Current Update: Accessible house available for teen
By Erin Holmes Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted on December 29, 2001
It came as a message in a bottle - another marvel in Rob Komosa's unfolding phenomenon.
The "Make Room for Rob" campaign to find a roomier home for the paralyzed teenager was well under way when, on July 26, a couple dropped a note in a collection jar bearing Komosa's photograph.
The words they scribbled said they had a Mount Prospect home that had been remodeled to accommodate wheelchair use, and that they planned to move out soon. They thought their home might work out for Komosa.
It looks like it will.
Komosa's lawyer said an agreement has been made to use "Make Room for Rob" funds to purchase the home, and he's hopeful he'll soon have a signed contract.
That would seal the biggest deal yet for the 19-year-old, who has been the recipient of a customized van, home repairs, appliances and thousands of dollars since he was paralyzed from the neck down during football practice at
Rolling Meadows High School in 1999.
"I believe this transaction is going to happen," said Tom Kivlahan, Komosa's personal attorney. "We're working very hard and we are, as the doctors say, 'cautiously optimistic' that Rob will get into this new house sometime in the first quarter of the new year."
When the "Make Room for Rob" campaign kicked off in March, organizers hoped to raise $300,000 toward a new or remodeled home for Komosa within a few months.
The group surpassed that monetary goal, but members say this two-story Mount Prospect home is a blessing in itself.
Moving into a house that already is wheelchair accessible is easier and less time consuming than remodeling the family's existing home or building a new house.
"It's a godsend," said Brian Metzger, a "Make Room for Rob" campaign coordinator.
The current owners, Robert and Carolyn Hauck, had been planning a move to a ranch house and had been following Komosa's story.
The home, equipped for wheelchair use about a decade ago, will give Komosa access to a bedroom and a shower.
He's been without both for more than two years, instead relying on sponge baths and sleeping in the living room of his family's current Arlington Heights home - unable to move through doorways or up or down stairs in his wheelchair.
"I've waited two years for this. It'll be nice to have some privacy," Komosa said. "I think it would be an improvement for my family and I. Everyone would have their own space and a place where they could just veg out by themselves."
He's already maneuvered his wheelchair up the front door's ramp - and, he says, "It's simple."
The home's first floor includes an accessible living room, kitchen, dining room and master bedroom. Near the bedroom is a nurse's station and a bathroom with a shower that has a special seat for Komosa.
The bedroom and bathroom have separate thermostats, allowing Komosa, whose paralysis makes it difficult to maintain body temperature, to crank up the heat without affecting his family.
A large deck on the back of the house also is wheelchair accessible.
Metzger said "Make Room for Rob" money will pay for the home. Any money that flows into the trust in the future could be used for things like taxes and utility bills.
Komosa supporters are planning a huge housewarming party.
A Palatine-based moving company has volunteered to move the Komosa family free of charge, and Arlington Heights resident Jim Thomas, who had stepped up to help build a house for Komosa if needed, is organizing groups of volunteers to help with other tasks that may need to be done once the
contract is signed. To help, contact Thomas at (847) 987-1286.
----------------------------------------------------------- Komosa documentary to air Paralyzed teen subject of show
By Erin Holmes Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted on December 28, 2001
On the video is a fuzzy image of a slim teenager with sandy blonde hair, dressed in a bright red jersey. He's walking on a rooftop during a trip to Poland, and as he nears the chimney, he turns to the camera, waves and smiles broadly.
You might recognize the smile.
This is Rob Komosa - the paralyzed teenager who has used that same grin to inspire thousands.
The old footage, which provides a haunting and rarely seen flashback to the way the 19-year-old's life used to be, is part of a one-hour documentary set to air at 6 p.m. Sunday on WTTW-TV, Channel 11.
The documentary, "Rob Komosa: Unbreakable Spirit," replays key events that brought Komosa to where he is today - including the football play on a practice field at Rolling Meadows High School that cost him movement below the neck when he was 17 years old.
The film details what his life is like now, telling the story through first-person accounts from family, nurses and friends, and highlights the massive and successful effort to raise $300,000 toward better living conditions for the Komosa family.
Wheeling High School graduate Bob Ray directed and produced the film, spending hours with Komosa and his family over the course of a year. The result was about 15 hours of raw footage that Ray has boiled down into a one-hour piece.
"It started off with me wanting to just sort of show the life of a quadriplegic and what he and his family had to overcome," Ray said. "As I got into this, I started to see there were these subplots, almost, in his life. It involved all these people in the community. It sort of took on a different story than what I had originally planned out."
In several shots, Komosa is surrounded by dozens of new friends who say they found inspiration in his smile and spirit. In another shot, the camera captures the laborious process of moving Komosa from his wheelchair to his bed. In later scenes, Komosa is shown enjoying a Hawaiian vacation with his family earlier this year.
Komosa himself talks on the film, explaining his desire to be happy, enjoy life and, maybe, walk again.
"What I think this does is it really exposes to people that he's really no different from anybody else, and I hope this breaks down some barriers," Ray said. "I think people need to realize this can happen to anybody."
Ray owns Blueline Productions in Chicago and freelances for Channel 11. He plans to send the Komosa documentary to a national public television company for consideration, with hopes of telling the story to a broader audience.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Rob's E-mail address: help_rob@lycos.com
Rob's Web Page: http://help_rob.tripod.com/
Why This Newsletter?
