Zach is the same, neurologically and medically, although Kim, Zach's mom, said he seemed very alert on Wednesday night. Kim knows of another guy who was in a car accident and had Diffuse Axonal Injury, which is what Zach has, and was in a coma for 7 months and is now totally fine. Sunday, Dec. 2, marked Zach's 6th month in a coma. Doctors have always told us that we cannot compare brain injuries but even so, we are still hoping against hope that Zach will pull through. It's hard to stay positive when the doctors have told us that this might be as good as it gets. But, we still try. We are realistic with our expectations yet, never loose hope of that possible miracle.

I got this email from one of Zach's nurses and it moved me so much that I wanted to share it:

"I started working at the Care Center about 2 months ago. I was so overwhelmed with Zach's room that it brought me to tears. It is such a lovely room. I have to tell you that the staff loves Zach and I know I will get to love him too. I want to promise you that I will take good care of him. You are a lovely human being and you are both so lucky to have one another. My prayers are with you."

As for the trial, it is still set for 2 p.m. on Dec. 7 at Mitchelle Courthouse West. Friday's trail will start in Room 236 and will probably move to another room. Like I said before, Friday will probably be mostly administrative stuff. After that comes jury selection and then the trial begins. So, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday would probably be the best days to attend.

Good news on the activism front. We had a meeting with Marvin "Doc" Cheatham, President of the NAACP Baltimore Chapter. He was very receptive to working with us and achieving our mutual goals for Baltimore City. I'm excited for our new partnership. We'll keep everyone posted with everything in the upcoming days.

Zach has finally gained some weight which is exciting for anyone that has visited him and seen how thin he has become. He was about 102 lbs at admission to Hopkins from Kernan and is now almost 106 lbs. Yay! His very large bedsore is slowly healing with the amazing nano-technology treatment used for burn victims. Everyone that visits him now thinks he looks great, even the director of the Neuro Critical Care Unit, who stopped in to check on Zach a few weeks ago. The doctors are trying Amantadine, commonly used to treat the flu, as a new therapy drug. They had tried this at Kernan as well so we'll see if the higher dosage makes any difference. Some of you may have seen the "60 Minutes" piece last night about minimally conscious patients that "woke up" using drugs such as Ambien. I spoke to Zach's doctor today and he is happy to try Ambien as well. We'll see what happens. There is also another great article about how little is known about brain injured patients in The New Yorker.

Thank you to everyone who sent us well wishes over Thanksgiving break. The holiday was definitely not fun in any way. But I am thankful for many things such as my friends and family (near and far), my own health and that of my family, and the countless people who don't know Zach or me but pray for us every day. I have received so many supportive emails, letters and even gift baskets from complete strangers! We seriously have the best friends ever. Our friends in Frederick were able to put together a seamless Frederick Neighbors Night Out fundraiser and raise $8,000!!

I would like to say that the praise I get for raising awareness about Zach often feels unwarranted because as much as I've tried to raise awareness, meet with city officials and other advocacy groups - NOTHING has changed. I've called the mayor's community liaison to ask what exactly the Mayor's crime plan is in my district and was told the mayor wouldn't know that information and that I'd have to contact my police district - unacceptable answer. I've tried contacting the NAACP to how we can work together and after several months, still no meeting. I spoke to Pat Jessamy, Baltimore City States Attorney, asking what she plans to do differently since status quo isn't working; she gave me a runaround response. Thank goodness the prosecutors assigned to this case are diligently working to make sure that everything is done correctly. But pretty much everybody just wants to point fingers at everyone else. It's completely frustrating. The Mayor's office has agreed to help me change specific crime-related legislation but I still haven't seen a draft of it and I don't know what legislation the Mayor will bring up in the session. Why I'm still in this crime-ridden city boggles my mind. I want to be near Zach and try and make a difference but I don't know what needs to be done. I am not a policy maker. It's not my job to come up with the answers but it is my job as a citizen and victim of Baltimore City to demand justice for Zach and change for other innocent citizens.

