Wildwood boy exceeds expectations after severe brain injury, returns to school

Doctors did not have much hope that a Wildwood boy would survive after a car accident left him with a severe brain injury, but he fought for his life and has exceeded expectations.

Sean Glanvill, 14, has returned to school on a minimal basis in the wake of a car accident that left him with a severe brain injury and sent him on a long road to recovery. In May 2007, Glanvill was involved in a single-car accident during his daily commute to school at Chaminade College Prep where he was in the sixth grade. The accident left him with injuries that were so severe that doctors gave him less than a 1 percent chance of survival.

“Doctors said he would not make it 2 hours that day,” said Glanvill’s mother, Penny. “But people kept saying that he would make it because he’s a fighter.”

Last November, after 18 months in the hospital and rehabilitation, Glanvill finally was able to return home to a huge reception of friends who lined the streets.

“It was really nice to be under one roof and be a family again,” Penny said. “It’s different. Life’s never going to be the same again. But, of course, we want him home so we can face this together as a united family.”

On Jan. 6, just a few months later, Glanvill returned to school. He now attends school twice a week at Wildwood Middle School in the Rockwood School District where he receives an individual education plan (IEP) through the Special School District (SSD), Penny said.

“I take my hat off to Rockwood and Special School Districts,” Penny said. “In the IEP they said they will do whatever it takes to help Sean. We are so impressed.”

Penny said her son receives numerous services and therapies, including physical, occupational and speech. Still, she said that he has a long way to go toward recovery. That is because Glanvill is severely handicapped, requires a wheelchair and communicates mainly through basic sign language, Penny said. Although his family does not know the upper limit of his recovery, Penny said progress has been upward and they are determined always to do whatever it takes to further improve Glanvill’s recovery.

Penny said Glanvill is progressing well, perhaps because he loves school, to which he gives “a big thumbs up.” He already has met some new friends at this new school, other students with special needs. Some of Glanvill’s old friends, including Grant Frederic, his best friend from Chaminade, keep in touch as well.

“Grant feels happy that Sean is in school and progressing,” said Frederic’s mother, Gaye. “He is getting better every day.”

Penny said that although Glanvill’s road to recovery is still long, she and her family feel fortunate that he has exceeded all expectations.

“We know so little about the brain and for that reason we can’t set limitations,” Penny said. “Sean keeps proving to us that the odds can be beaten through a strong faith and the love of his family and friends. We know that Sean won’t give up and neither will our family.”

For more information about the Sean Glanvill Traumatic Brain Injury Research Foundation, visit seanglanvill.org.