On Tuesday night, Addison was shot in the back of his head. Although I know that statement creates a million questions, there is an open investigation and possible litigation, so on Caring Bridge, I will only be discussing Addison's health and progress. 

When Addison arrived, it took hours for Marybeth to get here because his identity was unknown. By the time of her arrival, she was told - within a breathtaking minute of being united with him - that brain scans had already been completed, and he would not possibly survive this. The bullet had entered at his brain stem, and passing through that means there is nothing possible to be done to save him. 

Her whole family (both Andy's side and hers) mobilized to deal with this stunning situation. Drew and Bruce and I made arrangements to fly to Kansas City immediately while Marybeth and her family worked on issues such as when to remove the breathing tube (after Drew got to say goodbye), and organ donation. For a day and a half, we were trying to find a way to say goodbye to Addison. Trying to find a way to tell everyone who loves Addison that he is going to die. 

During his second night in the hospital, Marybeth's sister Lauren saw his eye open. There had not been a single sign of life or action of any kind from Addison since his arrival beyond organ function. Urgent middle of the night neurological exams were inconclusive, partly because the bullet through the brain stem is so certainly and unflinchingly a death sentence. That made it hard to process and evaluate Addison's responses to stimuli. The collective breath of the entire family was held until the neurosurgeon could arrive and conduct a more nuanced examination of him. Before he started, he pre-warned us that Addison's responses were highly unlikely to be volitional. We gathered in excruciating suspension while the exam occurred in a silent room because Addison is so reactive to any stimulation. 

The doctors joined us in the waiting room, with mouths hanging open, seeming actually embarrassed.  They said, "Addison has a magic bullet." Somehow the bullet managed to do something between entering on one side of the brain stem and resting on the other side of it (its forever home) that left his brain stem with enough functioning for him to be responding to touch flat on his back in bed. Only time will tell what else might be possible. They said they have never heard of this happening before, and doubt it will ever happen again. He is in uncharted medical territory and the entire hospital is stunned and in wonder and awe, absolutely unable to predict what might lie ahead for him.

He has Huntington's and he has a bullet in his head, and his care is an excruciating battle between those forces. Finding solutions to his care involve invention and experimentation constantly. 

His vitals are generally strong, but with continuing crises that require intervention. His organs are doing great work inside him. He lies flat on his back in bed, heavily medicated almost all of the time. The only word he has spoken has been "Thanks" to Marybeth when she explained he has been very badly hurt and is in the hospital and she and all these people are trying to help him get better, and the same single word to a nurse giving him care. 

We have no idea what might lie ahead for him. What might improve, and what is his forever condition. We are on this minute-to-minute ride with him, simultaneously hoping for the best and preparing for other possibilities.

Thank you so very much for visiting this site and for caring about Addison. Marybeth will use this to provide information as this unfolds.