TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

'The Walker' Is Back On His Feet

ADVERTISEMENT

By TONY MARRERO, Hernando Today

Published: January 6, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - John Kelly has walked hundreds of miles in his lifetime, enough of them along Hernando County's roads for him be recognizable to many residents.

On Wednesday, Kelly walked the most monumental 200 feet of his life.

Kelly, known to many as "The Walker" because of his regular presence walking along State Road 50, was discharged from the HealthSouth Rehabilitation Center in Brooksville after a two-month stay.

When Kelly arrived, he couldn't walk, talk or eat.

On Wednesday, he walked out of the center unassisted and to the applause of therapists and other HealthSouth workers.

"It's a little cold out here," Kelly said as he walked through the swooshing doors and out into a blustery wind to await the arrival of his brother George Kelly's truck.

When asked by one in a gaggle of reporters how it felt to be out of the center, he replied simply but politely: "No comment."

It's been 3 1/2 months since the brutal beating along Cortez Boulevard that left the 48-year-old Weeki Wachee resident fighting for his life. George Kelly called his brother's recovery "a miracle."

"I couldn't be prouder of him," George Kelly said. "He's a fighter."

Police say a trio of attackers jumped Kelly late on the night of Sept. 19 as he walked on the shoulder of Cortez Boulevard about a mile from Weeki Wachee Springs.

They beat Kelly about the face and left him lying in a deep ditch outside the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative office, according to a report. Authorities say the suspects, who were arrested almost a week after Kelly was beaten, made off with $100.

One of the attackers, Anthony Hawkins, 17, pleaded guilty last month to three felony charges, including conspiracy to commit robbery and tampering with evidence. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped a charge of principal to attempted murder. The other two suspects, Jamie Lynn Tyson and Michael Raymond Vann, face attempted murder and robbery charges. Tyson, 17, and Vann, 23, are each slated for a pretrial hearing Friday.

There was a question whether Kelly would survive. Surgeons at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa used plates and screws to rebuild his face.

He was transferred to HealthSouth in November, where therapists helped him relearn how to walk, talk and move his arms.

Even though Kelly wore a red ball cap and large sunglasses upon his discharge Wednesday, it was clear that surgeons had success in repairing the damage.

Kelly must still undergo a good bit of dental work to repair his smile, though, George Kelly said. The attack also cost him a few teeth.

HealthSouth therapists called Kelly a model patient.

"For him to be able to walk and have some quality of life, it's just incredible," said Heather Cline of Hudson, an occupational therapist. "He's worked really hard to get where he's at."

Cline described Kelly as "very sweet and very humble." Once he did start talking again, he rarely stopped.

He had a question for which no one had an answer.

"He couldn't understand how this could happen to him," Cline said. "That was the hardest - how could anybody do what they did to him? "

On Tuesday - New Year's Day - Kelly walked outside for the first time, said physical therapy assistant Robert Guzman.

Guzman kept the walk short so as not to overdo it, he said.

"He wanted to do more," Guzman said.

Kelly will stay at his brother's home for now, continuing his recovery with both outpatient and in-home therapy.

The Walker will still walk, but, "He's not going to have the free rein he once did," George Kelly said.

That especially means no walking after dark, he said.
George Kelly said he has been amazed at the calls he has received from people checking on his brother's recovery.

"The community came out in spades," he said. "It's amazing. Just amazing."

Kelly is mostly unaware of the news stories, letters to editors and calls to family members sparked by his case. He'll have to do some reading to appreciate the concern, his brother said.

"He'll be tickled pink," he said.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT