×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Updated: Rusko Family Wins Insurance Appeal, Son Transported to Atlanta After Suffering Severe Brain Injury

Though this Christmas had a bitter twinge, the Rusko family hopes that next holiday season is a lot more joyous.

Twenty-two-year-old David Rusko, affectionately nicknamed “Davey,” began his journey to Atlanta today for treatment of his traumatic brain injury.

He has been in a vegetative state at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown for six weeks following an accident at West Virginia University. His mother, Kim Rusko, joined her son in the air ambulance trip.

Family rotated shifts at his hospital bedside on Christmas Day. “There was a big emptiness there (at home) without him,” said his father, Dave Rusko. “We just hope next Christmas is a lot better.”

David Rusko was visiting with fellow fraternity brothers after a home football game Nov. 10. Mrs. Rusko recalls her son sent a goodnight message at 8:45 p.m. One minute later, he had fallen down a flight of stairs, and help didn’t arrive for two and a half hours. The WVU senior finance major and Uniontown native has remained in critical condition since.

The Ruskos had been advocating for weeks for their son to be transferred to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, a hospital that specializes in spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation, after doctors at Ruby told them there wasn’t much more they could do. The facility has fewer than 200 beds and is selective with admission. Once Davey was accepted, the family was thrilled, but their insurance, UPMC Health Plan, initially denied the transfer.

Their appeal was successful, and now Davey is off to a facility his family feels is better suited to treat his traumatic brain injury.

Despite the chaos, Mr. Rusko said they still tried to make the holiday special for their 5-year-old daughter, but it was difficult “with my son laying in a hospital room,” unable to communicate.

“It was a tough, emotional day,” he said.

“I’ll give them (UPMC) the benefit of the doubt and say they re-evaluated his condition,” Mr. Rusko said.

Though they were overcome with relief, Mr. Rusko couldn’t help but think of all the voices that don’t get heard and those who don’t have the resources to fight a large company’s rejection. To anyone facing a similar situation, he said to keep fighting.

The family is grateful for the support it has received. Friends and strangers alike have reached out and offered their well wishes. There’s a lot of thanks to go around.

“We thank UPMC for … giving my son this opportunity, and we thank Ruby for getting my son to this point, but my main thanks go to God,” Mrs. Rusko said.

In the biblical narrative, lone David eventually bests Goliath.

“David won. Our David won this battle. We give all the credit to God,” Mr. Rusko said.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today