Rob mentioned the other day that he hopes these wonderful warm and supportive
feelings, the encouragement, the presence of friends, will continue in the
days ahead. That is the purpose of this newsletter!
Since Rob's injury October 6, 1999, many people have come into the lives of
Rob, Anna, Barbara, and Stanley. Many, many events and issues have barraged
the family and confronted them with thousands of decisions and problems to
resolve. Many individuals and groups have become aware of Rob, his injury,
and certainly his story of the journey of overcoming the severe realities of
his condition. A 17 year-old young man has been thrust into dealing with
totally life-changing circumstances. Rob has dealt directly with the loss of
so many aspects of his life by declaring, "I'm happy to be alive. I must
never give up. I must try to focus my energy on raising the attitudes and
conditions of others-that makes me worthwhile."
Rob's amazing and exemplary fortitude and courage have been said to "amaze,"
"inspire," and impress . . . those who have seen him on TV, or in person, or
just read about him. Some junior high boys on the sidelines of a Rolling
Meadows football game, pointing to Rob, could be heard saying, "That's Rob;
he is a hero." Without a doubt, everyone agrees that his attitude is clearly
heroic.
Rob reflected recently that he has been on a roller coaster ride since his
life was spared last October. First, he experienced the recovery period, then
the rehab period from Nov/De il his return home on April 24. Now he is on
a pathway to gain strength and momentum to "get on with his life." Thanks to
many supportive gestures, Rob and the family are getting on more solid ground
every day.
Editor Needed: If you would be willing to help please contact Deacon Don
Grossnickle at (847) 956-7432 or e-mail him at dgrossnick@aol.com
Contributions are also welcome: stories, comments and suggestions. Thanks!
Fall/Winter 2000
Internet Newsletter Edition Too!
This newsletter is being mailed to folks whom we have been able to identify
as part of the "Friends of Rob Komosa." We will also attempt to post the
newsletter on Rob's web site. If you would like to visit Rob on the web, the
address is http://help_rob.tripod.com/
Again, the idea for making a newsletter available, in either format, is to
help make it possible for Rob to continue staying in touch with the people
who have made such a big difference in his life. He now has many friends who
are committed to his progress for the "long haul." We want to share the good
news of his story and his progress with friends. Up the road, Rob has every
intention of doing his part in championing the cause of advancing paralysis
research and improving the conditions that people with disabilities must
endure.
What's New?
Van Ordered
The big news story of the hour is that the brand new van donated by the
Duchossois Foundation has been ordered. Rob has selected a green color for
the exterior. Plans are in progress to equip the van with a lift. Special
thanks to Ms. Kim Duchossois, Mrs. Mary Dahlin, Mrs. Jenny Spears, and Mr.
Paul Viken for all that they have done to contribute to the completion of the
van acquisition project. Hopefully the van will be ready after the first of
the year. Rob said he "almost lost it"-that is, he dropped some heartfelt
tears when the keys to the van were presented. He was pleasantly surprised
and overwhelmed with the generosity and good fortune that has come his way at
a really rough time. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks. Meanwhile, J.J. O'Connor, Fred
and Sandy Cantz, and Northwest Special Recreation have generously provided
rides for Rob and the family
New Front Door
A new front door arrangement is now in place at the Komosa's. The new
entrance was made possible thanks to a very dedicated professional volunteer
construction crew led by Glen Daly and tradesmen: Mark Reynolds, Fred
Malawski, Kenny Bogus, Dino Valenti, Bob Knowles. Thanks to suppliers: Heller
Lumber, Home Depot, Menards, C and K Electric, E.E. Wheaton Co, J.J. McIlwee
Co, Malawski General Contractor, A-1 Roofing, Paterson Construction, Schwake
Stone, Amperage Electrical Supply Inc. The Project Director-Glen Daly is an
architect with the Paragon Group in Hanover Park. The new front entrance has
been adapted so Rob can get into and out of the house more readily. The
project was made possible with donations from local businesses. The Rolling
Meadows Student Council held a dance to raise funds and kick off the project.
Thanks!
New Laser Head Mouse
Rob is getting closer to being able to respond directly to his e-mail and
operate the computer for e-mail, chats, etc. Thanks to the computer project
directors, Pat and Ruth Venuso, and super high techie Vince LaPonte.
Equipment has been purchased with donations from many fundraisers.
Pasta Dinner, Carnival, Burger King Day, and "Rake for Rob" Huge Successes
Thanks to some fantastic organization, planning, and hard work, these major
fundraisers attracted hundreds of people who gave their support to Rob and
the Komosas. Besides the funds collected, which will help with many bills and
family needs, many people had an opportunity to personally meet Rob. Rob
loves to interact with his peers and meet new people at these events.
Rob Visits Rocky (Rasul) Clark at RIC
Rob recently went downtown to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago to get
a check up and have his "seating and positioning checked" in his high-powered
wheelchair. Rob had a nice visit with Rocky (a south side football player
recently injured and paralyzed) and brought him a gift to lift up his spirits
and cheer him on.
State Farm and St. Viator Sponsor "Make a Difference Day"
Wow! People's generosity has been tremendous. The Komosa Family wishes to
thank so many people who have reached deeply into their resources to help
Rob. The family's needs are many. Since Mom is not able to work, the pressure
to pay monthly bills is great. These fundraisers and others have helped take
the edge off and ease some of the tension. Paying for the gas, electricity,
phone, mortgage, and real estate tax is a month-to-month challenge.
