Anthony Royston - A Survivor's Testimonial
“The main part of life and death is the struggle of life; and sometimes beating death with God’s mercy to see you through it all.” – Anthony Royston
This I know because I suffered a brain injury Nov. 6, 1998 from a head-on collision, playing little league football for the University City (Mo.) Lions. I immediately lost consciousness and had to be revived in the ambulance because the trauma to my brain was so severe. By the time we arrived at Children’s Hospital, I had suffered multiple strokes. I was eight years old.
Doctors told my parents I needed brain surgery but probably wouldn’t make it through surgery. They said they would do all they could for me. They told my mother I needed several units of blood for surgery. At first she was scared because of stories she had heard about diseases being transferred to patients due to receiving blood products. But a medical staff person said that the process was safe, that the Red Cross blood had been tested, and would only help me. My mother recalls this person being a real comfort to her at the time. And the blood did help save my life.
Doctors said the 72 hours after surgery would determine if I would live or die. My parents stayed at my side three days, barely eating or sleeping. On the fourth day I was removed from the ventilator, maintaining breathing on my own; but remained in a coma 17 days.
The day before Thanksgiving, I awoke to see the face of an angel standing next to me – my mother. I tried to smile, but couldn’t; tried to talk, but couldn’t. All I could do was drip a tear and saw the biggest grin across my mother’s face as she stroked my head, saying ‘I’m here baby.’
After two months in the hospital doing therapy 10 hours a day I was on my way to a long recovery. My father came in one evening and said ‘Hi son. How are you today?’ And out of nowhere I responded: “Hi Dad!” My whole family was so excited. We all started crying and thanking God.
On Jan. 19, 1999, some 74 days after my injury, I was discharged. I still had many days of therapy ahead of me - in all more than five years - and was on numerous medications for my uncontrolled movements of seizures and stiffness, which I still suffer from today.
My family has been tremendous through all of this. My sister, who was only 15 months old when this happened, still gets on my case when she sees that I am not exercising the way I should.
I hope that by me sharing my testimony I will be a motivation for anyone who faces adversity in their own life. My main message to all is ‘with hard work and determination you can and will survive.’ I will become a motivational speaker after college and hope to have the opportunity to help my community, as it has helped me.” - Anthony Royston
NOTE: A high school senior in 2008, Anthony volunteered three days a week at the Red Cross Regional Blood Services offices in St. Louis for three months. He is a regular blood donor.
Anthony Royston