Ching leaves hospital, has advice for kids

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Former UH volleyball player Tony Ching yesterday spoke publicly for the first time since his moped accident May 23. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Critically injured May 23 in a traffic collision on Wilder Avenue at Alexander Street, the 22-year-old Ching was taken to The Queen's Medical Center with blood accumulating between his brain and skull, a partially collapsed left lung, fractures in both legs and deep cuts on his knees.

Donnie Gates, Emergency Medical Services' assistant chief of operations, said a city ambulance dispatched at 1:45 p.m. was at the scene three minutes later. Paramedics stabilized Ching before taking him to Queen's, where he was admitted at 2:59 p.m. Dr. Cherylee Chang, medical director of the Neuroscience Institute and Neurocritical Care at Queen's, cited the EMS effort and noted: "If there had been any delays, Tony may not be doing that well today. He's very lucky."

With doctors predicting full recovery, Ching was discharged yesterday from the hospital sporting an ear-to-ear stitch line a few inches above his forehead and some hard-earned advice for kids — wear a safety helmet.

"I know it might not be cool to wear helmets, but it is definitely not cool to be in the hospital, have stitches ear to ear and plates in your head," Ching said. "I hope children and everyone will listen to me when I say please wear helmets."

Ching supports a state law for mandatory use of helmets and encouraged moped retailers to stock them.

Dr. Chang said that the result of the repeal of the Hawai'i helmet law in 1977 was a 190 percent increase in annual deaths over the next five years in cases where helmets would have been required.

Ching said he learned something else from the accident.

"It's taught me a lot about being patient," Ching said of the near-death experience. "I've always been a person with long-term goals. Now, I'm a person who gets up every morning and takes the days as they come. This has taught me a lot about how precious my life is."

Ching expects to spend several weeks in rehabilitation, mainly to strengthen his legs. Except for headaches which doctors say will diminish in time, Ching said the other pains he feels is tolerable.

At this point, Ching expects his recovery work to lead him back to volleyball in the fall. Being able to practice with the UH team in the fall and pursue a professional volleyball career in 2004 is what Ching wants.

"I'll make it there," he said confidently. "I always do."

Eight days ago, Ching was considering trying out for the UH football team as a safety and attending summer school so he could graduate in the fall. He plans to keep his promise to his family by graduating next spring but football is out, he said.

Everything changed May 23.

According to a police report, Ching was traveling east on a moped on Wilder Avenue at 1:35 p.m. and collided with a Chevy Cavalier driven by a 21-year-old man turning left from Wilder Avenue onto Alexander Street.

"It caught me off guard," said Ching, who was headed for his mother's house in Mo'ili"ili. "It was something I didn't see coming."

Ching was carrying a puppy when the accident occurred. The puppy did not survive the accident, according to Ching's father, Billy.

Last month, Ching, a 1999 Kamehameha Schools graduate, was named to the 2003 American Volleyball Coaches Association's All-America team. Ching, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter, was one of four seniors on this year's UH team.