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Selikoff still hospitalized year after motorcyle spill

English teacher and TV personality Mark Selikoff (石馬克) remains hospitalized more than a year after a motorcycle accident left him seriously injured and brain damaged, a report on the PChome Web site said yesterday.

The American had been hospitalized at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Linkou (林口),Taoyuan County. However, because the National Health Insurance program does not allow patients to stay in one hospital for too long, he was moved to another branch of the hospital, and two weeks later he was moved to the Taoyuan General Hospital, the report said.

Selikoff is confined to a wheelchair, cannot talk and his hands tremble, the report said.

He undergoes physical therapy every day, practices using his electric wheelchair and waits for his body to slowly recover. But the NT$40,000 a month in medical costs has placed a heavy strain on his family.

Selikoff's wife Huang Ying-hui (黃英惠) said the stress over medical bills has made it even more difficult for her husband to recover from his injuries.

Selikoff is dependent upon National Health Insurance. The PChome report said the hospital has suggested that if the family doesn't have the money to allow him to stay, it might be better for them to buy equipment so he can exercise at home and visit the hospital only when necessary.

Friends of the family are trying their best to help, the report said. They have set up an account for donations to help pay for Selikoff's medical expenses and related costs.

Donations can be wired to account number 060500125678 at Union Bank's Jhongli branch (中壢分行). The account is in the name of Selikoff and Huang's son Shih Wei-che (石維哲).
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