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My sister has a heart disorder called "Long QT Syndrome" which caused her to go into cardiac arrest that resulted in her having brain damage,.
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I have also grown closer to God. Many changes have taken place and I strongly believe that God has a reason behind this entire situation. I find peace with God and everything that is taking place. I will continue to share my mom's progress in the weeks to come.
April 11, 2017 - 7:16amGod Bless
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My daughter turned 26 a few months ago. At the end of Feb '16 she was brought into emergency, her eyes were going in different directions and i could literally see fluid build up in her right eyelid. They put a trache down her throat too far and she almost expired right there, before it was pulled back out a little and her vitals improved. She was helicoptered to a larger hospital and by that time she was unresponsive and bleeding from the esophagus damage to the tube being shoved down too far. They determined it was an anoxic injury and to attempt to save her brain they put this apparatus around her to "cool" her. The next day, they determined it didnt work and after another few days determined that the respirator was the only thing keeping her going and asked me to "pull the plug". They said her brain stem was intact, but there was zero activity, no response to stimuli. But I would talk to her and pray to God looking for guidance on what to do and to give her a chance, and she would respond by squeezing my hand or move a finger when I would ask her to show me she was still here. I said no to pulling the plug, she will determine if she wanted to fight to stay, and I see her fighting, thats what i felt. Doctors told me it was involuntary reflexes, I knew different. Within another week, they gave her the chance to be weaned off the respirator, and she survived. Another week later, she was moved to a sub acute facility, and she started opening one eye, the other eye had rolled completely up into her head, and she started moving her left arm, her right eye, and whole right side had zero activity. She didnt know me, pulled my hair a couple times, tried to bite me, but i stated by her side, i wondered her to see me whenever she opened her eyes. A month later she still had a trache, a feeding tube, and begins moving both hands and arms. Another month after that, no trache, breathing on her own, says "thirsty", or "dad" once in a while, shakes her head side to side, bites, hits, pulls hair of nursing staff. A month after that, gets transferred to rehab facility, I get her off all the "zombie" meds and she starts waking up, getting calmer, talking a little more moving all limbs, eye starts to open. After five months from when this all started, her eye comes back from being rolled up in her head, it starts to straighten out, she gets her feeding tube removed after I was already feeding her some yogurt, because she would always say she was hungry, and asks to go to the bathroom, and has movement in all limbs. After being transferred again to a nursing home in October, we had a final care conference for her discharge this week. Today, she uses Facebook, phone for texting, uses a computer, cooks, feeds herself, combs her hair brushes her teeth, sits on the toilet, everything you and I do. She did lose her hearing due to too much antibiotics they say, cant walk yet, has issues at night with incontinence, but she can stand, use a walker/wheelchair, and has gained weight, but she is who she was, when the doctors told me she would never be who she was ever again. I dont see it, she has humor like she used, laughs at the same things she also has, cant remember what happened to her, but remembers everything else, from being a toddler all the way to thinking she was in a hotel when she first got sick. She will see a doctor for a hearing implant soon, and she will walk again and I see no brain issues. None. I only see the affects from the stroke. She will be home soon, will continue physical therapy, and will have a life. There is hope, there are miracles. I do know those first couple months I asked myself over and over should I have let her go? But I couldnt, after she squeezed my hand when I asked her if she wanted to stay, i couldnt. To those that have a loved one going through this type of injury, keep faith in God, keep strong for your loved one, and if you know they are a fighter, fight with them and FOR them, you have to, if you don't who's going to? Cry if you need to, but never in front of them, get it out of your system, and go back to "war", because that's what it is. Its a long road, but never give up.
