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A few days ago, I wrote about the attempted suicide by my nephew and his resulting critical condition. Since that time, things have changed several times over, so I wanted to up-date my journal with the latest info. In addition, I wanted to make sure that I thanked everyone who prayed for him--and for his family--it never ceases to amaze me how people who don't even really know one another can be so kind and generous with their thoughts and prayers--and so many of you fit into that category. My most sincere thanks are yours tonight!
Immediately following his attempt, my nephew was in extremely critical condition and placed on a ventilator (life support). Since then, he was taken off the vent (to which he was reattached when his breathing became too labored to sustained life) and then removed again.
At one point, he was very heavily sedated and given paralytic drugs to allow his body to rest and recuperate. Taking him off the vent was attempted several times, but each time, he was put back on it. Today, though--BIG NEWS!
When I went to visit him this morning, I opened his ICU door to find him OFF THE VENT, breathing with a nasal cannula for oxygen, non-sedated, and talking up a storm. He was lucid most of the time, but hard to understand; at times, he "left us" for a while and we had no idea what he was talking about. To say I was in awe is a huge understatement--I was flabbergasted to see the difference in him from one day to the next.
Although today was a beautiful experience, we know that he is far from well. An EEG and an MRI were done today, but I haven't heard the results. These tests should help the doctors determine how much, if any, brain damage there is. Because no one knows how long he was out before being discovered, it is unknown how long his brain was without oxygen, so that is yet to be determined; however, the change we saw today is certainly reason for hope--and we'll take that!
On leaving the hospital, whenever that might be, he will be referred to a psychiatric unit to help him solve whatever problems caused this episode (not the first, by the way). I pray he can get the help he needs---
Thanks again for the prayers, and please keep them coming. Right now, that's all we have, and from what I've seen over the past two days, I know that something is working to help my nephew--and I firmly believe it's the prayers that have been offered for him.
Have a great week!
QUOTE: "Prayer is an impossibility without a living faith in the presence of God within." --Mohandas K. Gandhi
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