» UD student struck by lightning:
Sean ferguson has made positive steps in his recovery,
Sean Ferguson, the University of Dayton student who was struck by lightning two weeks ago, has made positive steps in his recovery at UPMC Mercy in his hometown of Pittsburgh.
His family released a statement Tuesday saying that Ferguson “has been moved out of critical care into an area of the hospital to focus on his rehabilitation.” Ferguson, who is alert and able to talk, has had surgeries to repair his broken jaw and to place skin grafts over his burns.
The Pittsburgh Pirates fan got a pleasant surprise Sunday night when friend Ashlee Darby presented him with a signed Andrew McCutchen jersey. Darby is part of a charity team that works with the Pirates star and asked the 2013 National League MVP to sign a jersey for Ferguson.
“When I gave him the jersey, he was like ‘no way!’I was just really happy to give it to him,” Darby said. “It was really cool.”
Ferguson was struck by lightning April 8 while walking across a parking lot on the UD campus. He broke his jaw when he fell and sustained burns over 35 percent of his body, according to the University of Dayton. Several bystanders rushed to his aid and administered CPR.
“There are simply no words to express our deep gratitude to all of those who rushed to the scene,” his parents, Mark and Sue, said in a letter to the UD community. “These first responders, especially the student who stepped forward to initiate CPR, quite simply saved our son’s life.”
Darby said Ferguson is “all there cognitively” and enjoys seeing visitors. He is able to