz was a passenger in the other van, which suffered less severe damage. Last week, Newaz said he was experiencing some neck and back pain, but he said he is currently feeling better. - back - |
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