Really Terrible News

I've been at the hospital all morning, as have Troy, Patricia, Herman, Jane, Ronnie, Steve, Karen, Mary Alice, and others on and off. Troy asked me to run home and post this so everyone could know.

The neurologist gave Troy really bad news this morning, and I made her repeat everything to me once I got there to be sure we have the correct story. Hyatt currently has only low-level function in her brain -- only alpha waves were present on the EEG, indicating only stem functions (breathing, heartbeat)....an alpha coma. She has no gag reflex and no response in her body, other than her eyes/pupils. It is highly unlikely Hyatt will ever restore any higher level brain function. Neither the neurologist nor our favorite nurse has seen anyone in this state restore any higher level functions.

Typically day three (so, the next 12-24 hours) marks the peak in swelling in the brain. The high level functions like thinking are performed on the outside of the brain, and that's where the blood vessels are smallest....that's what already appears gone. The low-level functions of the brain are more protected and fed by larger vessels, and those might deteriorate over the next day. Hyatt is off sedatives right now, and they need to observe her activity today to ensure none of what they've seen before could be due to any lingering sedative in her body.

Troy and Hyatt's priest came by for the third day for another Anointing ceremony, and Troy made a desperate plea for a miracle. That was the toughest 30 minutes or so by far, for all of us. It was horrible.

There is NOTHING any one of us will ever have happen to us in our entire lifetimes that can compare with what is happening to Troy right now. There is just nothing worse. There's no way I could handle going through this, but Troy on the other hand WILL be able to do it. The reason I know this is the outpouring of help and prayers from all of you; Hyatt and Troy have an amazing support network of people who care deeply for them.

The previous paragraph can be said for Herman and Jane as well. Hyatt is their only child and the love of their life.

I called our parents and told them they need to get up here right now. They've packed, jumped in the car, and are driving up from Florida. They'll work out details later, but I know that my mom is not coming to visit, she's coming to stay. She stayed with me for two months when I broke my leg in 2002, and there was just never any question that she will do anything for her children. This is obviously a much more permanent need, she knows what she needs to do, and and she knows that's exactly why she (and not someone else) is Troy's mom.

I pulled Troy out of the room and told him to not even think right now about anything related to the future -- he needs to be with Hyatt right now and that's it. He understands that his family is there to take care of the rest. We're working on the long-term with Mom & Dad, Mary Alice and Tom are talking with experts for ideas on counseling young children, and Troy's friend Ed from work is taking care of things on that end. Everything at home (food, supplies, etc) is being coordinated by the extensive network of friends they have living close by, and friends from afar as well.

Make sure your family and friends know how you feel about them; you never know when you might not get the chance to tell them. I don't know how much longer I can go without seeing my kids.

Troy just walked in the door to see his kids, so I'll end this here.