by Chelsea JensenWest Hawaii Today
cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com
Sunday, November 21, 2010 7:17 AM HST
Brennan's status upgraded
A Waikoloa woman remained in serious condition while former University of Hawaii and NFL quarterback Colt Brennan, 27, was upgraded to stable condition on Saturday following a two-car crash Friday in North Kona.
West Hawaii Today on Saturday learned Theresa Wang, 47, was the driver of the southbound Saab that was struck head-on in the collision Friday near Makalawena Beach. Her husband, David Chen, contacted the newspaper from The Queen's Medical Center on Oahu.
Chen said Wang, his wife of 16 years, suffered fractures to her neck, arms, legs and hips. She remains fully sedated. Wang has already undergone one surgery and likely will have to undergo at least two to three more surgeries, he said.
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The neck fracture was "pretty severe," he said, noting a couple of disks had been shifted in the accident causing pressure on nerves and blood vessels in her neck, which could cause nerve damage or stroke.
"We will have to wait and see. It's going to be day-by-day. I trust my faith in God will pull me through," Chen said. "We thank all of our friends for their prayers."
Queen's in a Saturday afternoon press release stated Brennan's condition had been upgraded to stable. Brennan's father, Terry Brennan, told KHON-TV Friday night that Colt suffered three or four broken ribs, a broken left collarbone and head injuries.
The condition of Brennan's girlfriend, Shakti Stream, 27, was unavailable. Kona Community Hospital spokeswoman Emily Mendez-Bryant did not respond to calls and emergency room staff, citing patient privacy and confidentiality laws, declined to provide an update.
Wang, a longtime family physician in the Midwest, moved to the Big Island with Chen in 2006. Shortly after their arrival, she began filling in for various doctors in North Hawaii.
In April 2008, she accepted a full-time position with the West Hawaii Community Health Center that was in line with her dreams to work in a public health clinic in an inner city, Chen said.
However, on Christmas Day 2008, Chen said Wang suffered an aneurysm and was still recovering from that incident at the time of Friday's crash.
Wanting to return to work, Chen said Wang had been preparing for a trial run working at the health clinic, shadowing other doctors to see if she would be able to work again.
"And, unfortunately, something like this happens," Chen said. "However, we wish the best to Colt Brennan and his girlfriend in their recovery."
On Friday, police said Stream was the driver of a northbound sports utility vehicle in which Brennan was a passenger. Stream apparently crossed the center line of Queen Kaahumanu Highway near Makalawena Beach and collided head-on with Wang's southbound Saab, according to police.
Brennan and Stream were transported to Kona Community Hospital while Wang was transported via Chopper 2 to North Hawaii Community Hospital. Brennan and Wang were later flown to Oahu for further treatment.
No charges have been filed in connection with crash, which remains under investigation, police said.
http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2010/11/21/local/local02.txt
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