Shane Hmiel returns home from rehab center for break; heads to Mayo Clinic soon

Shane Hmiel went home Friday from the Atlanta rehabilitation center he’s been at since Nov. 17 as he continues to recover from a devastating sprint car crash that left him with a bruised spinal chord and other injures last year.

 

Shane is expected to return to the rehab center and that this is just a break, his father Steve said.

 

“It’s like lifting weights, you’ve got to let your muscles rest, so they’ll heal and that’s basically where he’s at,’’ Steve Hmiel said.

 

Also, Shane is set to go to the Mayo Clinic in two weeks.

 

“According to doctors, he’s an interesting case,’’ Steve Hmiel said of why his son will be going to the Mayo Clinic for a week. “He had a head injury and they’re wondering how much that affects it and he had a spinal chord injury and they wonder how much that affects it because he’s moving more than he’s supposed to be moving but things aren’t coordinated as good as you would expect it. They want to do a really good analysis on him.’’

 

What’s learned at the Mayo Clinic will help set Shane’s therapy moving forward.

 

Steve Hmiel said that Shane can move his arms and he has limited motion his hands. He can bend his knee up, tap his foot and wiggle his feet but does not have strength in his legs as he remains in a wheelchair. He’s also passed all his tests measuring cognizance, Steve said.

 

“Things have come back way better than they were supposed to,’’ Steve Hmiel said of Shane.

 

“That’s why they’re, “We told you a lot of stuff in October and now he’s gone past that, we need to take him somewhere and get him really looked so we understand what’s going on.’’

 

Now that Shane is home, what’s it like to have him there?

 

“It’s a step,’’ Steve said. “You’re scared to death when you first do it. Are we going to take good enough care of him? There isn’t a doctor on site. It scared you when he came out of ICU to a regular hospital. It scared you when he came out of a regular hospital to rehab. It scares you when he comes out of rehab to home, but it’s all going forward. It’s just scary. He’s fine. His attitude has been outstanding the whole time. He may have some dark moments but he doesn’t let it on to us.’’

 

To keep up with Shane Hmiel’s progress, check out the Shane Hmiel Road to Recovery Facebook page.

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