By Julieanne Leupold
Staff Writer
Around age 1, Ryan Corbin learned to walk and talk. At age 25, he is learning to do it all over again.
The 1999 Pepperdine alumnus suffered severe internal injuries and lapsed into a coma after a four-story fall from his apartment roof June 19.
After nine months of rehabilitation, Corbin has defied all doctors’ expectations and has not only emerged from the coma, but is beginning to talk in longer sentences and even read flash cards.
“He is making vast improvements, especially since they didn’t think he was going to make it the first week,” 2001 Pepperdine alumna Erin Glass said. Glass visits Corbin at least once every other week at a special facility in Orange County. “When his dad showed him a ball he was able to mouth the word ball. He is very aware of his surroundings and notices things a lot more.”
Corbin is still in a wheelchair and sticks to a strict resting schedule, but he is able to kiss and even mouthed “Please help me” to his nurses.
“It was really hard (to visit) the first time since I hadn’t seen him at all since his accident,” Glass said. “But in realizing he is doing so much better, it is really great to see him now. I believe that he understands everything even if he can’t respond so I just try to talk to him.”
Corbin has increasing use of his right hand and can execute a special handshake his Sigma Nu Fraternity brothers made up with him. Although he still has a feeding tube, he is beginning to eat solid food on his own.
“His mom has been feeding him, but the other day he took a bite of a chip himself,” Glass said. “He even ate almost all of the chocolates I brought him on Valentine’s Day.”
Corbin is receiving a great deal of individualized attention at his current facility, which only houses six patients at a time. The name of the hospital has been withheld at the request of the family.
However, with his increasing progress, Corbin is going to be moved to a new hospital for hyperbaric therapy.
“He is going to be moved somewhere where he can get more oxygen,” Glass said. “It is just a new method of therapy. It doesn’t have any negative effects so it will either do positive things or nothing at all.”
Corbin’s family maintains that his somewhat miraculous recovery is due to the power of prayer.
“Please know that God is doing a mighty work in Ryan,” said Doug Corbin, Pepperdine assistant vice chancellor. “He has heard your prayers and those of thousands of others around the world. And though this journey is far from over, we have the confidence that our Lord will continue to work in Ryan’s life . . . day by day, moment by moment, until that day when Ryan can personally thank you for your love, faith and support.”
Corbin’s grandfather, singer and entertainer Pat Boone, appeared on Larry King Live to ask for prayers and support.
Most recently, both he and Corbin graced the cover of last week’s National Examiner to illustrate the power of prayer.
Corbin hasn’t been alone a day since the accident. His mom, Lindy, and grandma “Momma” Shirley Boone take shifts from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to stay with Corbin. His grandma even moved into a nearby hotel to be able to be there every day.
For updates on Corbin’s condition log on to his Web site, www.prayforryan.com.
March 21, 2002