Since Zach's attack, I have personally heard of several random assaults that have happened to close friends, acquaintances and coworkers. I feel like a prisoner in this City. Just check out sebaltimorecrimewatch.blogspot.com to see crime activity in the SE district. I'd also like to remind everyone that on the night of June 1, Zach closed his tab shortly after 11:30 p.m. and he was found beaten and unconscious some time before midnight. His attack was not at some absurd hour of the morning and Zach was being responsible and taking advantage of city-living by walking home. Sure, he should have waited for someone to walk home with him or taken a cab but how many of us have taken a quick 5-minute walk at night to get from one place to another. Now I have to be the one to spend my holidays without my husband, stress about when I'm going to find time to visit during a busy work day, or see which of our friends can go visit him while I'm out of town so that everyone else knows not to ever go anywhere by themselves and also feel like a prisoner in this city.

Regarding my emerging efforts at civic activism, it sucks that my husband has to essentially be the martyr for reform in Baltimore City, and the worse part about it is that it feels like nothing will ever be changed, regardless of my efforts. But my friends and I continue to come up with new ideas. Stay tuned.

The transfer hearing on Nov. 7 was a long and emotional day. Late in the morning, the judge decided to take a break from noon-2:30 so she could read over all of the documents Price's defense attorney brought to the hearing. Although it was annoying that we had to take a major break in the middle of the day, it was good that the judge took the time to thoroughly go over each document so that Price would not later be able to ask for another hearing due to carelessness. After lunch, I returned to the courthouse feeling slightly more refreshed and ready to continue with the rest of the hearing. But after ten minutes of the defense attorney ranting about Price's psychological background, I was overwhelmed with sadness and depression. Sad that I was sitting in a courthouse because my husband was assaulted by 4 random teenagers. Sad that Price's mother seemed to have made a genuine effort to keep her son off the street (at least she made it appear that way to the judge). Sad that I am learning more about criminal justice and neurology/neurosurgery than the average 27 year old.

Then it was the prosecutor's turn. She talked about how Price and Ramos got out of the car, while the other two remained in the car, although all 4 took part in using Zach's credit card for some DVDs and some gas. She spoke about how Price and Ramos collaborated to assault and rob a girl at gunpoint the very next day after they attacked Zach. The judge then requested a quick break before she returned with her decision. I was so anxious waiting for her decision that I think I almost vomited and passed out. Thankfully, she saw Price as a major threat to society. She mentioned how Price had some fun attacking and robbing Zach one night and then had even more fun using a gun the very next day. Thus, he needed to be kept in the adult system, especially since it was evident from the mother's testimony that she sought help for him and he continued to make the wrong choices in life, regardless of who he hurt.

So, the trial is set for Friday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. This is, of course, still tentative. I will have more info in the next week or so. If you can attend the trial, please do so, although I'm not sure how long it will last, probably a few days at most. The actual trial will most likely start that Monday or Tuesday. My next quest is seeing that a fair jury is selected but this seems a formidable challenge in Baltimore City.

Also, for those that have ill feelings toward Zach and me for our media attention (and even to those who are upset for no reason at all), I suggest you redirect your animosity elsewhere. If you're upset over our media attention, then be active and get media attention for whatever it is you believe in. Contact the mayor, city council, whatever; just don't contact me as my focus is on healing Zach, seeking justice for Zach and trying to make a difference. It's ridiculous to waste time posting your jealousy for Zach's' attention when you could be seeking out attention for your own cause. The city is a serious war zone and to criticize me for my efforts of bringing the issue to light is completely idiotic. And unless you have lived my exact life and suffered my exact same tragedies, than you have no room to judge, and I will not waste any energy on your ignorance.

Zach is still stable at Hopkins. He has his own room, which is great. We are starting to fill his room with photos, cards, stuffed animals and other memories again since he will remain at Hopkins. There isn't much to report on Zach's progress but we thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers.

I'd like to thank all of Zach's coworkers for the money that they have raised and continue to raise. Their fundraising skills have raised over $15,000 and they even had a huge quilt made as part of the fundraising plans. The money will definitely come in handy because Zach's insurance will probably run out in a few months and I will need to figure out how to pay about $1,000 a day for his care. The state will ask that I spend down all of our money before they consider helping. So, I will soon have to spend down all of our savings, including Zach's retirement, to pay for hospital care, while the 4 boys' families sit at home and owe nothing to us, the city or the state.

