THIS MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF AMY LOCKWOOD. PLEASE REPLY TO alockwood@starisland.org.
Dear Star Island Community,
This message is relayed to you with the permission of Connie Lentz and Bart Bouricius.
As you may be aware, on Friday, July 13, Zach Bouricius, a 21-year-old Pelican, suffered a serious fall on Star Island and sustained some serious trauma. He was transported by the Portsmouth Fire Department to Portsmouth Hospital, and was later transferred to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. Zach underwent surgery for multiple fractures Saturday and is in the hospital healing now. He is medically stable.
Zach has much rehabilitation in front of him and is expected to fully recover.
He is at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston in the surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Cards, flowers, and letters to Zach’s room are welcome. While Star Island Corporation does not have a specific room number to offer to you, our understanding is that mail addressed to the surgical ICU will reach Zach promptly.
Our thoughts are with Zach and his family. Connie and Bart are staying with Star Island friends in Boston and are well-tended by close friends.
As you can imagine, other Pelicans have been worried, and, nonetheless, exemplified courage and skill in emergency management response, and compassion as a community in tending to one another as Zach recovers.
Thank you,
Amy Lockwood
—
Brian Winters FOR AMY LOCKWOOD
Development Associate
Star Island Corporation
10 Vaughan Mall, Suite 8, Worth Plaza * Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 430-6272 * bwinters@starisland.org * www.starisland.org
Dear Loved Ones,
News is encouraging. Zach had a second long surgery on his jaw last evening (timing not an emergency; determined by the surgeons’ need for rest and the OR schedule). Further repairs were made to the stabilizing portion of his jaw, and Dr Flynn was pleased. He seems to be an artist and a tecnician rolled into one. As we go over the “what ifs” we are feeling more and more fortunate. He literally took it on the chin and saved his neck. That he is not dead, brain damaged or paralyzed is a miracle of the greatest magnitude.
Those of you who know us well know we are committed, ethical and moral atheists, and I doubt we will have a religious epiphany. But, all prayers and good wishes in any way you feel them are deeply appreciated. It means everything to feel your love and concern. We are being well cared for and we know we can ask you each and all for anything we need.
Zach can’t have non-family, non-medical visitors for awhile. He is sedated and on a ventilator, mostly for his comfort. Also, flowers are not allowed in the ICU. Cards are welcome and we’ll get the exact address. Before the first surgery he said “I’m going to be so bored.”
We are well insured. We would ask that rather than send us flowers, which aren’t allowed anyway, you could make a contribution to the Star Island Corporation. Zach would not exist at all without Star Island where we met.
We will try to do daily updates; Janie and Joanne Bulley continue to field phone calls for us. We need our cell phones open as much as possible for medical communications.
Just keep loving all of us,
Connie and Bart