Rochester Nurse’s Life Changed in Seconds After St. Marys Incident

Rochester, MN (Rochester Now) -- A Rochester nurse who suffered a serious brain injury during an incident at St. Marys Hospital last week now faces a long and uncertain road to recovery.

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His friends and family are rallying around him, including his best friend of nearly 20 years, who says the 26-year-old nurse has gone from caring for other people to suddenly needing help with some of the most basic parts of daily life.

Clint Peterson was injured on the morning of September 16 while responding to an emergency at the hospital.

According to a criminal complaint, 43-year-old Jascon Jacoby Hollins was being held in the custody of the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office and was receiving medical care at St. Marys when he broke free from a restraint and ran into the hallway.

A deputy chased Hollins and tackled him. During the tackle, the deputy and Hollins collided with Clint, who fell and hit his head.

Clint Peterson (via Facebook)

The complaint says Clint suffered a brain bleed that required surgery.

Hollins is facing a felony escape from custody charge. He is also charged with felony fourth-degree assault in connection with an earlier incident in which he allegedly spit on an Olmsted County Sheriff's deputy at the hospital.

‘He’s the one who takes care of everyone else’

Clint's best friend, Matt Wurst, reached out to KROC News to share what has happened since the incident.

Matt says he has known Clint since kindergarten and describes his friend as someone who was proud of his career as a registered nurse and excited about where his life was headed.

Clint had recently celebrated his one-year review at Mayo Clinic and had been talking about opportunities to take on more responsibility at work.

According to Matt, Clint was considering a team lead role and was preparing to apply for a committee leadership position focused on patient safety and improving the patient experience.

Matt says Clint suffered a skull fracture and traumatic brain injury with a brain bleed that required immediate surgery, an ICU stay and continued hospitalization.

He says Clint is now dealing with severe pain, nausea, neurological problems and sensitivity to light and sound. He has also lost his sense of taste and smell.

Some days, Matt says, Clint's pain reaches a 10 out of 10. Even things most people never think twice about can now be overwhelming. Normal sounds can hurt. Light can hurt. Sitting still can hurt. "There are times when all we can do is make the room dark and quiet and try to keep him as comfortable as possible."

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A Mayo Clinic nurse who suddenly needs care himself

For Matt, one of the hardest parts has been watching someone who has spent his career taking care of other people suddenly become the person who needs help.

Clint currently cannot safely live alone, according to Matt, and needs one or two people to help him take care of himself, get around safely, and keep track of his medications.

"Clint doesn't really know how to be the person being taken care of," Matt told KROC News. Caring for other people isn't just Clint's job; it's a huge part of who he is.

Even while he's dealing with his own pain and limitations, Matt says Clint continues to worry about the people around him and wants to be independent.

Now his friends are trying to do for him what he has spent much of his life doing for other people.

Matt says nobody knows when Clint will be able to live independently again, whether he'll be able to return to nursing or exactly what his recovery will look like.

Matt says the goal is to give Clint as much support as possible while he focuses on recovering instead of worrying about how he's going to pay his bills or afford the care he needs.

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Here's how you can help Clint during his recovery

Matt has started a GoFundMe campaign to help with the costs of Clint's recovery.

According to the fundraiser, donations will help cover medical bills, medications, rehabilitation and therapy, transportation to appointments and the additional care Clint currently needs. The money will also help with everyday expenses like rent, utilities and food while he is unable to work.

The fundraiser notes that recovery from a brain injury could take months, and is asking for both one-time and recurring donations from people who can help.

For Matt, though, the fundraiser is about more than paying bills. It's about giving his best friend the chance to concentrate on getting better.

"Anyone who knows Clint knows asking for help does not come naturally to him," Matt wrote in the fundraiser. "He is much more comfortable being the person helping someone else... right now, he needs other people to help carry him.”