Miracle Survivor: One in a Million
A Cleveland man's survival and recovery from a gunshot wound to the head are miraculous, doctors say.
CLEVELAND -- Jory Aebly was shot execution-style in the head last weekend. The bullet went straight through his brain. And yet, the 26-year-old is alive and speaking today, a recovery that is nothing short of miraculous, according to doctors.
Aebly was attending a co-worker's birthday party in downtown Cleveland on Saturday night. Leaving the party, they were followed by a group of men who shot them in the heads, according to WKYC-TV, the NBC station in Cleveland. Aebly's friend, Jeremy Pechanec, was declared brain dead Sunday evening. Today, Aebly is awake and communicating and can move his arms and legs. "We are all sitting here in awe," says Dr. Robert Geertman of MetroHealth Medical Center. "My jaw was on the floor."
Aebly's progress so far is "one in a million," Dr. Geertman tells WKYC. "Most people would say this is a non-survivable injury," he explained. "Traditionally those types of injuries are usually pretty fatal."
Aebly's co-worker, Jeremy Pechanec, who was also shot in the back of the head did not survive. He was declared brain dead Sunday night and donated his organs the following day.
Four young men have been arrested in the shooting of the Cleveland Clinic lab technicians. One more arrested is expected.
The bullet passed through both hemispheres of Aebly's brain where fragments of bone and bullet are still lodged. Doctors do not plan to remove them unless necessary. "With the bullet having gone one more centimeter in either direction it would have impacted the brain stem and we probably wouldn't be having this discussion today," says Geertman.
The hospital expects a long period of rehabilitation for Aebly if he survives. His official condition has been upgraded from critical to serious. Aebly's family also issued a statement.
"We are grateful for the outpouring of support and prayers expressed for Jory as he continues to battle his traumatic injuries sustained from a malicious, intentional, and brutal gun shot wound to the head," the family writes.
"In addition to being a selfless and loving person, Jory also has a strong and resilient spirit. We believe that his fighting spirit, along with all of the prayers from Cleveland and elsewhere are resulting in what some doctors can only describe as 'miraculous progress.' We therefore continue to ask for your prayers for Jory and Jeremy's family as well," the statement continues.
