Brent Sommer

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This past weekend we went on Brent's boat. Dannie, Brent, Katie, and Pat Looby. Just after we went up on plane, the boat very suddenly and violently turned sharply for an unknown reason. We are unsure of the cause and it is being investigated by law enforcement because serious injuries are involved.  Alcohol and negligence are NOT factors in this incident. Pat Looby and Brent were ejected from the boat.  All received various degrees of minor injuries, except for Brent.  Brent was found floating on his back, unconscious, not breathing, and no pulse. With difficulty, Brent was hauled onto an approaching pontoon boat and resuscitation efforts were begun.  At some point he vomited a large volume of water, and then began breathing along with a pulse, but he remained unconscious.  He was transported by law enforcement and during that transport, CPR and rescue breathing was re-initiated, apparently because Brent stopped breathing and his heart stopped.

 

Presently Brent is in the intensive care unit.  He has not regained consciousness. There is no brain swelling and there is no significant bleeding in the brain. He is in stable, but critical condition, mildly sedated, and he has brain activity.  His body is swollen and there are minor superficial injuries, but the greatest concern is waiting for Brent to awake from his coma.  The doctors have determined that there is nothing preventing him from awaking and that could happen at any time….today, tomorrow, or next week.

 

We have been overwhelmed at the amount of support we have received from friends and family. Thank you very much for everything all of you are doing. We wish there was more to share with you at this time, but the information above is as much as we know and we will share more with you if anything changes. Time demands prevent us from responding to individual requests for information.  We have everything we need and there is nothing anybody can do for us at this time except to pray for Brent. Please add him to your prayers because we desperately need divine intervention to help us through this extremely difficult time as our wonderful husband, father, and dear friend faces this critical situation.   


The following is from Niki and Dannie as of today..... Monday, June 5, 2017:


Today is the saddest day in our entire life.  The doctors had presented us with results of new tests and it was apparent that God decided it is his wish that Brent be with him.  We are absolutely devastated that we have now lost that which is more important to us than anything else. Our wonderful husband and father has sailed to be with God and he has a new home port where he will be waiting for us. We are overcome with grief as we mourn our loss of this incredible man. He passed peacefully and we were at his side, holding each of his hands and expressing our tremendous love for him; Dannie on one side and Niki on the other. He was also surrounded by a large group of family and friends and all of us held hands and prayed over him before and during the time that he left us.

Brent was a giant amongst men.  He was a man that always served others….his family, his friends, the community, and complete strangers.  There was nothing that this man would not do for others. He was always doing the right thing. If ever you needed help with anything or to talk to somebody that really cared, all you had to do was hit the direct dial labeled “BRENT”, and everything would be solved.

We wish to thank all of the many people that have been so supportive through this ordeal….our family, our friends, our neighbors, acquaintances, and even the many strangers that have been praying and supporting us. We ask that you continue to pray for us because although Brent is gone, we still need your prayers and support because all this means so much to us.  These coming weeks will not be easy as we try to reconstruct our lives and also honor Brent for everything that he was to us and to so many others.  We will be honoring our father and husband with a special ceremony in Ohio in the next week or 2.  We will share those details with you at the appropriate time.  Please consult the website “caringbridge” and enter the file for “Brent Sommer” for updates regarding the details regarding the arrangements.