Two years after a young man’s near death experience, his father has started a foundation meant to help save more lives and give hope to loved ones during those very frightening and uncertain times.

Demont Mitchell, 25, was in a car accident on October 7, 2012.

He suffered extensive injuries to his brain and was left in a coma for three weeks.

“Demont’s brain injury was traumatic,” said Matthew Mitchell, Demont’s father. “He had what’s called a craniotomy – that means that he had the bone removed from his skull that would allow his brain to swell and after a while it goes back to normal.

Demont eventually had a cranioplasty which reinserted the brain into his skull.

This procedure was followed by a number of surgeries and extensive rehabilitation.

Most of Demont’s rehab took place in the United States and was very expensive, his father said.

“He spent the better part of a year at the Jackson Memorial Hospital Ryder Trauma Centre in Miami and the costs are astronomical to be able to do that,” Mr. Mitchell said. “As a matter of fact it’s probably somewhere in the range of $250,000 to $350,000 and most people can’t afford that.”

It was that realisation during his son’s near death experience that Mr. Mitchell thought of the idea of creating a foundation that would help to give aid and assistance to those who suffer brain injuries and their families.

Together with Demont’s surgeon, neurosurgeon Dr. Magnus Ekedede Mr. Mitchell has started the Mitchell Ekedede Brain Injury Foundation.

The foundation’s main goals are to raise public awareness about brain injuries; assist victims of brain injury; promote and support careers in neuroscience and create a world-class neuro-rehabilitation centre in The Bahamas.

“We hope this foundation will be a tremendous foundation in this country,” said Dr. Ekedede.
“When you hear the Mitchell Ekedede Foundation, we want you to think quality. We are associated with the word quality.”

While Demont has made tremendous progress, he still has a long road ahead of him. He still suffers short term memory challenges and mobility issues, but he and his father are convinced that in time he will make a full recovery.

The foundation will hold its official launch on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Melia Hotel.
Former Free National Movement Leader Tommy Turnquest and attorney Johanna Mayson serve as the foundation’s chairpersons.