New Chair for Mom and the Night Nurse
A very comfortable leatherette chair now is available for Mom Komosa and the
night nurse. An anonymous benefactor purchased this gift, and has the Komosas
deepest thanks.
Teen Communion Ministers Mobilized
Mrs. Aline Reynolds, Wayside's Youth Minister, has arranged for a number of
teens to bring Rob Holy Communion when he is unable to get to mass.
New Clothes Dryer Purchased
CFM (Our Lady of the Wayside-Christian Family Movement) and Rolling Meadows
Boosters and students have come forward to purchase a new clothes dryer for
the Komosas. Special thanks.
Rob Attends Mass at Wayside
For the first time since the injury, Rob and family members attended the 10
am mass on Thanksgiving Day at Our Lady of the Wayside. Rob got a thundering
ovation when the pastor announced his presence.
Rob, Dad, and Friends Attend Bears Game
On November 19th, Rob, dad Stanley, and some special guests rode to Soldier
Field in a van arranged by the Northwest Special Recreation Association.
Special thanks.
Rob and Dad Visit Chicago Fire Soccer
Thanks once again to NWSRA. Rob and Dad had an opportunity to do something
they both love: enjoy each other's company (and watch an exciting game).
Rob a Movie Star?
Bob Ray, an award-winning photojournalist, has begun taping in preparation
for a PBS documentary he will produce about Rob's courageous journey back
from tragedy. Stay tuned.
Special Gift for Scott Sauer
Rob presented a beautiful engraved clock to Scott Sauer, who helped saved
Rob's life when he became unconscious and paralyzed after the collision with
the fence post. The engraving on the clock says, "Thank You for Giving Me
Time" ??b Komosa
CFM Provides Monthly Medical Supplies, Cooks Turkey, Decorates for Christmas
Christian Family Movement (CFM) is actively trying to support Rob and the
Komosas in many ways. Planned activities include cooking the Komosa's
Thanksgiving feast. Another group decorated the exterior of the Komosa Home
for the holidays. Each group has also promised to refurbish Rob's needs for
medical supplies each month.
School: Rob Makes the Honor Roll! Hurrah!
Despite the heavy demand on Rob's time to meet and greet so many people, he
has done very well in his classes at Palatine High School. He has B grades in
Chemistry, Social Science, and English Literature. Great job, Rob, and thanks
to the student tutors who help turn pages for Rob, assist with the
preparation for tests, and help with assignments. Rob is doing his best to
adjust to all the new approaches he must use to learn. Without personal note
taking, it is definitely a challenge.
Great Help from Government Officials
Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene Mulder, State Senator Wendell Jones, and
Representative Carolyn Krause have each taken a personal interest in finding
ways to support Rob. They are looking for state and federal aid to support
medical bills and expense payments. Each of them is exploring ways to help
Mom either find a job or be compensated for filling in for missed nursing
shifts. So many household jobs must be done. Mom has been unable to
contribute to the family income since last October. This loss of income has
been a serious problem. Mom is a real trooper but is frustrated that she
cannot help with bills. Any ideas???
S.C.O.R.E Foundation Contributes to A Vision of Whole House Remodeling
The Spinal Cord Research Endowment from California with encouragement from
the Dreams for Kids Foundation of Chicago has made a generous donation to
help the Komosa Family to relocate Rob move out of the living room. A group
of local contractors is considering undertaking a major volunteer effort to
improved the family's living conditions.
Thank you for your continued help and support! 
His own wheels
|
By Erin Holmes Daily Herald Staff Writer
October 26, 2000
They were words Rob Komosa had only dreamt of.
And on Wednesday they came, really and truly, from the chairman of Arlington Park - one of the most recognized fixtures in a community that has adopted the paralyzed teenager.
"The van is yours," Richard L. Duchossois told Komosa, presenting the 18-year-old Arlington Heights resident with keys to a van that will be able to handle his 600-pound motorized wheelchair. "I'd like to give you the keys."
Duchossois, on behalf of the racetrack, Churchill Downs Inc. and the Duchossois Family Foundation, surprised Komosa and his family with the van, which was discreetly parked on the ground level of the track's grandstand.
The presentation of the vehicle was made several floors higher, at a reception celebrating the racetrack's merger with Churchill Downs Inc. and its recent name change from Arlington International Racecourse back to Arlington Park.
The announcement of the van surprised Komosa and his family and friends, and sparked a standing ovation from the roomful of community leaders who had gathered for the reception.
"It's a big surprise," Komosa said. "This is so great. You don't know how much I appreciate this."
The van presented Wednesday is not the van Komosa actually will receive. He'll get to pick the color of his - he's not sure yet which hue he'll choose - and have to wait for it to be custom-equipped, which could take several months.
The van will give Komosa his own transportation - something he hasn't had since returning from rehabilitation earlier this year.
It also will end the need to rely on a friend's van or public transportation, and stop friends' and family's worry over how to finance the pricey vehicle.
"Thank you for the courage you have shown," Duchossois told Komosa. "You have certainly set a standard of courage and living for all of us here to follow."
Komosa was paralyzed from the neck down last fall when he was tackled head-first into a steel fence post during football practice at Rolling Meadows High School.
