Wranglers #3 player Brevin Gervais is back home with his family following a serious brain hemorrhage.
On Jan. 26, during the middle of the hockey season, Gervais lost consciousness at his billet home in 100 Mile House after complaining of a headache. He was rushed to hospital where it was determined he was suffering from bleeding in the brain. Gervais was then sent to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops where he underwent a 9-hour surgery and has been recovering ever since.
On March 15, seven weeks following his collapse, the 17-year-old was discharged from the hospital and returned home to Prince George.
"It's awesome to be back home and to have all my friends and family here. It's just awesome being home and being in my own house. It feels great," says Gervais.
While Gervais speaks a little slower than he used to, he's up walking with the aid of a walker and is back to himself, his mom Janine Gervais says.
"He's himself. He's got all his memory, his personality is intact and his humour — so we're always having lots of laughs," she says.
Brevin's recovery isn't done, however. The hemorrhage affected the co-ordination on the right side of his body, so he'll spend the next few months re-learning how to move and train his muscles. He'll be attending physio almost daily and visiting a speech therapist once a week. Because he's still in Grade 11, an occupational therapist will help him with the transition back to school.
"I think I'm recovering well and healing fast," says Gervais, of whom his coach, Dale Hladun and mom say has had an incredibly great attitude throughout the entire process.
Since they've been home, Janine (Brevin's mom) says her house has seen a mass of visitors as Gervais' friends stop by.
For the next few weeks Gervais will enjoy all the hockey he can. He's been out watching the Cariboo Cougars playoff games and will participate in the Midget Tier 1 provincial opening ceremonies, where he'll also be watching and cheering on his former teammates.
Janine extended a thank you to the executive of the 100 Mile Wrangers and the team.
"They treated Brevin so well and checked in with him on a regular basis over the last seven weeks. We just appreciate all of their love and support," she says.
Gervais says it felt good to feel all the support from people around 100 Mile and the hockey world — some even donating to a Go Fund Me page created for Gervais and his family.
"I'd just like to say thank you to 100 Mile," he says.