A few weeks ago, B.J. Lomow couldn't hold his own fork, and now he can't wait to get back to holding a hockey stick.
The son of former Komet Byron Lomow and his wife, Bridget, B.J. almost lost his life recently due to a staphylococcus aureus infection. The effects were similar to symptoms suffered by many stroke victims. The 17-year-old could not raise his right index finger to make the No. 1 sign or touch his nose, and the right side of his face was paralyzed.
“I really didn't know what was going on because I was pretty sick,” B.J. said. “I could see everybody else was scared, but I wasn't too worried.”
Fort Wayne High School Hockey Association President Bill Miller is organizing a charity game Saturday at McMillen Park Ice Arena to help with medical costs. A team of Fort Wayne firemen and police officers, including ex-Komets Jim Logan, Kelly Hurd and Parris Duffus, will play a team of K's Oldtimers. Among the ex-Komets who have said they'll help are Colin Chin, Steve Fletcher, Doug Rigler, Carey Lucyk, Derek Ray, Ron Leef and Martin Burgers.
Tickets cost $5 and the game will start at 6:30 p.m. There will also be a post-game party, which will include an auction, open to the public at the Fort Wayne Elks Lodge.
The entire process started Feb. 17 when B.J. suffered a back injury while playing for the Northrop club hockey team. While he was using prescription steroids for that injury, a few days later B.J. had a 104-degree fever. It's possible he caught an infection from a blister on his heel.
The Lomows took B.J. to Parkview Hospital, where doctors checked him for bacterial meningitis, but a spinal tap was negative and he was sent home.
On March 2, the day before an appointment with his family doctor, B.J. begged his parents to take him back to the hospital. Within 30 minutes he was admitted into the intensive care unit. Now doctors were worried about encephalitis or a ruptured appendix.
“I never had a clear diagnosis, but it got into his bloodstream and broke the brain barrier,” Bridget Lomow said. “He was basically paralyzed. At one point I said to myself, if that kid never puts on a pair of hockey skates again, so be it as long as he's here. We'll take care of him the rest of his life if that's what needs to be.”
Then doctors discovered problems with his heart and then spots on his brain. After three days of tests, doctors discovered the right mix of antibiotics, and B.J. was able to leave the ICU after a week. He came home on March 19 to see his seven brothers and sisters.
After losing 20 pounds, B.J. has already gained 11 back. His physical therapy rehabilitation isn't progressing as quickly as he'd like, but doctors have said they believe he'll be able to recover completely.
“You sit in the hospital for hour after hour wondering if the medication is going to work,” Byron said. “You spend a lot of time praying and a lot of positive thinking. The outpouring of kids who have come up and seen him have showed him that there's a lot of people who care.”
And now B.J. said his next goal is to play hockey again by May 1.