Thank you to those who attended the "No More Murders" event. Tonight, Nov. 5, is the Southeastern Community Relations Meeting at 7 p.m., 5710 Eastern Avenue. Everyone who wants to know what's going on in the SE district should attend. The meetings are held the first Monday of every month. I will be there and so will Elise Odell, Operation Crime Liason from the Mayor's Office on Criminal Justice. She replied to many of the emails that were written to Mayor Sheila Dixon asking for change. Feel free to talk to Elise about concerns with the Mayor's office or anyone else from the Southeastern CRC about specific police enforcement in your neighborhood. I've also heard that Ms. Patricia Jessamy will be attendance too. See you tonight, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.

Also, the last transfer hearing will be help on Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 9:30 a.m. in courtroom 215. Defendent Eric Price will ask that his case be kept in the Juvenile System. Keep your fingers crossed that the Judge sees Eric Price as a major threat to society since that is exactly what he is, along with the other 3 males with Price the night of June 1, 2007.

We had a family meeting on Tuesday to discuss Zach's current medical condition and his prognosis. First, Zach is being very well taken care of at the Hopkins Care Center. They are treating Zach like one of their own family members. The bed sore in his lower back was once a massive open wound but has now healed tremendously with the treatment plan that Hopkins is using, which includes nanotechnology used for burn victims. Zach used to often have high blood pressure but that is under control with his current medication. He was a bit anemic upon arrival but his red blood cell count has gone up and his white blood cell count has gone down to show no signs of infection. He does have the highly-resistant strain of bacteria, MRSA, in his bed sore wound so if anyone visits, please wash your hands thoroughly before and after visiting. The MRSA is only in the bedsore at the time, and they are treating it locally. Zach has become very rigid and stiff in his muscles so they will probably give him some medicine to alleviate the rigidness. They have given him new, softer hand splints to help his muscle contractions. Zach is also having a problem with TMJ (Temporo-Mandibular Joint). His jaw often locks open, probably because of his brain injury. There is nothing they can do for this except pop his jaw back into place. He is also on Prevacid to help his stomach since he was on so many antibiotics recently and antibiotics are often hard on the GI tract. Kernan had hoped to begin plugging his trach but Hopkins will not move forward with this procedure since he is not conscious enough to clear his own airway if something were to happen.

Zach has not improved neurologically in the past few months and this proves that his brain injuries were much more severe than anyone had originally hoped. His chances of returning to the loving, funny, witty man that we all love so dearly diminish with each passing day, week, and month that he does not show neurological improvement. I love him more than anyone in this world and now I spend my days depressed and angry that I am not with my friend of 12 years and my husband of one year.

My mission is to see to it that everyone in Baltimore City knows how much this City has let me down and how much still needs to be done. City Hall, Annapolis and our own communities need to take responsibility for their action (or more correctly, their lack of action). I will forever hate the four males that did this to Zach but I hope that the awareness that has been raised about Zach will prevent some other completely innocent person from ending up in the ICU and fighting for their life. I hope you have all had the chance to read Gregory Kane's article below. I need your help to pressure the elected officials to do more and to make citizens in our own city see that their apathy is part of the problem. If you're not with me, you might as well pack up your bags and move out tomorrow because Baltimore is not becoming any safer.

There is an event being held by an organization called Justice Maryland this Sunday, Oct. 28 at the War Memorial Plaza from 2-4 p.m. The event is called "No More Murders." War Memorial Plaza is located at 500 E Fayette St, Baltimore, MD. More information can be found on the Justice Maryland website . I will be honest that Justice Maryland is a criminal justice advocacy organization and I do not agree with many of their issues but I think this Sunday's event is worth attending by everyone. This is short notice but I urge everyone to attend with their Zach T-shirts. Justice Maryland has told me that they think the event will be very well attended with very much media attention.

Below is an excellent piece written by Gregory Kane in today's Baltimore Sun. I encourage everyone to read it and try and grasp how many obstacles this city needs to overcome. If you have any thoughts on how I can raise awareness on this issue and pressure elected officials to take action, please email me via the Email Me link.

Thank you,
Anna Sowers

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It's time to stop babying criminals
Gregory Kane

October 17, 2007 12:00 AM

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This was supposed to be the week that Zach and Anna Sowers planned what they would do for their first wedding anniversary on Saturday.

