Steven Domalewski Steps Toward Recovery

What’s New: Steven Domalewski, disabled in a 2006 baseball accident, can now take steps around his Wayne home with help from his father. He no longer needs the medicine that stopped painful muscle spasms. And a pump, implanted to deliver muscle relaxant directly to his spinal cord six months after he was injured while pitching for the Wayne PAL may be removed this fall

It’s been slow but remarkable progress for Steven, now 16, since he was struck in the chest by a line drive that stopped his heart and resulted in neurological damage. Along the way, he has undergone groundbreaking medical treatment, and the community rallied around him and his family with support, including fund-raisers.

Latest Breakthrough: Steven started to take steps after he began a new physical therapy regimen this spring. New Milford therapist Azriel Novogroder holds Steven’s hands, instead of his hips, to encourage the teen to support his own center of gravity. He still needs a lot of assistance and work on his balance, but with help from his father, Joseph, Steven is able to walk from the bedroom to the living room or to the shower and back.

Dr. Philip Dr Fina of the International Brain Research Foundation who is coordinating Steven’s treatment, said the teen continues to make progress after his medicine has been reduced.

“It shows his brain chemistry kicking in the recovery process,” De Fina said. “If we can do the least and still have the maximum effect, it shows the brain is starting to do some things on its own. … It’s a very good sign for continued improvement.”

Next Steps: Steven will enter the Passaic County Elks Cerebal Palsy High School in Clifton in the fall. He will undergo therapy at the Kessler Institute with the goal of being able to hold onto a walker, his father said.

The road to recovery has been hard on the family, too, especially on reaching milestones like Steven’s 16th birthday Aug. 2. “I feel like I should be going for a driving permit with him,” his father said. But Domalewski said the family’s faith is strong, and it will never give up working toward Steven’s recovery.

“He has a great attitude,” Domalewski said. “I think it’s his attitude and personality that keep pushing us. We can joke with him and he laughs. We can see it’s still Steven.”