"He's a part of the team," running back Abe Jones said, presenting both Komosa and Duchossois with memorabilia from the team that dedicates every game to their former teammate. "Although he's not on the field, he's always with us in heart."
The van project got rolling several weeks ago, when word got out to state Sen. Wendell Jones that Komosa needed some reliable transportation. Jones told people at Arlington Park, who, with officials from Churchill Downs Inc., eventually sealed the deal.
Jones and Churchill Downs Inc. President and CEO Thomas Meeker also attended Wednesday's presentation.
"He's a brave lad," Duchossois said. "He's a symbol of what youth in this area stand for. The thing he needs most is transportation. He's a young lad, and he has to see what's happening."
Duchossois' name in the past has been linked with numerous other gifts and donations, but he said he prefers to keep his giving, for the most part, private.
"The community, and life, has been very good to my family," he said. "We want to put as much back as we can."
Officials said the van cost about $40,000. The process of custom-fitting it with the appropriate lifts will be handled through the state.
Friends said the van will allow Komosa more freedom to move around the communities that have supported him since his injury, speaking out on spinal cord awareness and talking to kids.
"This is Rob's new opportunity to go say thanks to people and get the word out about spinal cord research," said Don Grossnickle, a deacon at Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church, where the Komosa family attends services. "This is his access out to outreach. It's huge. This is his window."
Community residents in recent months have rallied to help the family cope with mounting medical bills, expenses and the little things - like a phone and computer Komosa can operate without his hands - many take for granted.
A benefit at Brandt's Pizza Cafe in Arlington Heights last weekend raised thousands of dollars.
In September, volunteers with Christian Family Movement at Our Lady of the Wayside Church got together to build Komosa a wheelchair ramp to his front door.
A volunteer architect, with help from money gathered through fund-raisers at Rolling Meadows High School, is working on remodeling his home's front door to make it wheelchair friendly.
People can help Komosa today by eating at one of three area Burger Kings - 75 W. Northwest Hwy. and 1540 E. Northwest Hwy. in Palatine and 1901 W. Algonquin Road in Rolling Meadows - and telling the cashier, "My receipt is for Rob Komosa."
That project, co-sponsored by the Palatine and Rolling Meadows Jaycees, will give 20 percent of each meal receipt donated to a special fund for Komosa.
PARALYZED TEEN'S SPIRIT IS UNBREAKABLE
By Barry Temkin
Tribune Staff Writer
October 6, 2000
Rob Komosa's body is broken, but his spirit refuses to bend.
One year after the football accident that left him dependent for his most basic needs, he approaches life with a smile seemingly as ever-present as the ventilator that helps him breathe and the wheelchair that allows him to move.
Whether it was on a recent outing to a White Sox game, where he chatted near home plate with players and manager Jerry Manuel, or during an interview in the back yard of his family's small Arlington Heights home, the Palatine High School student's face rarely belied his fate.
"I think it's easier to go through life with a smile," he said. "Of course, you probably won't smile all the time, but it's just important to keep a positive attitude."
Relatives and friends say the 18-year-old always has possessed that outlook, but it didn't seem particularly remarkable until Oct. 6, 1999, when Komosa--then a Rolling Meadows High School junior running back--collided head-on with a metal fence post after being tackled during practice.
He fractured two vertebrae in his neck and damaged his spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.
Physically, almost everything changed in that instant. Mentally and emotionally, surprisingly little did. Komosa still likes sports, movies, cars and music, and he still sleeps with the covers pulled over his head.
When possible, he keeps statistics at Palatine football games, and he continues to spar verbally with his 17-year-old sister, Anna, who has assumed a seemingly endless series of roles since her brother's accident turned their family's world upside down.
"Rob is less down at times than I am," said Anna, a Rolling Meadows senior. "I think the fact he's so positive helps keep our family sane and more positive.
"I think it helped that he stayed the same person."
Her brother's resilience appears to stem from his own faith and character, but he clearly draws strength from the almost constant support he has received from others.
Rolling Meadows students and boosters and parishioners from Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church in Arlington Heights, where the Komosas worship, are raising money for a van that can accommodate Rob's battery-powered wheelchair, which he maneuvers by blowing into a tube.
Volunteers have built a ramp to allow him to enter and leave his home and are planning to alter the front entrance to make it easier for him to do that. Community leaders and local politicians also have provided assistance.
"So many people care," said Komosa, who covets public contact so much he requested his e-mail address (helprob@lycos.com) be publicized.
Almost no one has helped more than Komosa's only sibling. Anna has done that by adding such roles as nurse, public relations manager, go-between and gofer to that of simply being a sister.
Rob's parents, Barbara and Stanley, emigrated from Poland more than two decades ago and remain somewhat limited in their use of English. That helped thrust Anna into the role of interpreter, facilitating communication with medical personnel, something she still does at times with the various nurses who tend to her brother at home.
Anna also has become a family representative. At a mass last year at Our Lady of the Wayside, she spoke for her family, and she took a day off from school last month to help Rob with media interviews shortly after he started school at Palatine, where he enrolled because of its highly regarded special-education program.
At home, Anna fields calls ranging from media inquiries to those who simply want to help.
"She calls herself Rob's manager, and that's the role she plays," said Don Grossnickle, a permanent deacon at Our Lady of the Wayside. "She is his No. 1 cheerleader and really should be celebrated as someone extra courageous and making a big difference."
