Students hit by cars last semester well under way to recovery

The road to recovery is curving to an end for the four University students injured by moving vehicles last semester. College freshman Jae Lee, who was hit by a car at the intersection of 34th and Walnut streets on November 7, is back on campus and appears to be doing well after undergoing brain surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and rehabilitation at Bryn Mawr Hospital. "I think he's 100 percent recovered," said his roommate Richard Kim, also a College freshman. Kim added that to his knowledge, Lee was no longer undergoing therapy. Lee was unavailable for comment yesterday. But post-baccalaureate student Adam Zion, who was also seriously injured after being hit by two cars while crossing at the intersection of 33rd and Walnut streets December 7, is still rehabilitating at home. He said he hopes to be back on campus to complete his concentrated sciences and pre-medical studies in the fall -- oddly enough, a year earlier than expected. In fact, Zion's entire recovery is moving along at an unusually fast rate. "They expected me to be at the stage I'm at now, six months from now," he said. Landing on his face and breaking his cheekbone actually saved Zion from much of the impact that could have done severe damage to his brain. Zion was also treated with an experimental drug to reduce central nervous system swelling, preventing serious brain damage, although he did temporarily suffer some memory loss. Zion still cannot remember most of his time spent at HUP. "In a few weeks, I want to go back to visit the people who saved me," Zion said. "I also want them to get a chance to really meet the real me, who they saved." Because of the accident, Zion is missing the lower half of his right leg, and part of his mouth was also damaged. Zion said that despite his near-death experience, he has been able to maintain good spirits. "The support from friends and family has been great -- at least one of my parents visited me every day," Zion said. "We also got great support from Penn and even received two letters from Rodin to see how I was feeling." College senior Thomas Heller, who was hit by a taxi at 39th and Samson on November 10 and consequently suffered a pelvis fracture, also said he was pleased with the University's response. "Penn as a whole was very accommodating," Heller said. "I was very impressed with the way other students treated me, like opening doors for me." While he is almost completely healed, Heller said he can still feel pain occasionally when running or swimming. Legal action is still pending against the taxi driver who hit Heller. Men's track team hurdler Mark Pan, who was hit by a University truck outside of Bennett Hall on November 21, complained that the accident has curtailed his athletic activities. "As far as track goes, I pretty much missed the indoor season, which is how I view this," said the Wharton senior, who sustained injuries to his knee due to the accident. While Pan still feels pain at times, he has been doing a lot of physical therapy and working closely with his trainer's office. "My knee is getting better," he added. "I'm just trying to get back on my feet as far as hurdling is concerned."