Long Recovery Ahead For South Jersey Teen Who Sustained Traumatic Brain Injury From Crash

MAPLE SHADE, NJ — Christian DeCola traveled 5,000 miles via medical transport from Hawaii to his native New Jersey. But following a traumatic brain injury he sustained from an accident in Honolulu, the Maple Shade teen's recovery back home could become the lengthiest, most arduous part of his journey.

DeCola, 19, attended college at Chaminade University of Honolulu. He was making extra cash working food delivery on the night of Feb. 12 — Super Bowl Sunday — when an SUV hit him on his moped, according to his mother, Valerie DeCola. Following treatment in Hawaii, Christian's flight arrived home Tuesday.

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"He’s safe here," Valerie DeCola told Patch. "And it’s not that he wasn’t safe there (in Hawaii), but you’re leaving your kid with strangers, so to speak."

Christian can talk. He can walk with a limp. But he's not the same, according to his mother. The teen has a long road toward recovery, and an expensive one. A GoFundMe is aiding Christian's family with expenses stemming from the crash.

"He recognizes people and says their names, and he might even have a conversation with you," Valerie DeCola said. "But it’s — I hate to say meaningless, but there’s no Christian heart behind it."

Getting details from police about the incident that injured Christian has been a struggle, Valerie DeCola says. The teen was riding a moped when an SUV struck him, according to his mother. Along with the brain injury, Christian also fractured his ear and needed emergency knee surgery.

The Honolulu Police Department hasn't sent Valerie a crash report — even when she traveled there while her son was in the hospital, she says. But police told Patch there hasn't been an arrest yet.

"The case is classified as a motor vehicle collision and the investigation is continuing," said Sarah Yoro, a Honolulu PD spokesperson. "No arrests at this time."

Now that Christian is back in New Jersey, he entered the care of the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in Marlton. The Maple Shade resident will endure 10-14 days of occupational, physical and speech therapy.

Afterward, Valerie DeCola can take her son home. Christian will settle into a bedroom with an attached bathroom. (In a bit of luck, the home's prior occupants built a bedroom suited for medical recovery because of a sick resident, Valerie says.)

Christian can perform basic tasks, but he requires supervision, his mother says. The 19-year-old sometimes forgets what he's doing, and he's not aware of obstacles in his presence. So if there's a chair in his way, he might trip over it.

"It’s the brain, and it’s going to take time," Valerie DeCola said. "And since he’s young, he has a good chance to progress to a full recovery. But it’s definitely going to take some time."

Chaminade University expressed support for the student.

"We were very sorry to hear of Christian’s accident," a statement from the university says. "Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as he prepares to return home. The Chaminade community continues to support him, and we wish him a full recovery."

The GoFundMe page aiding Christian's family has generated more than 500 donations totaling about $30,000 as of Thursday afternoon. But with a $50,000 goal, they can still use financial help — the medical transport alone cost about $20,000 out-of-pocket.

Donate to the GoFundMe here.