Injured teen buoyed by overwhelming support

Joanne C. Gerstner / The Detroit News

ANN ARBOR

– Everybody, from the players to the family and fans, desperately prayed for the smallest sign.

But everybody at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube rink Jan. 16 knew:

The sight of Derek Zike’s motionless body signaled something horrific.

Zike, then 16 years old, came to Ann Arbor with his Chicago Fury AAA teammates to play in a weekend tournament.

His parents, Robin and Mike, and hockey-playing brother Sam, 12, made the trip from Fishers, a suburb of Indianapolis.

Play seemed normal against the Dallas Penguins, until the speedy Zike, forechecking in the offensive zone, lost an edge and fell.

The top of his helmeted head slammed into the boards, his instantly-limp body slumped to the ice, with his neck and head bent at an unnatural angle.

“Everybody was so quiet after it happened,” Robin said. “We rushed down there, to be near him. I started crying, I couldn’t help it. I wanted him to move something, a skate, his hand, anything.

“I could tell that wasn’t going to happen. He was so still, so quiet.”

Robin and her family, the teams and fans had just witnessed the unthinkable: Derek suffered a burst fracture of the C5 vertebrae in his neck and was paralyzed.

The days and weeks since Derek’s injury have turned into a blur.

His parents have spent nearly a month in the pediatric intensive care unit and nearby Ronald McDonald house at the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

They’ve only sparingly ventured beyond the hospital grounds.

They live day-to-day, hour-by-hour, in their son’s room, monitoring everything.

And Derek. Well, he celebrated his 17th birthday Jan. 19 in the ICU, with his family trying to figure out how best to celebrate.

Small victories

Derek has had a few surgeries, repairing the fracture and cleaning out vertebrae fragments that were near his spine.

Hope endures — his spinal cord was not severed. He has not regained full sensation below his upper chest. He can, however, freely move his shoulders, arms and pectoral muscles.

He moved his left leg twice Sunday, the first repeated random motions of a lower limb. He cannot feel his fingers and hand movements are limited, but he wants to work on gripping a favorite hockey stick.

There are other positive signs, such as his appetite returning and his move out of ICU on Monday.

Derek has developed a craving for strawberries, something nobody can fully explain. He liked them before the accident but never had such an insistent urge.

His parents, therapists and nurses have been happy to see him dive into strawberry smoothies, ice cream and even some pie the past few days. The strong but slender teen has lost more than 20 pounds since the accident, partially because he was unable to eat solid food until last week.

He’s also become more emotional. Doctors and therapists say this is normal, as Derek processes what he is going through.

Community responds

Robin and Mike said they choose not to dwell on what happened, but the vision of their son’s accident haunts them. Derek also clearly remembers what happened, but he, too, doesn’t want to think about it.

They choose to take something else from this bewildering experience: the generosity of people, especially strangers from Metro Detroit, Ann Arbor and elsewhere.

The accident happened around 10:10 p.m. By 2:30 a.m., Derek was in surgery.

Robin and Mike were scared and upset. The ER doctors and nurses told them their son might never feel his arms or legs again.

The dark news was a dosage of truth that they didn’t want to hear or accept.

Robin said she felt like throwing up; Mike said he felt numb.

“He suffered a really bad injury, the radiologist didn’t even see the spinal cord being intact before the surgery,” said U-M neurosurgeon Dr. Paul Park, who performed the emergency surgery. “Amazingly, the cord was not severed. Just very compressed, which is still a very serious injury, but not as irreversible as severing the spinal cord.

“It’s still a tragedy. He’s a bright kid, with lots going for him. This is just one of those awful events in life. But there is always hope and belief. That makes a big difference.”

Derek’s hospital room has become a hockey museum and gourmet food emporium. Word quickly spread through the hockey community about his condition.

Wings coach Mike Babcock unexpectedly dropped by to say hello. He left his personal e-mail with the Zike boys (hockey-playing middle brother Taylor, 16, was visiting), telling them to let him know of anything he can do.

