Supporting To Help The Healing

by Breanna Fuss, Reporter
November 17, 2012 9:37 PM


It was on October 12, exactly one month ago to the day, that a high-speed chase took place in Sioux Falls. It’s the same one that left 34-year-old Trooper Andrew Steen in the hospital with head injuries.

But now a Sioux Falls man who once found himself in the same position as Steen is reaching out.
 
It was 22 years ago when Brian Paulus was in a coma. He said a fight that was taking place behind him got out of control, and he was punched in the head. Paulus was in the hospital for a month. He said the one thing that got him through it all was the support he received. So, he decided he wanted to show his support for Trooper Steen and his family.

 Brian Paulus has never met Trooper Andrew Steen, but he said he knows exactly what he is going through.
     
"A lot of things you have to do. You have to start back from like kindergarten, you have to learn how to talk and everything else,” said Brian Paulus, coordinator of the benefit.
 
So Paulus held a benefit at Billy Frogs in southwestern Sioux Falls. Paulus said showing support for Steen, or anyone who is dealing with a brain injury is about more than raising money. He said it’s the little thins people do that help a person continue to have the strength to recover.          
 
"I'd get a whole stack of cards, and I had 450 cards lined up on the wall. And I'd see that everyday, and that is what helped me through,” said Paulus.
             
Steen’s parents said its support like Paulus’ that has made all the difference.    
 
"The prayers, the gifts, people have just taken care of us,” said Dan Steen, Andrew Steen’s father.
 
Steen Father, Dan said the last month has been tough, but his son has proven to be nothing short of a fighter.

"When we first saw Andrew our hearts sank. And its amazing the stamina that young man that man has, and the willingness to fight back,” said Steen.  

Andrew Steen has little recollection of the past few weeks. The family said he still doesn’t recognize he was in an accident or what all has happened to him. Andrew also believes he has only been in the hospital for a few days. But his family said Andrew’s personality is coming through and he seems more like himself. Doctors expect him to spend several more weeks in the hospital.

The family will be spending Thanksgiving with Andrew at Sanford Hospital. Once Steen is out of the hospital he will be in outpatient care.