Dave Shellnutt '01

Full details of what happened that night are not yet fully understood, and specifics are limited as the investigation continues, but what is known is that there was an altercation on the street with two men who exited their car, chased Dave down the street before striking him with great force to his head. Upon this blow, he was knocked unconscious and hit his head on the cement. The assailants continued with another strike to the head, compounding the impact with the sidewalk. The two men got back in the car and fled the scene. Authorities and emergency services arrived shortly after and Dave was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Upon his arrival at the hospital, medical staff believed he had suffered a concussion and opted not to perform a CT scan. Later that night his condition worsened, and he began experiencing severe physical reactions. At that time a close friend demanded a scan be performed and a significant bleed was found on the brain. The facilities of St. Joseph’s Hospital were unable to handle this condition, and police and ambulance escorted him to St. Michael’s Hospital where he was treated in their neurosurgery department and underwent immediate surgery. When Dave's condition became more stable, a second surgery was required to mend the damage done to his jaw. Dave does not doubt that the medical staff in the Intensive Care Unit saved his life.

Dave's path to recovery was a long one. Once his condition was stable, and he was out of a coma, it was clear the impact to his head had affected his physical abilities on one side of his body. Rehab began by relearning how to use his left arm and hand, before having to learn how to walk again. Once his mobility had shown significant improvement, he was transferred from St. Michael’s to Bridgepoint Rehab Facilities where he underwent physiotherapy and cognitive testing.

Sustaining a significant brain injury would be terrifying to any individual. However, the potential ramifications for a prominent lawyer, relying on his cognitive functions as a way of life, presented obvious concerns how the events of one evening would impact his livelihood. On February 1, Dave was cleared to go home permanently, and on February 27, he was elated to learn that new scans performed at St. Michael’s cleared his brain of physical injury. Dave could continue being an advocate for clients in similar situations.

No road to full recovery comes to an end with the results of scans. Dave notes the incredible continued services that have been made available to him as a victim of crime, and he is incredibly grateful to be in a country that recognizes the need for counselling and mental health treatment for those who have undergone such traumatic events. Additionally, he has a very strict and rigorous workout routine in place to regain his full strength.

Despite all the setbacks that have been presented to him this year, and the long-term toll an incident such as this can take, Dave has bounced back from this experience in the most positive way. He has a new outlook on the life he is fortunate enough to keep living, a renewed sense of pride for the country that he calls home, and a deepened sense of empathy and understanding for the clients that he represents. More than ever, he has a new passion for his work and sees the importance and impact it has for those in need.

There is much to be learned from Dave's experience. He notes, “We are really fortunate to have the health system that we do in this country. Throughout this period I never once had to worry that I had to pay for any treatment or that I wasn’t getting the most top-notch treatment that was available. I’m really grateful to all the healthcare professionals that I came into contact with; I feel really fortunate for that. As well, I really think it’s important to highlight the victim services and criminal injuries compensation board for folks. They’re wonderful resources for people who have been victims of crime. I can’t stress enough how thankful I am to be here and to be alive. It just means the world to me to have the support - from SJK, work colleagues, friends, and random people - as it really did wonders for my recovery, so I am just so thankful for everybody.”