Touched by the Kindness of Strangers

Most people would see a tragedy in the life of James Black, a tall, handsome 27-year-old with a dazzling smile, who works full time and goes to college, who loves the beach, has dozens of friends and plays serious volleyball.

Black, of Huntington Beach, was struck by a suspected drunk driver just before Thanksgiving and fell into a coma. His parents, advised that he probably would not live, took the first flight from Portland, Ore., and arrived in Orange County to see their athletic son helpless in a hospital bed with a tube running into his stomach, one in his throat and another connected to his brain.

But standing by their son’s bed at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, Jerry, 53, and Judy Black, 51, said the experience has taught them more about the goodness in people than anything before in their lives.

From employees at the hotels where they have stayed, to cafeteria workers, James’ friends and hospital employees, the outpouring of love and concern has shown them a picture of Southern California that they never would have believed.

Each of their son’s Orange Coast College professors has called, the restaurant where he worked sends food and their hotel, once it learned why they are in town, drastically cut their rates.

People they did not know have lent them a car, and a friend of their son’s put news of the accident onto a World Wide Web site, which he updates every three days. The Blacks now receive mail from across the country.

In Oregon, the Blacks own a small design firm; he is a builder and she is a decorator. They describe themselves as happy people with a strong faith in God and said that until now, they were the “products of propaganda” about Southern Californians. “But now we feel like this allowed us to experience all these wonderful, beautiful people,” Judy Black said.

Although James has been in a coma for a month, his condition has improved.

“He’s only 27, so he still has a lot of good potential there and apparently a very supportive family, and that’s made all the difference,” said Dr. Sharon Kawai, director of medical rehabilitation at St. Jude.

James is beginning to feel sensations. When Judy Black touches her son’s stomach tube, he begins to squirm and reach for his stomach. Eyes partially open, he enters a foggy state of consciousness, clearly aware that his parents are nearby and responding to them with quick half-smiles. But even when he is unconscious, the Blacks say, he often smiles.

Beside James’ bed, his parents have put up dozens of pictures, mostly of him posing with friends, putting sun block on his nose or jumping for a volleyball.

The contrast between the man in the pictures and the one lying in bed is vivid.

However, the person the Blacks feel sorriest for is the one who hit their son.

Phillip Showalter Jr., 28, was drunk when he fled from Huntington Beach police with two cars and a helicopter in pursuit and crashed into James’ Jeep, police said.

After the accident, Judy Black went to court to see Showalter’s arraignment.

“They brought this guy in a jumpsuit and handcuffs, and I looked over there and all I could feel is that my heart ached,” she said. “He’s just one year older than my son, and he was standing all alone. Nobody was there with him, no family or anyone, and I had to get up and go out of the room, not because I hate him, but what does he have left in this life?”

By contrast, their son may have a long recovery ahead of him, but the Blacks believe that one day he will be much better.

“We believe God has a plan for everyone,” Jerry Black said. “All we have to do is be able to accept it.”