The Petaluma teenager who was paralyzed in a swimming accident on Aug. 10 is planning to mark his return home by showing up on stage at a the Carousel Fund's 23rd Anniversary Gala on Oct. 2 at the Petaluma Veterans Building.
"Even if he isn't able to go home from the hospital by that time, he'll be given a pass to attend," said Maureen McGowan, the mother of Danny Cox, 18. "He'll be wheeled on stage, and will have a chance to wave to everyone.
"He might be a little overwhelmed by it, because he's used to hearing about all the community efforts that are going on for him from the seclusion of his hospital room."
"It will be Danny's &‘welcome home' event," added Arnie Cohen, founder of the Carousel Fund. "About a thousand people will be there to welcome him back, and we'll have some surprises for him."
Many items, such as a pair of Muhammad Ali boxing gloves, will be auctioned off at the event specifically to benefit Cox. The gala is the main fund-raising event for the Carousel Fund, and will feature performances by Jefferson Starship with Marty Balin, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Big Brother and the Holding Company and Tommy Smothers.
Cox broke his neck and was paralyzed from the chest down after doing a flat dive in shallow water at South Lake Tahoe on Aug. 10. Apparently, a wave from a nearby boat pushed his head into the sand.
He was airlifted to Renown Medical Center in Reno, Nev., and was transferred on Aug. 20 to the Kaiser Foundation Rehabilitation Facility in Vallejo, where he remains.
Meanwhile, Cox has been rebounding after going through a very challenging period.
"He was in a pretty bad spot, and couldn't even feel his pinkies or move his triceps muscles," McGowan said. "He recently regained feeling in his pinkies, and now can perform motor functions with his triceps.
"Any progress in his functioning makes him think that there is a light at the end of the tunnel."
McGowan is hoping that he will regain more physical functions within the next few weeks.
"It's almost two months since the accident occurred, and two months after such an accident is considered a big benchmark because a lot of what is regained happens by then," she said.
(Contact Dan Johnson at dan.johnson@arguscourier.com)
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