Comedy night will raise funds for Steven Domalewski’s continued medical needs

Friends of Steven is a group dedicated to supporting the recovery efforts of Steven Domalewski, who was rendered severely handicapped following a sporting accident in June 2006.

This marks the third event of its kind to benefit the Domalewski family, who’ve incurred enormous medical bills since the incident. Positive feedback of the previous outings prompted the group to organize another one in a larger venue.

While pitching for the Wayne PAL, 13-year-old Domalewski was hit directly in the chest with a line drive the millisecond between heartbeats, triggering a condition known as commotion cordis, causing his heart to stop beating therefore depriving his brain of oxygen for about 12 to 15 minutes.

Now five years later, Domalewski, 18, attends the Passaic County Elks Cerebral Palsy High School in Clifton and is continuing to make great strides. He’s done 40 consecutive treatments in a hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber where he sits and watches TV while breathing in 100 percent oxygen while under increased atmospheric pressure.

He recently took a break from the hyperbaric treatments but will be returning for another 40 sessions. Health insurance doesn’t cover this type of therapy and sessions at a new location in Basking Ridge cost $75 per visit.

“It definitely helps him to verbalize a lot more and he sleeps much better with the hyperbaric treatments,” said his mother, Nancy Domalewski.

Doctors just finished up a 3-D reconstruction of Domalewski’s brain for an exact pinpoint of what areas are damaged to allow for transcranial magnetic stimulation.

“With the 3-D view, doctors can tell exactly where to place the electrodes on Steven’s head to stimulate the part of the brain responsible for language,” Domalewski explained.

His therapy also includes a chiropractor and he gets massages every other week.

Domalewski’s latest accomplishment includes walking into restaurants with help from his father, Joe Domalewski.

“We’re taking it step by step and he’s making definite improvements. Walking into restaurants is a big progression,” Domalewski said. Also included at the comedy fundraiser will be another trip offer to Martha’s Vineyard which includes $1,000 cash and a one week stay in a vacation home. The drawing will be held the night of the event.

Source: NorthJersey.com