Shawn Seesengood
On May 19, 2003, Shawn Seesengood, a Comal County Sheriff's Deputy was dispatched to the scene of a traffic accident during the early morning commute. While completing his work at the accident scene, he was hit by a motorist driving an estimated 50 miles per hour.
Airlifted to University Hospital in San Antonio, his injuries included fractured ribs, a punctured lung, bruised heart and bilateral compound fractures of both legs. The most critical problem was internal bleeding due to a severed main artery to his spleen. He almost died from blood loss and was given 10 units of blood; his spleen was removed. Doctors were uncertain that he would survive and if he did, he would never be able to run again, a critical requirement of his job.
During the dark days after the accident, as her husband fought for his life, Kristi Seesengood stayed by his bedside while facing challenges of her own. She was six months pregnant and found herself making additional visits to the doctor to ensure her ability to remain healthy under such stressful conditions. She also juggled the care of their two-year-old daughter who was not allowed in the intensive care unit and could not understand why her daddy had disappeared.
Shawn pulled through the initial critical days and recovered sufficiently to leave the hospital in late June of 2003. Then began the long road to recovery, including rehabilitation therapy through the Warm Springs/Wilson Memorial Rehabilitation Center in Floresville. ìInitially I went to his home,î explained Stacy Jarzombek, Warm Springs physical therapist, ìbecause he could not travel to the clinic. He wasn't able to put weight on his legs at all and was in a wheelchair."
Because the bones in his legs were so badly fractured, Shawn had external fixators on both legs. The metal devices involve drilling into the bones to hold them in place. Then the metal rods extend outside the skin and connect to braces, making movement even more difficult.
"Stacy was my first therapist and really helped me so much," said Shawn. "Her husband is a DPS trooper, so she understood what was required when I said my number one goal was to go back to work."
For a person who was accustomed to helping others, it was difficult being totally dependent on others. But Shawn credits the Warm Springs staff and their caring attitude with helping him get over the hump. "They made me feel like I was special," he said. "Stacy and the rest of the staff are a big reason why I'm back on full duty. They were behind me 100 percent and their encouragement and support made the whole ordeal easier to bear."
Shawn returned to the law enforcement job that he loved, defying medical professionals who thought he would never be able to perform. He also had another event to celebrate - the first birthday of his new daughter.