Members of the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor-based USA Hockey national development teams have come, leaving autographed posters, jerseys and photo cards. Chicago Blackhawks legend Denis Savard has called.

Derek’s teammates, from Indianapolis and Chicago, have brought cards and notes. They also set up a Web cam, letting him see last weekend’s Fury game.

Hockey souvenirs line the walls and door of his room, all placed high so Derek can see them. Donated care baskets from Ann Arbor businesses, such as Zingermans and Cottage Inn, come loaded with muffins, cookies, and sandwiches to keep the family going.

His cause has spread through the Internet, thanks to DerekZike.com, the Blackhawks and Fury Web sites, and an ever-expanding Facebook group.

Derek was asked how he was getting through this.

“My friends. My family. Everybody,” he said, softly.

The most emotional visit so far came from former NHL star Steve Smith, who recovered to full health after suffering a spinal injury similar to Derek’s. Smith, who works as the Blackhawks director of pro scouting, brought a big care package from the team.

“I just wanted to tell them to believe, and that this will take a long time,” Smith said. “I am one of the few guys who has walked this walk he’s on, and it’s one of the most frightening things you can imagine to go through. You run through so many emotions: anger, fear, pain, sadness … everything.

“There are no answers why this keeps happening in hockey. I get asked that all the time. But it was so clear to me how supported and loved he is. His parents are going to do everything in their power for him, and that’s going to make all the difference in the long run. We’re all here for Derek.”

Life goes on

This is going to be a long haul. Recovery and rehabilitation are not quick, especially for a serious spinal injury. There’s no timetable, but words such as months and years enter the conversation.

Progress will be measured in tiny, but significant things, such as being able to feel his fingers or hopefully his toes. Sunday’s involuntary movement of his left leg brought great joy.

Meanwhile, the outside world continues.

The Zikes have not been home since the accident.

Mike works in auto body repair. Robin is a hair stylist. Their employers are letting them take the time away to be with their son.

Sam is staying at home with his grandmother. Taylor also plays for a Chicago-based team, and his host family and teammates are trying to keep him strong. Taylor just turned 16, celebrating the birthday with his family in Derek’s room.

Their bills don’t stop, however. The mortgage, health insurance and other mounting expenses hang over the Zikes. Nobody knows how much Derek’s medical bills could run, or what their insurance will cover for the extended and costly treatment.

“We’ve never been rich, we make do, but it’s always close at the end of the month,” Mike said. “There is no such thing as leftover money, not with three boys playing hockey.”

And that’s where the magic has come.

Their co-workers and clients, some going through financial hardships of their own, have banded together to donate. Friends paid the family’s mortgage and insurance for the month.

The Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association and USA Hockey development program have conducted in-game fundraisers at the Ice Cube. The Blackhawks promoted the cause during a recent broadcast and are helping with an alumni hockey game benefit.

Michigan-based charity “Hockey Has a Heart” is helping arrange food deliveries and, hopefully soon, temporary housing. The Fury and Derek’s former club are holding fundraisers this month.

Fury 16s coach Marc Kapsalis said Zike’s teammates are emotionally connected to him.

“I’ve never prayed with my team before, it’s not something I do, but we did the other day before practice for Derek,” Kapsalis said. “It felt like the right thing to do. He’s one of us.”

Robin, a spiritual person before the accident, said the outpouring is tangible.

“We feel it. We really do in our hearts and minds,” Robin said, breaking into tears. “So many people who don’t know us have been here for us. A pastor who stopped by told us, ‘God didn’t cause this accident. But he did make sure it happened close to one of the best hospitals in the world.’ And I’ll add something else: We ended up being surrounded by some of the nicest people here who love hockey.

“You can’t even imagine, as a parent, how this is a horrible thing to go through. But to know there are so many people, that you don’t even know, looking out for you. It keeps us strong. All we can say is thank you.”