Jan. 16 proved to be another example of how life can change in an instant.
The Swindlehurst family of the Clarkston area ‘father, Duane; mother, Gale; son Duane II and sister Alyssa, 15 ? were enjoying a normal January when everything came to a halt on Jan. 16.
Duane II, 20, of the Clarkston area, entered his parents? bedroom around 7 a.m. complaining of a headache.
Minutes later, Duane II was being transported to Clarkston POH after collapsing. He was then taken for a CAT scan at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Pontiac and ended up at Providence Hospital in Southfield by 11 a.m. in need of major surgery.
The Swindlehurst family learned their son and brother suffered from Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) and needed the surgery to reduce brain swelling and bleeding.
AVM is a congenital disorder of blood vessels in the brain, present at birth, which is characterized by a tangle of abnormal veins and arteries.
The Duane Swindlehurst II Benefit Fund was established two weeks ago with Comerica Bank to help the family offset medical costs. Check or cash donations can be made to any Comerica Branch.
‘They’re such a tight family. They’ve spent the last three weeks, all of them, sleeping there. They went home last Saturday (Feb. 7) for the first time,? said famly friend Gail Otto.
‘He’s my son and my best friend,? said Duane Swindlehurst. ‘He’s the kind of kid everyone should know. Things won’t be the same until he comes home.?
According to Otto, Duane II was in an induced coma for awhile. He is now conscious yet remains in critical condition at Providence Hospital. He suffered through some days where he could not see and is not able to talk yet, but can communicate with hand gestures and a writing board.
‘He’ll have to learn to walk and talk again and go through a year or two of rehab before he’ll regain everything,? said Otto.
Duane II, an avid guitar player, has good and bad days, said Otto. Recently, during one of his better days, the family brought in one of his guitars and placed a pic in his right hand.
Duane said doctors predict his son will require more surgery in mid to late March. He also said the family continues to stay near Duane 24 hours a day.
Duane II works at Statewide Towing, which his father Duane has owned and operated in Clarkston on Sashabaw Road since 1976.
‘Duane and Duane II were two of the three drivers for the company and Duane has not worked since his son’s been in the hospital,? said Otto. ‘I always saw Duane (II) out. Everyone called him ‘Lil? Duane.? He’s just this big red-headed boy who always has a big smile on his face. He was happy working there, he always wanted to do what his father does.?
Duane II graduated from Clarkston High School in 2003.