Just days before he was scheduled to leave for New York to assist with pro-life lobby efforts at the United Nations, Campaign Life Coalition Youth member Paul Jalsevac was very seriously injured in a car accident.
On March 5, 20-year-old Paul, the son of LifeSite manager Steve Jalsevac of Toronto, was hit head-on driving into the grounds of Christendom College in Virginia, where he is a student. He was critically injured, with great damage done to his liver and great loss of blood.
After surgery to stop his bleeding, he was airlifted to Fairfax Hospital in Washington D.C., where surgeons “packed” his liver in the hope that it may heal. During this second operation, Paul’s heart stopped.
As The Interim went to print March 21, doctors were hoping to be able to remove Paul from his respirator, but were prevented from doing so because of complications. They were also hoping soon to be able to close the incision from the second operation. It was left open because Paul’s abdominal organs were swollen due to fluids given to keep up his blood pressure.
Paul’s parents, Steve and Bonnie, flew to Paul’s side as soon as they received word of the accident. While the ordeal has been extraordinarily difficult, they say they have been helped immeasurably by the prayers of friends across North America. Reports of the family’s situation being placed on scores of prayer lists have poured in since the accident.
The faculty and students of Christendom College, an orthodox Catholic liberal arts post-secondary institution, have been especially supportive. Some 30 students are present at the hospital every day. The entire college fasted on the day of Paul’s second operation, and they have begun perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, an around-the-clock Catholic prayer vigil, for his recovery. Christendom takes part every year in the March for Life in Washington.
The Jalsevacs also report gratefully that Paul’s doctors and nurses have been very kind to them, and given Paul the best care possible.
While Paul’s condition is still critical, his doctors have been amazed at his progress, and they hope he will regain full use of his liver within a year. It is uncertain how much of that time he would have to spend in hospital. It is expected that when he is well enough, he will be airlifted to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto.
Steve and Bonnie have seven other children. The expense of flying back and forth between Toronto and Washington will be great, and it is expected that some of Paul’s long-term care will not be covered by insurance. For this reason a friend of the Jalsevacs took the initiative to set up a bank account, in the name of Steve Jalsevac, to receive donations.
Readers wishing to contribute to the fund may do so at any CIBC branch. The transit number is 02932 and the account number is 73-44937. Donations from outside Canada may made by mailing a money order, payable to Steve Jalsevac and referencing account number 73-44937, to CIBC, 2300 Lawrence Ave E., Scarborough ON, Canada M1P 2R3.
