WEST COVINA, Calfornia -- The fact that ST James Davis is capable of sitting in a wheel chair and capable of understanding another person's conversation is a true miracle and a gift from God. To many, including the highly talented medical team at the California based Loma Linda University Medical Center, it's amazing this man is even alive.
The NASCAR racing veteran, from West Covina, California, continues to make slow, but steady, progress from his massive wounds sustained from an animal attack, March 3d, at an animal sanctuary near Bakersfield, California.
Davis, and his wife LaDonna, were visiting the Animal Haven Ranch, a sanctuary for retired zoo animals in Caliente approximately 20 miles south of Bakersfield, to celebrate Moe the chimpanzee's 39th birthday. The Davises adopted Moe approximately 40 years ago and raised him as the son they never had.
But a lifetime of happiness went bad in 1999 when it was alledged that the chimp bit off the fingertip of a woman who was visiting the Davis home. Part of the settlement of the case involved Moe being placed in the animal sanctuary.
The Davises made regular visits to see Moe. On that fateful morning, four chimpanzees escaped from their cages. It was later determined that a cage door had been left unlocked. Two of the animals attacked the Davises. The attack lasted approximately five minutes before officials could secure the scene. Moe remained in his cage stunned and had nothing to do with the incident.
St James Davis sustained massive injuries to his face, hands and feet.He was transported to Loma Linda Hospital and began a lengthy series of experimental plastic surgeries. LaDonna Davis was treated for animal bites including the loss of her thumb on her left hand.
In July doctors brought Davis out of a medically induced coma and, with the help of an electronic voice box, his first words were: "how's Moe?" Doctors fashioned an eye socket that will hold a glass eye to replace the one lost from the attack. A patch of skin was used to create a flap for his missing nose and doctors are currently working on a prostetic nose that can be snapped off for cleaning and then snapped back on.
All this while LaDonna made the daily journey from home to the hospital and stood vigil by her husband's bedside and never once complained despite still healing from her own injuries. LaDonna got the best news of her life in August when doctors told her they felt it would be in ST James' best emotional and physical interest to continue the healing process in his own home. That homecoming was attended by every major media outlet in the country and it was truly a day for celebration.
Just when everyone thought it just couldn't get any better, ST James Davis astounded everyone by making a personal appearance at the California Speedway, in September, for the NASCAR Labor Day weekend event there.
According to Nadine Sigman, long time friend and family spokesperson, NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, who has been a pillar of support for the Davises, made the arrangement to have them brought to the speedway for the weekend. St James was thrilled to be in the racing envioroment that he has loved for so many years and there were a lot of people who were glad to see him and wanted just to touch him to show their love and support. Fellow NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader and NASCAR champion Benny Parsons took turns pushing his wheel chair through the pits.
There was also good news for the Davises last month regarding Moe's status. Arrangement are being made to move their beloved chimp to a new location according to Sigman who said "we are planning to move Moe to a new, undisclosed, location soon. We are keeping that new location undisclosed at this time to avoid any notoriety. Right now we are trying to raise the money to install a concrete pad at the new site and transport Moe's cage from West Covina. St James and LaDonna are thrilled because Moe's future new home will only be an hour away and it will be so much easier for them to go for visits."
On the medical front, St James is still undergoing therapy due to the trauma of the attack that often produces nightmares. Physically speaking, the miracle workers from Loma Linda recently took a part of his stomach to fashion a heel for his severed foot. While he may never do any prolonged walking, he can stand up. They are currently considering a similiar procedure to make him a new pair of lips so speaking will be easier for him. It was also recently disclosed that a finger, from his right hand, was found at the attack scene and was immeadiately put on ice. That index finger was recently determined to be still be usuable and doctors are planning an extensive surgery to attach it to his right hand.
All of these medical procedures have been, and will be, performed without the benefit of medical insurance. At this point the bills have now well exceeded one million dollars. Late last March Sigman helped establish a trust fund at the same West Covina bank the Davises conduct their financial business in hopes that the racing community, friends of the Davises and the good hearted in general will find a way to help.
Donations may be sent to: Pacific Western Bank, 200 South Vincent Avenue, West Covina, California, 91790. Please make sure that your check is made out to the LaDonna Davis Fund so the bank will know what account to place it in.