Mary Jo Palmieri, a pediatric psychologist with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, said siblings in situations such as Anna's often must mature quickly.
"They are thrust into the role of being a pseudo-parent," said Palmieri, who worked with Rob during his several-months stay at RIC. "Sometimes they end up doing a lot of advocating on behalf of the parents or patient or end up doing some sort of screening or dodging maneuver to shield family members from issues that might cause discomfort or exacerbate stress."
Palmieri said many siblings of disabled patients dedicate themselves to their brothers' or sisters' needs, but sometimes at an emotional cost.
"They are so focused on the family member who needs help and attention they put that family member before themselves," she said.
Anna downplayed the impact Rob's injury has had on her life, but she has had to make some sacrifices. When he was injured, she was debating whether to continue playing basketball for Rolling Meadows, which she had done as a freshman and sophomore.
She said she might have quit the sport anyway to retain a job in an Arlington Heights hair salon, but acknowledged the accident helped make up her mind to stop playing.
There have been times, too, she has had to skip a social event to stay with Rob when her parents were out and no nurse was available. Like her mother, who gave up her job to take care of Rob, Anna has learned the skills necessary to help him--at times even explaining new equipment to nurses in the Komosa living room, which now must serve as Rob's bedroom because of the house's bi-level design.
With poise and a wry sense of humor, Anna projects an easy competence whether she's applying gel to Rob's hair before school, adjusting his wheelchair or feeding him a breakfast burrito.
They punctuate their time together with an exchange of insults normal for siblings a year apart. While Anna tends to many of Rob's needs, including runs to McDonald's and the video store, they still manage to be brother and sister.
"I call him my big little brother," said Anna, who at 6 feet 1 inch is slightly taller than Rob. "Our relationship has changed in that I do more stuff for him and I'm more around him, but not that much the way we act toward each other.
"I share a lot with him, and he tells me a lot. I think we have a good balance--we yell at each other and love each other."
Since the accident, though, Anna tells Rob she loves him more than she had before.
"And if I kiss him on the forehead now, he can't get away from me," she said, laughing.
Anna acknowledged the accident has changed her, mainly by teaching her how one's life can change drastically in a moment and by seeing the grace with which her brother has handled his own change.
"I'm the more grouchy sibling," she said. "Rob is so nice to everyone. "I think that changed me because I realize you should be nice to everyone. Things change. You have to rely on people."
The accident has changed Rob's perspective as well. He said the anniversary of the event (a lawsuit against Township High School District 214 is still pending in Cook County Circuit Court) has made him ponder how quickly life passes and the need "to enjoy every day."
He acknowledged having moments of frustration and said he has regretted the times he took those feelings out on family members. He said his injury has made him more religious and more apt to ponder some of life's larger issues.
"I think about why this happened, and sometimes I think about what would have happened if I had not made it," he said. "I feel I'm real lucky to still be here."
He's fortunate, he explained, to have gotten so much help from so many, a favor he hopes to return. Komosa said he may spend two years at Palatine. Then he hopes to attend college and perhaps become a counselor or psychologist.
Anna plans to attend an in-state university next year and major in business.
"I just try to help people any way I can," Rob said. "I get a lot of inspirational e-mails. People tell me how I changed their attitudes. I'm glad that can help them."
Palmieri of the Rehabilitation Institute acknowledged that the strength and depth of Komosa's positive outlook is unusual for one with so devastating an injury. Dreams for Kids, a Chicago-based organization that serves the needs of children, recognized that achievement by honoring him last month for his courage and inspirational example.
Dreams for Kids also is raising funds for spinal cord research. Komosa hopes such research will allow him to walk again, but is determined his life will proceed productively regardless.
"I hope not just me but every spinal-cord victim walks someday," he said. "But you never know.
"If it happens, it happens. You have to live your life the way it is."
Copyright 2000, Chicago Tribune
KOMOSA FAMILY STRUGGLES TO UNRAVEL BARRIERS
9-20-00
Volunteers and generous local community members are making gains in assisting
the Komosa family to remove significant barriers, which impede Rob's new
life. Rob came home from the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago on April
24th. It is taking a long and frustrating time to unravel a nightmare of
piles of financial and logistical problems that are painfully getting in the
way of a smooth recovery and getting Rob and the family household on some
solid ground. In just a few days now it will be one year since the tragic
accident occurred on the Rolling Meadows football practice field. Rob
vividly recalls being tackled into a large metal post on the sideline. He
recalls a man who he is sure saved his life, athletic trainer Scott Sauer.
The incident nearly cost Rob his life, and ripped his spinal cord crippling
his body and instantly catapulting the Komosa family into a tumultuous
situation that is often overwhelming. Some public officials are pitching in
doing their best to locate government resources to ease the situation.
Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene Mulder, and State Senator Wendell Jones have
taken a personal interest in linking the family needs to overcome what
amounts to paralyzing piles of red tape.
An initial step of removing huge obstacles to Rob's new life and journey to
success occurred when a volunteer crew constructed a ramp outside the Komosa
home on Labor Day. Now, Rob fortunately can more freely get out of the house
to school, go to doctor' appointments, and begin a social life once again.
