One Action / Life Changing

My brother Rossi made a selfless choice and ended up on life support at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta on January 11, 2015. I am certain at the time he didn’t give it much thought as he stepped between an angry drunk man and his girlfriend as they were fighting. He just stepped in to protect a girl who was being beaten. In a busy Fort McMurray mall, where many people must have witnessed the confrontation, but no one else wanted to get involved.

My brother didn't have a chance.  He stands only 5 feet 10 and weighs maybe 135 pounds.  He was hit and went down to the floor hard. An ambulance and police arrived moments later. Just before he was taken to the Regional hospital, the police constable asked him if he wanted to press charges. He said, “no”.  Rossi was fully conscious at the time, seemingly with only a nose bleed.

As far as the RCMP knew Rossi would be checked at the hospital and released. No charges were laid against the man who assaulted him. Unfortunately, it turns out that Rossi suffered a severe concussion. After the RCMP were notified about the seriousness of his condition, they laid aggravated assault charges, January 14th, 2015 against the person that assaulted him. A court date has been set on  January 19th, in Fort McMurray. 

Thankfully, emergency triage diagnosed his concussion immediately, and he was flown to Edmonton where he underwent emergency brain surgery. He was put under a medically induced coma and life support. His condition remains the same 72 hours later.

Who gets involved in a domestic dispute?  Well, my brother, that's who. That is the kind of man he is, kind, compassionate, and a real gentleman. Old school. Chivalrous. Over the years whenever I have needed help, all I had to do was call him, and he would be on the next flight to me, even though I am three provinces and two time zones away.

He is a generous man, and would literally give you the shirt off his back. Last summer when I met him he had on a crazy sweatshirt, and right then and there, on the street, he took it off and gave it to me. He laughed because he knew I would be the last person who would wear a shirt like that. His laugh is so contagious it makes anyone smile just hearing it.

He is impulsive too. Rossi loves music, all kinds of music.  Music is his soul.  Once we went to a Philip Glass concert together. It was an amazing concert.  After the concert as we were leaving, he stuck his head behind the stage and yelled “Hey Philip!!!” To our amazement Philip Glass came out and Rossi got an autograph.

Everyone who reads this, please take a moment out of your day and say a silent prayer for his full recovery.

UPDATE - Feb.14, 2015
AFTER almost two weeks in a coma, and on life support, my brother, opened his eyes. A few days later he was moved out of ICU.  He has some deficits to his right arm and maybe some short term memory loss. But he recognizes people and one of the first things he asked for was his ipod to listen to his music.  His doctor is confident he will continue to recover.  They are amazed at the speed of his recovery!

Thank you all for your kind words of support and prayers. :)