Dear Dr. Khouri,

Unfortunately, I was unable to retrieve any of the updates I had sent you as they were all done on your web site and were not email. For your record, here is my entire story.

First, for the record, I'm a 41 year old man weighing 150 lbs. I am a veteran from the Air Force having served 12 years flying KC-135R aircraft. I have worked as the chief pilot for a ministry here in the local area for the past two years. On 29 August 2001, I had a terrible accident of catastrophic proportions .
I was working underneath my car. I had it jacked up on the driver's side and had slid under the car to work on it. I managed to get the car out of gear and it started rolling down the driveway. This may sound stupid and I'll say it was the most stupid thing I've ever done.horrifyingly stupid.it just about killed me. After 4 weeks, the nightmares finally subsided. Anyway, the car came off the jack (the tires were still on that side) making the area under the car about 6-8 inches. The car rolled me over from lying on my back to on my stomach, which resulted in fracturing two of my ribs and separating my left shoulder completely to where every tendon connecting my clavicle to my shoulder (cromion) was shredded. The left rear tire lodged between my shoulder blades pinning me. I don't know how long I was under the car as I had passed out twice. Once, initially from the pain of having my shoulder ripped from its place. Then I came to only to feel the weight of the car as the left rear tire rolled on top of me. It almost rolled completely over me, but it rocked back, pinning me to the ground. The forces were escrutiating. I soon passed out again, unable to breathe. Were it not for my neighbors just happening to drive by me at that time, I would have died. Here is another miracle: the neighbor who helped me, is the biggest, strongest man on my street. He actually lifted the car off of me taking a great deal of the weight off my shoulder blades, enabling me to breathe. Another neighbor also came to my aid and they were able to jack the car off me entirely. Our street is normally very quiet, having little to no traffic.

Nerve conduction tests taken after three weeks showed serious injury to my left brachial plexus nerve, having significant damage to my radial, ulnar, and median nerves. At that time, my left hand could not grasp any object. I could not spread open my fingers, I could not even move my fingers. No movement at all. I could move my thumb 1/4 inch up and down. That is the only movement I had. I could not hold my wrist up. Significant strength was gone in all muscles of my arm. My complete hand felt like someone was drilling holes with a 1/4 inch drillbit through the tips of each of my fingers down the shaft. "Pins and needles" were normal feelings all the time. Vicadin and motrin were like candy to me in trying to alleve the pain. The doctors I saw were very concerned with my condition.

After 21 September, (approx. three weeks from the accident date), I began taking Compund CP7. It has now been almost six weeks and my improvement has been VERY dramatic. All of my doctors, (a neurosurgeon, neurologist, and orthopedic surgeon) have independently come to the conclusion that my recovery has been very remarkable, very dramatic...extremely huge! The director of orthopedics for all <large HMO name> hospitals in the Los Angeles area was literally astonished at the improved progress of movement in my hand. He remarked to me saying, "you have no idea how huge it is to have the movement that you have...This is huge, I mean HUGE!" The neurologist (from a different hospital from the director of orthopedics) who administered the nerve conduction test stated virtually the same comments. After two months, I'm still waiting for surgery to correct my shoulder (typical HMO delays). Every day I have seen a progressive increase in my flexibility, movement, and strength. Also the swelling has diminished and normal feeling is slowly returning to my fingers. I am now able to touch my thumb to every one of my fingers, every finger and thumb joint now works properly with complete movement in all directions, my wrist is no longer dropsey, and my arm strength is returning. I remember the days when I could pick up a single sheet of paper, a cassette tape, or an empty glass. I remember when I could barely squeeze a nerf ball 1/2 inch. Now I am able to squeeze it all the way in. All this, with my clavicle still sticking roughly 3 inches from where it normally should be. (The clavicle pokes almost through my skin, protruding at least an inch above where my trapezius muscle normally is). My orthopedic surgeon (one of the best shoulder doctors in the L.A. area) remarked at the severity of my separation, and may use me as a case study in his future seminars and lectures.

Some people may say that my recovery is a result of the nature of my injury, and that it would probably have healed on its own. i.e.: crush injury involving no flailing of the arm. All I know is that for three weeks I saw little improvement. The separation of my AC shoulder joint was about as much as can possibly happen. When I started taking CP7 my improvement has been consistent and ALL of the doctors I have seen have been very excited at my improvement. I am eternally grateful to Dr. Khouri and CP7 for at the very least, ensuring my recovery if not engendering my recovery. For me, he has given me back something that no price can match...the use of my left arm and hand.

Dr. Khouri you may use this statement however you desire. I just ask that my name be withheld.

Dr. Khouri, I have one last question: Soon I will be heading into surgery. Will there be any adverse effects between the anesthesia and CP7? Is there any precautionary measures I should take prior to surgery regarding CP7? My surgery date is 13 November with pre-op occuring on the 8th. (I will try to find out the name of the anesthesia to be used.)

Thank you for everything!!!!!!

Robert