Attending a fundraiser and receiving a courage award on Friday evening in
Schaumburg for the, "Dreams for Kids" Foundation and attending the Rolling
Meadow's football game and dance were a major undertaking. Rob's friend and
mentor, J.J. O'Connor, a 21 year-old local resident, who also is severely
paralyzed from a hockey accident which occurred 5 years ago, picked up Rob
and his mother Barbara in his wheelchair assisted van. Because of the size
of Rob's chair it was a major struggle getting around. Rob seems to take all
this in stride never failing to smile and be grateful for what he has. Rob
was so happy to finally be out among his friends that he actually was the
last person to leave the dance held in his honor. That night, he gleefully
greeted over 1,000 students, faculty, and coaches. Rob and well wishers
celebrated his own personal homecoming to a school that means so much to him.
Rob now attends classes at Palatine High School. This special facility is
optimally equipped to serve 40 other physically challenged teenagers
struggling to learn. He is willing to cope with his apparent limitations.
He is counting on others to help him open pathways and eliminating issues
which are getting in his way to progress.
Rolling Meadows students and athletic boosters are presently working hard to
purchase a means of transportation for Rob. Wheelchair vans that can
accommodate Rob's oversize, and heavy, battery-powered chair and
self-contained breathing ventilator are very expensive. Mary Dahlin, an Our
Lady of the Wayside parishioner, has assembled a team to help her conquer the
transportation problem. Rob and family are members of Wayside Church
community. The Van team first, has been doing research on identifying
alternate means to help Rob get around. She is trying to locate a used or new
van that would fit the bill. The cost for putting together a van and
wheelchair lift for Rob ranges from about $25,000 for a used van, or
somewhere near $65,000-$75,000 for a new one. Current fundraisers are just
beginning to make a dent in financing the pursuit of basic transportation.
Another hurdle to overcome once the van is purchased will be dealing with
auto insurance costs.
Another project underway at the Komosa residence is re-adjusting the front
door entrance. Even though Rob is a great wheelchair driver, the entranceway
presents a maze for him and is a struggle. Once again, volunteers who
already work full time are trying to find the time and resources to help with
this construction project. Rolling Meadows students and boosters have
raised funds for this project. The anonymous project director is working on
acquiring donated construction materials to reduce the costs. The object of
the students and boosters fundraising efforts is to complete the front door
project , possibly and use any remaining funds for the van or to assist the
Komosas' in purchasing medical supplies.
Rob and his family are incredibly positive amidst what amounts to often
rather chaotic living conditions. The frustration often takes a toll. Rob's
hospital bed takes up the area that used to be the family living room. The
dining room is the nurse's station piled high with bills and correspondence.
Rob's chair and hydraulic hoist to lift his body into bed leave little room
for movement in the Komosa home. The family room is currently a storeroom
for supplies and equipment. Rob has no other access to rooms in his home
other than his place at the front window. At the present time, Rob and
family are currently assisted each day by nurses who each work 10 hours
shifts to care for his medical needs and supervise his ventilated breathing.
Rob's bed is surrounded by a shrine of holy cards, medals, and religious
objects that form a mini-chapel. Prayer and faith were always part of Rob
and the Komosa's life. Today, Rob will freely tell you that God's spirit is
alive every moment. God's spirit is alive now as hundreds of people serve as
Rob's and the family's cheerleaders. People ask how Rob manages to smile so
much in the face of so great a challenge. He says it is very simple, "so many
people care."
For more information contact:
Deacon Don Grossnickle * 847-956-7432
Volunteers build ramp for paralyzed teen
BY EILEEN O. DADAY Daily Herald Correspondent
For the first time in months Rob Komosa did something he's dreamed of nearly
every day since he suffered the football injury that left him paralyzed: He
went outside, on his own.
Monday afternoon, the 18-year-old operated his motorized wheelchair out the
front door of his Arlington Heights home and down a brand-new ramp that a
crew of volunteer carpenters had just finished putting together.
At the end of the ramp, Komosa smiled and closed his eyes. "Finally," he
said. "I've waited a long time for this."
The offers had come in before. Plenty of well-meaning residents had stopped
by the house, offering to build a ramp at Komosa's home and in some cases
even giving estimates. None had ever come back.
It took officials with Christian Family Movement at Our Lady of the Wayside
Church, where the Komosas are members, to get the job done. The group, which
includes 130 families in the parish, seeks ways to help the disadvantaged and
work for social justice in the community.
"This is exactly what we're all about," said Bill Mitchell of Arlington
Heights, who with his wife, Teri, seeks out projects for the group. "They had
an immediate need for this ramp, and it was something we could do. We would
have helped anyone in this circumstance, but it's kind of nice to help
someone in the parish."
On Monday, a crew of journeymen carpenters, masons and parishioners worked
nearly all day to install a 19-foot-long wooden ramp exiting the front door
of the home.
The hammering started at 7 a.m., and Komosa, 18, confined to his hospital bed
set up just inside the living room, could only smile. "It's music to my
ears," he said.
"I've been wishing for this since I've been home (April 24)," Komosa said.
"It means I'll have a little more freedom, I can maybe go outside a little
easier."
It has been nearly a year since Komosa was left paralyzed from an injury he
sustained at football practice at Rolling Meadows High School. To make matter
worse, when he returned home to continue his rehabilitation, he found he was
somewhat of a prisoner in his own home.
The portable aluminum ramp outside his front door could not withstand the
weight of his high-tech motorized wheelchair. Consequently, just to get him
out the door for school took two adults to maneuver him in his old wheelchair
down the ramp.
