A new surgery has brought hope to the family of West Virginia University student Ryan Diviney, who remains hospitalized in a coma after a severe beating in November.
An Intrathecal Baclofen Pump that was tested on Diviney showed success in reducing "storming episodes."
Ken Diviney, Ryan's father, said his brain "short circuits" as a result of damage suffered from the attack.
A semi-permanent Baclofen Pump will be installed next Thursday to deliver medications directly to the spinal fluid, Ken said. An end to Ryan's storming episodes will be a welcome step in his recovery.
"Ryan was in a dangerous position on Monday," Ken said. "In the history of the Shepherd Center, they have never had a fever reach that high. He reached 109.8."
Ryan is under the care of the Shepherd Center for Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation and Brain Injury Rehabilitation in Atlanta and is undergoing therapy to help him recover.
Ryan was attacked while outside the Willey Street Dairy Mart at 3:10 a.m. Nov. 7. According to police reports, the altercation resulted from an argument over the World Series.
Jonathon May, 18, and Austin Vantrease, 18 of Newark, Del., were indicted by the West Virginia Grand Jury after surrendering themselves to Morgantown police on an outstanding malicious wounding warrant.
Ken posted an update Friday to Ryansrally.org, a Web site created by Ryan's friends and family to post updates on his condition. Ken celebrated West Virginia Grand Jury's decision to indict Vantrease and May on criminal charges.
Ken said the holidays were emotional for the family but were spent with Ryan in his room. The family toasted to Ryan's health on New Year's and gave him presents on Christmas.
Three weeks ago, Ryan's sister Kari Diviney was accepted into WVU as a general studies major.
"Ryan said ‘you have to come to WVU,' and ‘you can only apply to WVU,'" Kari said. "I went to visit him at a football game and had the best time, so I knew I wanted to go there."
After seeing the work therapists were doing for Ryan at the Shepherd Center, Kari said she became interested in WVU's nursing program. She said a job as a therapist would be rewarding to help people in her brother's condition.
Ken said prayers and thoughts for Ryan and the Diviney family helped them through tough times. He said he would like to thank Morgantown and the University Police Department, Morgantown Police Chief Jimmy Smith, the University and President James P. Clements and the staff of Ruby Memorial.
"This could have happened anywhere," Ken said. "The town's image should have no reflection of what these thugs brought on it."
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