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He has lost much, but his dream endures

A serious car crash left a 20-year-old with disabling brain injuries, but he hasn't given up on his ambition to work in architecture.

By LORRI HELFAND
Published May 8, 2006

For years, Dustin Kwilecki dreamed of designing houses.

He has forgotten many details of his life before he was catapulted from his friend's car two years ago, but he still remembers the dream.

Last summer, he decided to take an architectural drafting class at Pinellas Technical Education Centers in Clearwater.

Some school officials weren't sure he was ready.

But his mom and his architectural drafting teacher, Richard Pearson, wanted to give Kwilecki a chance.

Pearson has taught many students with physical and mental disabilities during his 16 years at PTEC. And he can relate to having a disability. His voice is still weak and raspy from radiation treatments for throat cancer 17 years ago.

Impressed by Kwilecki's drive, Pearson selected him to receive an award for outstanding achievement from the Pinellas Adult, Career & Technical Education Association.

The award, which Kwilecki received Thursday, recognized about 120 hard-working students in vocational and technical programs.

"If I had his disability, I would have quit within the first two weeks," Pearson said. "Most people with acquired brain injuries take four steps forward and 21/2 steps backward," Pearson said.

It was that way for Kwilecki, 20, too.

But he didn't give up.

* * *

Kwilecki's life has changed in many ways since the accident, which shattered his relationship with a close friend.

He spent three weeks in a coma and several months learning how to eat, walk and talk again. He still struggles to remember names of old friends, ordinary household objects and secrets he used to share with his twin, Danielle.

Much of his life before Feb. 21, 2004, is a fog. That day, Kwilecki was riding home from Clearwater Beach with William J. Botelho Jr. and another friend when Botelho started drag racing with a man riding a motorcycle south on Keene Road.

Driving nearly 90 mph in a 45 mph zone, Botelho lost control, hitting a curb and crashing into a tree on the opposite side of the street near Belleair Road.

Kwilecki, Botelho and the other passenger, none of whom were wearing a seat belt, were ejected. Kwilecki's friends were treated at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg and released. Kwilecki remained there for almost three months.

A year later, the day after Kwilecki graduated from high school, Botelho pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless driving causing serious bodily injury.

On June 30, 2005, Botelho was sentenced to two years of house arrest and three years of probation. Without the plea deal, the third-degree felony could have sent him to prison for as much as five years. The judge also revoked Botelho's license for two years.

But less than a month after he was sentenced, Botelho was arrested and accused of violating probation. A judge dismissed the charge.

Three weeks ago, on April 19, the 20-year-old was arrested again for violating probation. He was charged with reckless driving in Hillsborough County and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

"I don't like him," Kwilecki said last week. "I wish I was never friends with him."

* * *

Kwilecki, known for his big smile and bubbly personality, has made new friends in the computer-aided drafting class.

It was tough getting into the class. He still had trouble reading, and his test scores were low. His vocational rehabilitation counselor wasn't sure if he could handle the course work.

Pearson agreed to give Kwilecki a shot.

"He's a young man who is motivated and wants to learn," said Pearson, who worked as a designer and construction manager for 12 years. "It's not always the brightest that keep their jobs - it's the ones with the right attitude and good behavior."

Kwilecki struggled at first. Some days, his memory problems caused him to forget part of his previous day's lesson.

He was overwhelmed and embarrassed, Pearson said.

But Pearson broke down Kwilecki's assignments into smaller tasks, and soon Kwilecki was catching on.

Kwilecki studied drafting at Dunedin High School when he was in ninth grade, and he retained some of those skills, his mom said.

Pearson thought it might take Kwilecki twice as long to complete his assignments because of his brain injuries. But Kwilecki often does extra work at home and has been finishing more quickly than expected.

"I may go one or two days and not have to help him at all," Pearson said. "Dustin's working pretty independently."

Kwilecki works hard to compensate for his disability, but Pearson said Kwilecki has certain talents that make drafting a good fit for him.

"Dustin does seem to be very creative in his ability to visualize," Pearson said.

Pearson's course takes about two years to complete. Students who graduate can work as architectural drafters, producing blueprints and construction drawings for architects.

Kwilecki's mother credits Pearson with giving her son an opportunity for a better future.

"He didn't get left out," said Debbie Kwilecki, 48. "If he wasn't able to do this, he would have been lost."

--Times researcher Angie Holan contributed to this report. Lorri Helfand can be reached lorri@sptimes.com or 727 445-4155.

[Last modified May 8, 2006, 02:30:18]