"It was very difficult," said Nancy Flynn, one of the specialty nurses who
cares for him. "In some ways it could have been dangerous."
Church officials are accepting donations to help pay for materials for the
ramp. Funds can be mailed to the Rob Komosa Fund at Harris Bank Rolling
Meadows, at 3225 Kirchoff Road, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008.
Copyright 2000, Daily Herald
Paralyzed teen asks public not to be a stranger
BY ERIN HOLMES Daily Herald Staff Writer
Rob Komosa may be the only celebrity who vows to answer each piece of e-mail he receives himself. No mass responses from this guy.
If that isn't enough incentive to send him a message of hope and encouragement, maybe this is:
The 18-year-old teen is paralyzed from the neck down and uses a wheelchair,
yet he's often the one inspiring all around him with his trademark smile and
good cheer.
"Rob's now to the point where he really needs e-mails and support and
encouragement and cards and phone calls and visits," said Don Grossnickle, a
deacon at Our Lady of the Wayside Parish, where Komosa and his family attend
church. "Rob's at a new place at his life where support and encouragement
really are going to be increasingly important."
It's been nearly a year since Komosa, then a Rolling Meadows High School
football player, slammed head first into an unpadded steel fence post making
a tackle during practice.
He is now attending Palatine High School, which boasts a state-of-the-art
special education program where Komosa said he feels comfortable.
While most people are hesitant to stop by his family's Arlington Heights home
or send a note, that sort of attention is exactly what keeps up his
enthusiasm, family and friends said.
"If people want to support and encourage him at this time, it really will be
well-received by Rob and his family," Grossnickle said. "There's been a
reluctance for people to intrude into Rob's life and space. But he is
personable and he wants to share his relationship with others at this
particular point in time. He knows he has a long road ahead of him."
In addition to the little things, the family is in need of a few larger items.
Komosa could use a bigger hospital bed - the one he uses now is too short - a
van that easily transports him in his wheelchair, a television he can see
easier from his bed and a telephone that can be used without cradling a
receiver.
Komosa's home, which currently is packed full with his hospital bed, lift and
medical supplies, could also use some adjustments to make it more accessible
and roomier.
A Web site, http://help_rob.tripod.com, lists ways for people to get involved
in helping Komosa and includes information on a Harris Bank fund in his name.
The bank would not verify how much money is in the fund.
The Web site also includes the family's home telephone number and address.
You can reach Komosa via e-mail at help_rob@lycos.com.
Through a secretary, he's able to dictate his responses and promises he'll
send replies.
Copyright 2000, Daily Herald
'He inspires me'
BY ERIN HOLMES Daily Herald Staff Writer
Three days into the new school year, Rob Komosa already was taking a risk.
The 18-year-old Palatine High School student wore a purple-brimmed baseball
cap touting Rolling Meadows High School football deep into the halls of
red-and-white Palatine Pirates' territory.
Never mind that he also was wearing a bright red Palatine High School
football jersey - wearing the colors of high school competition was still
risky, and that made him grin.
"He inspires me," said Debbie Murphy, a Palatine High School staff member.
From her perch on a plastic chair in an empty Palatine High School corridor
Friday, she watched Komosa's nurse, Linda Novak, wheel him outside to catch a
few moments of summer sunlight.
"He touched my heart," Murphy said. "He has changed my life and the way I
think about things."
She isn't alone.
It's been nearly a year since Komosa, then a 17-year-old Rolling Meadows High
School student and football player, was tackled and crashed head first
against an unpadded steel fence post while at practice.
The impact cracked two vertebrae in Komosa's neck, leaving him paralyzed from
the neck down. The family since has filed a lawsuit against Northwest
Suburban District 214. The suit is pending in court.
But even through the months of rehabilitation that kept him out of Rolling
Meadows High School for the remainder of his junior year, Rob's smile would
remind everyone that he won't feel sorry for himself.
"I just look on the bright side of things," he said. "I just feel fortunate
that I'm still alive and still with my family. It could have been worse."
A true football fan, Komosa has a willingness to root for both Rolling
Meadows and Palatine - although he said his affection for Meadows likely
would win out in the end - and a love for the Chicago Bears.
The Bears offered him tickets to last Friday's pre-season game against the
Tennessee Titans - but he had to go to school.
A flash of his trademark smile says he'd rather have gone to the game.
Instead of returning this fall to Rolling Meadows High School, Komosa opted
to transfer to Palatine High, which boasts a state-of-the-art special
education program.
Switching to Palatine was a decision he made with his head, not with his
heart, and it was a tough one to make, he said.
"I sort of have mixed feelings," Komosa said on the third day of classes. "At
first I was a little nervous. It feels a little different. I don't know
anyone."
Still, he said, it feels good to be back in a hallway crowded with students,
good to be caught up in the fall rush of activity and even good to have
homework.
He keeps in touch with his Rolling Meadows High School buddies and keeps up
on gossip through his sister, Anna, a Rolling Meadows student.
At Palatine, where the physically handicapped program - also known as the On
Our Own club - hosts nearly 40 students, a wheelchair isn't such an unusual
thing to see in the hallways.
Komosa can join in classes, pep rallies and assemblies without feeling out of
place.
Senior Javier Dominguez, who spent four years in Palatine's program, said it
made him feel more independent.
"It gives you the confidence to be yourself," Dominguez said. "(Other kids)
don't see you differently. They treat you the same."