Instead, Anna Sowers will spend that day where she's spent most of the past four months: sitting at her husband's hospital bed, hoping, praying that he'll come out of the coma he's been in. She'll be thinking about whether her husband will pull through. She'll be thinking about how to pay for her husband's mounting medical bills when the insurance runs out in a few months.

Early on the morning of June 2, Zach Sowers was walking to his Patterson Park home from a bar in Canton. Two men attacked him, with at least one stomping Zach Sowers as he lay in the street. Those two then ran to a car with two other men and sped away.

Perhaps "men" is not an accurate word in that last paragraph. Four males face attempted murder, robbery and other charges in the near-fatal beating of Zach Sowers. [Police and prosecutors say a computer trail of purchases made with Zach Sowers' stolen credit cards led them to the suspects.] Trayvon Ramos was 16 when he was charged; Wilburt Martin was 18; Eric L. Price was 16.

And Arthur Jeter was just 15 days away from his 18th birthday.

On Monday, Jeter was in a Baltimore Circuit Court. His attorney, public defender Jennifer Davis, tried to persuade Circuit Judge Roger W. Brown to kick Jeter's case back down to juvenile court, also known in Baltimore as the Land of Wrist-Slap Justice.

Davis, to her credit, did her job. She presented a compelling case for Jeter, giving Brown details about why he should be tried as a juvenile, not an adult. (Those of you who claim public defenders aren't "real lawyers" can learn a lesson from people like Davis.)

"He's functioning more as a teenager than an adult," Davis said. "Mentally, it would be better if he were returned to the juvenile system." Davis added that Jeter was a special-education student in school and is unable to read, which led him to drop out.

Jeter's brother, Davis continued, was killed four years ago for being a cooperating witness to a crime. Davis said Jeter has cooperated with police and given details about the attack on Zach Sowers. Davis said Jeter has been attacked while in jail for his cooperation and that his mother has received death threats. Davis mentioned several times that Jeter has expressed remorse about what happened to Zach Sowers.

Apparently, Brown didn't buy it; he refused to allow Jeter's case to be tried in juvenile court. And Anna Sowers darn well didn't buy it.

"I was thinking 'cry me a river' when [Davis] was stating that Jeter was remorseful," Anna Sowers told me in an e-mail. "I think the only thing he is remorseful about is that he was caught. ... Why didn't he call the cops later that night, if he was remorseful? Why did he willingly continue to hang out with Ramos that night, if he was remorseful? Why did he tag along and use Zach's credit cards, if he was remorseful?"

Anna Sowers is equally skeptical about whether a Baltimore jury will convict the four suspects. She reads the papers; she knows what Circuit Judge John M. Glynn told Sun reporter Gus Sentementes in July.

"Many of these jurors simply won't vote to find these kids guilty of violent crimes," Glynn said in Sentementes' July 17 story. "If the citizens want to know what the problem is, I suggest they look at themselves. ... They don't testify against criminals. And they don't vote to convict the guilty."

During an interview last week, Anna Sowers expressed her utter amazement at why Baltimoreans would act this way. But I think I know part of the reason.

About two weeks ago I saw a film about the Black Panther Party at the Maryland Institute College of Art. During a question-and-answer session afterward, one black man lamented the very existence of the new juvenile facility on Gay Street.

"They're locking up our babies," the man moaned about black youth in the juvenile system. (All of the suspects in Zach Sowers' beating are black.)

Ramos' court records from a carjacking incident in Elkton indicate he's over 6 feet tall and weighs 250 pounds. I got a look at Jeter on Monday. He appeared to be well over 6 feet tall and it's clear he's no welterweight, either.

These guys are not babies.

They're young adults, as are most juvenile offenders in the system. And some of them are vicious, cold-blooded killers. But Anna Sowers has a waning faith that 12 Baltimore jurors will see the youths who stomped her husband nearly to death - and those who are accessories - that way.

Some potential jurors may indeed see the three suspects who were juveniles when Zach Sowers was attacked as "babies" who need to be tried in juvenile court. Anna Sowers has a view more in line with the real world.

"If Jeter was sent down to the juvenile system it would be cheating the system," Anna Sowers said outside of the courtroom Monday. "And he's already cheated Zach out of four months of his life."

gregory.kane@baltsun.com