FriÂday brought more benchÂmarks in the reÂcovÂerÂy of IÂsaac KolÂstad. The Mankato man underwent sucÂcessÂful skull surÂgerÂy and, with assistance, also stood for the first time since an atÂtack critÂiÂcalÂly inÂjured him a month ago, acÂcordÂing to his famÂiÂly.
KolÂstad, 24, sufÂfered a trauÂmaÂtic brain inÂjuÂry in a May 11 fight in downÂtown Mankato. He reÂmained in critiÂcal conÂdiÂtion FriÂday night.
FormÂer University of Minnesota quarterback PhilÂip Nelson of Mankato and TrevÂor ShelÂley of St. Peter are charged in the asÂsault.
KolÂstad, a formÂer footÂball playÂer for Minnesota State University, Mankato, had a flap of his bone reÂplaced in his skull FriÂday mornÂing at the Mayo Clinic Health System.
"All went as planned and he is curÂrentÂly reÂcovÂerÂing," his brothÂer-in-law, Mike FlemÂing, said FriÂday eveÂning on the CaringBridge website where his famÂiÂly is postÂing upÂdates. "He is in a lot of pain, but his care team is workÂing very closeÂly with him to get him comÂfortÂaÂble."
The flap, reÂmoved durÂing surÂgerÂy on May 13 to alÂlow brain swellÂing, had been sewn inÂside his abÂdominal wall for sterÂile presÂerÂvaÂtion while the swellÂing subÂsidÂed, the website says.
Also this week famÂiÂly "got a glimpse of the acÂtivÂiÂties IÂsaac will be parÂticiÂpatÂing in when he is moved to a reÂhab faÂcilÂiÂty," FlemÂing wrote.
Speech theraÂpists placed a speakÂing valve on KolÂstad's traÂchea, and he's beÂing enÂcourÂaged to talk, acÂcordÂing to FlemÂing.
"The reÂturn of speech will cerÂtainÂly take time, but if he wantÂed to say someÂthing, he could," FlemÂing wrote FriÂday.
PhysÂicÂal theraÂpists this week had IÂsaac sitÂting on the edge of the bed with help, and he worked this week on holdÂing up his head and torÂso. It apÂpeared to theraÂpists that he wantÂed to get off the bed. KolÂstad stood with asÂsistÂance three times.
"He even folÂlowed diÂrecÂtion from the theraÂpists and stood tallÂer when asked, bearÂing weight on his legs for the first time in over four weeks," FlemÂing wrote.
In an alleged atÂtack around bar-closÂing time, ShelÂley, 21, punched KolÂstad, knockÂing him out. Nelson, 20, kicked KolÂstad in the head as he lay on the paveÂment.
KolÂstad and his wife, MolÂly, are parÂents of two girls, one aged 3 and the othÂer born June 5 in the same hosÂpiÂtal where KolÂstad is reÂcovÂerÂing.
Joy Powell • 612-673-7750