H made it through the night. He remains in critical condition and on a respirator.
This all started yesterday afternoon.
He had been deteriorating over the past week and more rapidly in the past 48 hours. He was having frequent “autonomic storms” that were difficult to watch because we could tell he was in such terrible distress. He continued to vomit much of what we tried to feed him. He was sleeping far more than he had previously and speech was becoming more limited. For the first time, he started using nonsense words or in one case, a very distinct made-up word that he used as a toddler and hadn’t used since.
The doctors tinkered with his medications, but decided yesterday to do another CT Scan to see if there was a change in the swelling in his brain. They were pretty shocked to see that the swelling had increased to a huge degree since his last CT Scan last week. His brain is under a lot of pressure and the decision was made to move him immediately from the neurology floor to the intensive care unit. By this time, he was only semi-conscious.
We met with several doctors who explained that his heart rate was dropping and his blood pressure was up. We were told that we will now need to take things hour to hour instead of day by day. The neurologist told us he’s never seen someone deteriorate this fast this long after the original brain injury. It’s the worst case of delayed post-hypoxic leukoencephalopathy (DPHL) he has ever seen.
DPHL is a complication of hypoxic brain injury, sometime but not always related to drug overdoses. It’s also seen in carbon monoxide-induced hypoxic brain injuries. Much is not known about DPHL, but it’s believed to be related to both toxicity of whatever chemical caused the shallow breathing and aspiration that led to the hypoxia, as well as the length of time that the victim’s brain is deprived of oxygen. It can occur weeks or more after the original hypoxic episode, when the myelin sheaths in the brain start breaking down and deteriorating. But it starts with the insult to the system, causing the hypoxia and the delay in getting oxygen to the brain. In some people, it happens after they have almost recovered from the overdose and have resumed normal activities. With H, it started at a point when his brain injury baseline was still severe.But he WAS making tiny improvements overall until the DPHL started.
Whatever drugs were involved in Henry’s overdose, they are obviously still wreaking havoc on his brain 36 days later. And of course, H was also hit in the head and chest very violently, which can’t have helped.
After he was moved to the ICU, he was intubated and placed on the respirator to provide hyperventilation. An intracranial bolt was placed in his skull to monitor brain swellling on a continuous basis. A central IV line was placed in his chest.
Since they began monitoring his intracranial pressure last night (ICP), it has cycled every hour or two from near normal levels up to levels considered fatal – or beyond fatal. This sort of consistent fluctation and cycling of ICP is apparently somewhat unusual. I suspect that it shoots up every time he experiences one of the autonomic storms.
Jon and all three of the other kids were supposed to leave for our long-planned beach vacation this morning. We had decided that he and the kids should go even though I would be staying here to remain on the job and be with H. But everything is on hold now that H’s condition is so critical. We brought J and E to the hospital last night to spend a few minutes with H in the ICU. It was really difficult for both of them. They have been through so, so much with all of this and they love and miss their big brother so much. C is staying with Jon’s parents for the time being. I miss her like crazy. Other relatives may go ahead and take J and E to the beach today as planned with the understanding that they may need to be brought back to Knoxville quickly.
Right now I am sitting in the family critical care waiting room waiting for shift change to end so I can go back to the ICU and be with H. Thank you for all your kind words and messages. It means SO MUCH to our whole family that so many people are thinking of our swweet boy and praying for his recovery. The next few days will be critical for H. Every hour matters.
Give your children an extra hug today. Tell them how much you love them and how special and perfectly amazing they are. Never miss a chance to tell them that. I’d give anything if H could hear me telling him that now.
-Katie
I am so very sorry & distressed to hear the turn for the worse keeps getting worse. I know this is absolutely devastating for you. My family & I will continue to keep H. and all of you in thoughts & prayers. So hopeful he will pull through this terrible setback.
From one momma to another, thinking of you, your boy and your family today. Will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Hang in there.
First time commenter – long time reader. Sending you hope and strength. And I've started talking to my kid about drugs because of this. She's 5. And I'll keep talking to her about it.
My heart is breaking for you, Kate. Praying very very hard for Henry and your family.
Tears and prayers for your family and H. Sending some of my karma to H. I'm checking all day and waiting for when he pulls through!
Love and prayers to all of you.
Praying hard and harder, for H and the rest of you.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
We are so sorry, Katie. Prayers from all of us at our house.
Do you know how many people are holding you and Henry in their hearts? Do you have any idea how many mothers have sat down & talked with their kids?
More than you can ever possibly imagine.
All love,
Robin
Austin, TX
Oh, Katie. A hug for you.
best,
Audrey
I've been following your blog. I'm sorry for what your family is going through. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Hi Katie,
I am a high school friend of Melissa's and have been following news on Henry here and on FB. I wanted to let you know how much you especially have been on my heart. Sending you and your family much peace, comfort, and strength.
