Ching 'doing quite well' following moped accident

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Tony Ching's mother, Lynn, hugged her son, Chad, after a news conference at The Queen's Medical Center yesterday. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Ching remained stable in the intensive-care unit at The Queen's Medical Center, and Dr. Deborah Greene, the hospital's neurointensivist, cautioned, "He's not out of the woods yet. Time will tell. Currently ... he's doing quite well."

During yesterday's news conference, doctors said Ching was admitted with accumulated blood overlining his brain, a partially collapsed left lung, fractures in the lower part of both legs and a sore left shoulder.

Greene said Ching, 22, underwent a procedure to drain the accumulated blood between his skull and both sides of the frontal part of his brain.

"We did a follow-up CAT scan to look at his brain, and it did show that most of the blood was removed," said Greene, adding a drain tube also was inserted "to allow the rest of the blood to evacuate out."

An examination yesterday morning showed "he appears improved," Greene said. "He is awake, alert, fully oriented and fully understands what's going on. At this time, he is doing well."

Greene said she could not predict how long Ching must remain in the intensive-care unit. She said additional neurosurgery is not planned.

Greene said the doctors want to make "sure he's stable, (his) mental status is unchanged. ... (We're) continually checking him neurologically."

Dr. Haochin Ho, the hospital's director of Critical Care Trauma, said a chest tube was inserted to aid Ching's collapsed left lung. The tube will be removed in a few days.

Ho said Ching also underwent surgery to repair fractures and deep cuts to both legs. As far as the leg injuries, Ho said, "his chances of full recovery are excellent."

Billy Ching said he is confident his son will make a complete recovery. "We've got a date (for) the 2008 Olympics," Billy Ching said. "I plan to be there with him."

Lynn Ching said her son is "talking, and he's a little cocky, and he's a little demanding. He wanted McDonald's fruit punch this morning. He tried to barter with the nurses for his fruit punch."

"He's a typical patient," Billy Ching said. "He's giving the nurses a run for his money. That's what he's doing. That was nice to see, that he's responding, that he's reacting. Between (Friday) night and (yesterday), there have been so many friends and teammates who came to see him. ... I think it's helped him get to the point where he is now."

Former UH teammates and coaches have helped comfort Ching's parents.

"Everybody is really feeling for him and his family," outside hitter Ryan Woodward said. "He's a fighter, through and through. He's going to fight through this. I know he will."

Former UH middle blocker Dejan Miladinovic said: "I got to talk to him. He's sharp. He's banged up, but he will recover. He's a strong guy."

According to Greene, Ching was riding a moped "through a green light" at the intersection of Wilder Avenue and Alexander Street. The accident, which involved an oncoming car, thrusted Ching "probably 20 feet," Greene said. "Initially, there was some loss of consciousness, but he did wake up and was actually moving around."

According to Lynn Ching, a witness reported that Tony Ching "stood up and walked to the side."

"When he first came into the emergency room," Greene said, "he was awake and understanding. But shortly after he came to the hospital, he became more drowsy. What we found out was he did have blood over his brain, on both sides of the frontal part of the brain."

Greene said Ching was not wearing a helmet. "Tony was very lucky," she said.

The Honolulu Police Department's traffic division was not summoned to the accident. District 7 patrol responded, but calls there were not answered yesterday. No arrest or police complaint has been filed.

UH coach Mike Wilton said Ching was carrying a 6-week-old black Labrador Akita puppy, Pa'iea. "We don't know where that puppy is," Wilton said.

The Ching family asks that anyone with information about the puppy call the hospital's public relations department at 547-4780.