Tom Bolewski
Tom was born and raised in the west San Fernando Valley. He was an athlete from the get-go and while attending Cleveland High School participated in both varsity football and track. In 1977 he graduated high school and entered Cal State Northridge as a pre-med student and he stayed active in sports with the snow and water ski teams. He transferred to Los Angeles Trade Tech College and received a degree in Electrical Contracting and Motor Control. After college he added golf, hiking, cycling, softball, and running to his athletic regimen. He became a competitive cyclist and rode both mountain and road bikes, and for eight years was a sponsor of the Santa Clarita Velo, a local cycling club. Tom started his successful electrical contracting business, Current Electrical Services, in 1987, and built a steady clientele based on his expertise and reliability. Tom has been married for twenty-five years to Kim Stanfield Bolewski and they have three sons: Christopher age 21, Danny age 18, and Alex age 17.
Injury: January 20, 2008
While dirt bike riding with family and friends in the California Desert, Tom went over handle bars. While rate of speed was not determined, he was in 4th gear. Tom went head first into an embankment some 10 feet away. He never lost consciousness, and knew from the beginning his injury was bad. Todd and Danny stayed with Tom while Alex and Tim went for help. A helicopter arrived on scene 45 minutes after injury. He was taken to Kern Medical Center Trauma Unit.
Extent of injury:
- Broken back at T-7. break is stable, doesn’t require surgery
- Swelling in the spinal cord at C-4 & C-5 causing unknown amount paralysis
- 3” skull fracture
- Right orbital socket crushed
- Blind in right eye
- Both cheekbones crushed inward toward his brain
- Complete fracture of all sinus cavities through to the brain causing air pockets in his skull
- Teeth and jaw wired shut to stabilize the face
Prognosis:
Tom was told he would never get off the ventilator.
Tom was told he would never move anything below the shoulders.
Tom was told he would be driving his wheelchair with a straw.
Tom was told he had permanent brain damage so he would have to live in a nursing home.
Tom: “Don’t believe everything you hear!”
Watch the miraculous recovery taking place at: Tomsrecovery.com
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