Your story has made me reevaluate how I speak to my teenage sons. Your courage is an inspiration. Your decision to share your story will make a difference to many people. I'm praying for H's recovery as well as for the well-being of all your family.
I continue to pray for H. I am just so sorry and like others, wish I could do more.
Like so many others, I am hoping & praying for H. and for your family. Know that sharing your story IS making a difference in so many lives. Thank you for this gift.
H., hang in there.
Thank you for sharing this heart breaking story. It has really made me evaluate my own attitudes toward teenagers and seemingly innocuous drug experimentation. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Katie, you, your dear Henry, and rest of your lovely family are constanly on my mind. I am so sorry your family has had to suffer this way. There are no good words, but please know you are in my heart.
Katie, I am so sorry to hear this news. You and your entire family continue to be in my thoughts. As others have said before me, you would be amazed to know about the tremendous network of people who are praying and hoping for H's recovery. There is power in those numbers, and I believe that H can pull through this. Wishing you all the very best.
Katie, knowing what it is like to go back to ICU and for the outcome to be uncertain again is something that no one ever wishes to learn. Doctors can only do so much, trust you gut and do what feels right for H and the rest of your family. My thoughts travel with you!
Katie, my prayers are for you, your son and your family during this difficult time. I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry this is happening to you and your family Katie. I will hug my kids extra tight. So many people are praying and hoping for your son to be okay. Hang in there. It must be so hard for you too. Love, Jennifer
Best wishes to you and your family. I hope that his youth will help him recover – young boys are pretty resilient. I don't know you and heard about this from a friend, and now you will be in my thoughts and I send love and wishes for returned health for your son.
Please know that we continue to pray for Henry and the whole family. God is the Great Physician and he can do things that man cannot. We pray for the doctor's and nurses for knowledge to help Henry. Also know there are other families at Knoxville Catholic High School and Walridge Baptist Church praying for you all.
I wish you both Peace.
No words…
Just support and love going your way, always!
I'm so sorry about your son. I just saw the story and read your blogs.
I had not heard about it in the news before now. I will keep your family in
my prayers. I pray the police catch the people responsible for this. I am a
mother also and can't imagine your pain. God Bless you.
Dear Katie…I am the one who left a long message for you with Shane today. I can empathize in very specific ways with your whole experience…my story parallels yours, except for the fact that my son, who was beaten, tormented along with two other victims are still living and still suffering 6 months after their 'victimization' (Jan. 12th).
My son, age 47, was celebrating over 3 years of recovery from addiction and was on probation when he was attacked. I recently learned that KPD has labeled him (responsible, somehow!) for being beaten and left for dead. That was what concerned me when I read your article today…that "drugs were involved"…
Please know that I care about you and your family and that it may l be a long road until you receive 'justice'…and I wanted to let you know about the wonderful support group here, "HOPE for victims", started by Joan Berry, mother of Johnna Berry…I recently joined them, a group of mothers who have lost children and support each other in their quest for justice and for peace. This group meets the 2nd Monday of each month at Church Street United Methodist at 7pm. Phone number is: 924-3480 and their website is: hopeforvictims@gmail.com. It may be too early for you to want to join such a group, but they know the grief you live with.
Also, your starting a scholarship program for people suffering addiction is the best tribute anyone could give! And the best place in TN, as I have learned from experience is the Buffalo Valley Treatment Center in Middle TN…cost is $2500, (which we still owe for my son) but it is wonderful and so successful.
Please contact me at any time, by phone or e-mail as I can listen…and understand.
Mary L. Wilson
East Knoxville
phone: 546-2513 and e-mail: marytheprez@yahoo.com
P.S.: I first learned about your tragic loss on FaceBook and on Joy Morelock's page…we need to thank her for that coincidence!
I wonder if the person who first introduced H to drugs is aware of what has happened to him. I wonder if the others who encouraged and fed him substances over the last 4 years understand today what they have done. Are they reading this blog? Have they read the news articles? Do they feel ashamed as they should? And the perpetrators of the assault — have they left town already? Do they even know there is a community ready to see they meet justice? Do they know how passionate we are about our children and loved ones and that we are dedicated to seeing that this does not happen again?
Do they know? Will we see their mugshots following their arrests posted on newspaper and tv sites? Will KCSO perform their due dilligence with regards to this case? Will the community continue to insist that this not turn into a cold case? Do we understand that this very well could have been the same kind of robbery, regardless of the victim's past? Do we understand that if this crime hadn't happened to Katie's son…it very well could have been one of our own?