January 13, 2017 - 2:17pmThis Comment
I am currently going through a similar experience. My husband went into cardiac arrest driving me to work about 6 weeks ago. They had a hard time resuscitating him, and he went without oxygen for more than 30 minutes. He was placed in an induced coma and body temp lowered. When they raised his temp there was no response. After 3 days the hospital strongly encouraged ending his life, but I would not. In the last three weeks he has gone from not moving to moving his arms and hands. Responding to commands, facial expression and memory. However, he is still unable to move the rest of his body. The hospital wants to move him to a Skilled Nursing Facility. I am not a fan of the SNF. I did find a facility that specializes in Disorders of Consciousness, but the program is experimental. Insurance is fighting me on it. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations?
July 7, 2017 - 7:27pmThis Comment
Thank you so. Much for sharing the story of your daughter. My husband suffered cardiac arrest in March, and 3 different neurologists told me to "pull the plug and save many lives...that he would remain a vegetative state" I told them that they didn't know my husband, and the didn't know God...miracles happen everyday and we would get ours. After 7 weeks in a drug induced coma, my husband "woke up". Like your daughter, it was a slow process, but with faith and my family support, he is now in in inpatient rehab hospital, learning to do all the basics that we take for granted and he will be coming home soon. He can talk, walk, and I am seeing little pieces of his personality come back. He has overcome so much...and I thank God everyday for the miracle that he is granting us. I know He is not finished yet, I have to believe that God would not have brought him this far to stop here. I hope and pray that he will have a full recovery. Thank you for sharing your story...there are not enough survivor stories out there with this,...yet many "statistics ". It is nice to hear that one is not alone in this. May God continue to bless and protect you and your family.
June 19, 2017 - 7:54pmThis Comment
Is this for real wat all u told. I am doctor to such a patient. And I share the same emotions for my patient . Its really heartbreaking for me to see my patient like this. If its for real then definitely I am encouraged
June 13, 2017 - 9:22pmThis Comment
I am so Happy to hear that your daughter had amazing results in her recovery, I am especially grateful that despite the diagnosis of the doctors you chose not to listen. Thank you for putting your story out here because it gives me a lot more hope on my sister's recovery
May 25, 2017 - 10:32amMy sister just turned 20 last month and on April 28,2017 she had a severe asthma attack followed by cardiac arrest and now has what they say is a catastrophic anoxic brain injury. Her brain stem is still working but they don't see her recovering from her injury. We are still very hopeful and pray our very hardest everyday. She has not yet become responsive but her eyes open from time to time and she has severe myoclonic jerks that has not been manageable. She will soon be transferred to a nursing facility and as of today she is starting to wean off of the ventilator. It has almost been a month and all we hear are negative comment after negative comment. I know its a long way to recovery but as you said it's "WAR" and I am ready to go to WAR for her, I miss her so much. I am 32 so that is a 12 year gap between us but we were as close as can be, we were together everyday and still continue to be together everyday and I plan to keep it that way for as long as it takes.
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So happy for you. My son suffered from an Anoxic Brain Injury it also was difficult due to the medical staff continually to tell us he Probaly will not recover. The Anoxic injury happened in July 2015. We finally found a rehab MD that was very promising. He explained to us to give our son 2 years to see all the healing and redirecting in the brain. After 1 1/2 years Jan 2017 he was able to move out on his own and return to his job . Stay positive.
May 3, 2017 - 4:38pmThis Comment
Hi!
June 11, 2017 - 3:38amMy father had an anoxic brain injury because of hearth attack. Could you tell me the story and the threatment you used or the rehab was how long? ? Thank you!
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Hi, my mom was just diagnaosed yesterday with anoxic brain injury from a heart attack. Checking in to see how your dad is and what treatments your doing?
June 18, 2017 - 4:01pmThis Comment
Thank you for sharing your story! I, too been through it recently and everyday it's a struggle. My faith in God and Jesus Christ has sustain me in my recovery. It's a long road, I have accept the challenge and I'm ready to win this "war"! Quitting is an option for me and my family! Again, thank you for sharing your story! Many blessings to your mom!
March 12, 2017 - 1:58pmThis Comment