Palatine's 23-year-old special education program features full-time
therapists, teaching assistants and plenty of interaction with other students
in the school.
It also encourages students to participate in extracurricular activities
including the school newspaper or football, where Komosa could take on the
role of statistician this fall.
"They're all unique medically, but emotionally and academically, they're like
everyone else," special education teacher Bob Carroll said. "Some schools are
inventing the wheel with these kids. We're driving a Cadillac here."
In the cream-colored room where some members of the On Our Own club
congregate for lunch and conversation, Komosa ate with non-members. That's
because some teens, including senior Jonathan Kosovski, spend their lunch
periods there, talking and joking with club members.
"It's hard to come across someone here who's negative," said Kosovski, who
has volunteered in the special education program since he was a freshman. "If
you want someone who has a smile on their face, you come down here. They're
always happy."
Kosovski said interaction between all students at Palatine High helps people
like himself open their eyes to what is around them, and helps students like
Komosa realize they aren't alone.
"It's good to be with kids my own age again," Komosa said. "They treat me
like a normal guy."
Of course, he said, that's pretty much how he sees himself.
Sometimes, like when Komosa listens to music on his headphones, he gets such
a charge that he wants to jump out and go for a ride with friends, blasting
tunes on the car stereo.
The fact that he can't do that doesn't get him too down, though.
"I try to go about things the way they are," he said. "It's a little
difficult. It's amazing how your life can be drastically changed from one
incident. Most people don't realize how lucky they are until something like
this happens."
Komosa, who plans to go to college, may opt to spend two years in Palatine's
program, where he's taking college prep courses.
His career choice? Something in computers, psychology or the automobile
industry.
He smiles at his indecisiveness.
"I guess maybe, in a way, I feel reborn," he said. "I've always had a
positive outlook on things. But this gives me a different outlook on things,
a different outlook on life. You look at life through a different
perspective."
Komosa is a bit of a celebrity at Palatine.
"He hasn't stopped smiling since he got here," Murphy said. "He's going to
make such great friends. I feel honored that he is coming to Palatine High
School."
With his smile, Komosa endures minor setbacks - like the times the people
picking him up for doctor appointments show up late or bring the wrong
vehicle - and doesn't complain if he has to pass up going somewhere he'd like.
"He's really positive," said Novak, a Merit Healthcare nurse. "He's very
considerate of his parents' feelings."
A different wheelchair, which would allow Komosa to move around a room
himself by sipping from and blowing into a straw, is waiting for him. The
missing link is a permanent ramp to get into his house.
He could have that soon, and the thought of that makes him smile again.
The August sun shone down on Komosa as he sat outside, the Rolling Meadows
High cap keeping the rays off his face.
The Palatine jersey he wore was a gift from the football team's head coach,
who presented it to Komosa during eighth period Thursday.
"So far, it's been easy," he said, delivering his verdict on the first few
days in a new school.
"I know it's going to be harder," Komosa said, this time with a half-grin.
"But I think I'll manage."
Rob Komosa's family is still in need of a specialized van to more easily
transport Rob and his chair. Anyone wishing to help can find more information
by logging on to http://help_rob,tripod.com. E-mail can be sent to
help_rob@lycos.com.
Copyright 2000, Daily Herald
Paralyzed student transfers to Palatine High
By ERIN HOLMES Daily Herald Staff Writer
Robert Komosa, the former Rolling Meadows High School football
player paralyzed last fall during a practice scrimmage, will transfer to
Palatine High School for the 2000-2001 school year.
Komosa, who is paralyzed from the neck down and uses a wheelchair,
will start classes later this month at the Palatine-Schaumburg Township
High School District 211 school, which has a state-of-the-art special
education program.
The 18-year-old was a junior at Rolling Meadows High School in
October when he was tackled into an unpadded steel fence post near the
field.
He spent months in the hospital and in rehabilitation, finally coming home
to Arlington Heights this summer.
A family member confirmed Komosa will be attending Palatine High
School but did not want to comment further.
Officials at Northwest Suburban High School District 214, which includes
Rolling Meadows High School, suggested Komosa and his family look at
Palatine, said District 214 spokeswoman Venetia Miles. Palatine High
serves students from both District 214 and District 211, she said.
"I can't think of a better program than the program Palatine High School
has," Miles said. "We would have made all the accommodations for
Robert Komosa if he would have chosen to come back to his home
school, so that wasn't the issue."
The Palatine program offers the "On-Our-Own Club," which integrates
special education students into classrooms and activities. Palatine
considers itself among the best equipped for handling students with
disabilities.
"I think it's the best there is," special education teacher Denise Stuart said.
"We have so many kids who are accepted and visible in the school. The
student body ... is so accustomed to it, it's just a real nice environment
where people don't even realize it's special ed."
Komosa's family last year filed a lawsuit alleging negligence and willful and
wanton misconduct against District 214.
The district last month filed its second motion for dismissal in the case,
saying, among other things, that there was no legal obligation for the
school to pad the fence post.
The district's attorney, Jay Judge of Judge, James & Dutton in Park
Ridge, said he was not aware Komosa had enrolled at Palatine High
School and had assumed he would be headed back to Rolling Meadows
High in the fall.
District 214 officials say the lawsuit did not cause Komosa to transfer out
of District 214. The family's lawyer was unavailable Monday to discuss
the transfer.
Copyright 2000, Daily Herald
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