Michael Wight
In 2006, Michael Wight was in the care of his grandmother, Sue, along with his sister, Mackenzie. He was four years old and Mackenzie was just six. My husband was serving with the US Army in Afghanistan and I was working for Cornell University. I asked my mother to watch the children for the summer so I could keep my job while my husband was in Afghanistan.
On August 9th of that year, my mother was driving the children home from a fun outing with the kids when she inadvertently went through an intersection and was hit by a tractor-trailer truck on the driver's side of her vehicle. A sedan hit on the passenger side. My mother died half an hour later. Mackenzie and Michael were left with Traumatic Brain Injuries.
Michael was later diagnosed with a diffuse axonal injury with sheering. He had a fractured eye socket and a broken femur. Doctors said he would never walk, talk, eat, or ever be normal again. His sister suffered an open skull fracture with a laceration on the dura mater and a broken collar bone. Mackenzie later recovered to about 95% and Michael, against all odds, started walking, eating, and now leads a very normal life. However, he needs the assistance of a walker, sometimes a wheelchair, and he was much later diagnosed with Apraxia, a very severe speech disorder.
It was at the request of his speech therapist at Children's Specialized Hospital in New Jersey, that we looked into getting Michael an augmentative communication device to help him regain some of his speech. After three years of evaluations and battling with our insurance company, we were introduced to PRC. The staff and representatives were absolutely wonderful and caring, sending trainers out to help educate Michael's teachers, therapists, and aide on how to use the device of choice, Vantage Lite. After having the device for about two weeks, I thought, as did the second grade teachers, that we should try adding information into the Vantage Lite that would help Michael study for his upcoming science test. Michael used his Vantage Lite all week long -- 100% independently. The device is so easy for him to use, he had no trouble at all. A few days after taking the test, Michael brought home the results of his exam. He received a perfect score!
We are so grateful to PRC for this amazing tool, which has brought this independence to our young son. The best thing about the Vantage Lite is that it can grow with Michael as he grows, all the way into adulthood. It has been a tremendous investment, and we are thankful to have worked with PRC to get this device for Michael.
We envision many more substantial accomplishments for our son in a very bright future.
Nicole Wight
Michael and Mackenzie’s Mother
