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Mike’s Story

Site created on December 11, 2023

To dispel rumors, Mike isn't dead, though it was touch and go for a little while.

Mike was found unconscious and unresponsive by his car in the parking lot of his building on Thursday, November 30th. His friend, Ryan found him and another neighbor called EMS. He was taken to Methodist where they admitted him to CCU. He was sedated and intubated once he reached Methodist. His BP was sky high and they began giving him meds to bring it down. They completed a CT scan on Thursday once he was sedated and intubated. They completed an MRI on Friday. The doctor called on Saturday morning and talked with my mom and subsequently me. What they said at that time was that they saw significant swelling and inflammation in the white matter of his brain. Based on the pervasive and extensive damage that they saw to this part of his brain, they did not expect that he would survive and if he did, there would be significant deficits. Basically, whatever made him - him - would not be there anymore. So, after many discussions about what we thought he would and wouldn't want, a DNR/DNI was initiated as was the organ/tissue donation process. What made these decisions so much more difficult, was the fact that despite the damage to his brain, his brain stem was still in tact and telling his heart to beat and his body to breathe. He still had a gag reflex and coughed spontaneously. He was on minimal sedation and the lowest level of lung support available. For all in tents and purposes, he was breathing on his own but remained intubated to protect his airway.

He remained in a comatose like state from Thursday/Friday, where he did not respond to commands, wouldn't open his eyes, etc. until Sunday 12/3. around midnight. Sometime after midnight, he began to open his eyes, respond to commands, squeeze fingers and give a thumbs up. These developments changed the course that we were on and the donation process was cancelled. He was lightly sedated and still on the lowest level of support through the breathing tube. They began to lower the sedation levels to monitor his cognitive status and behavior. Initially, when the sedation was lowest, and they attempted to wake him up, he would become agitated and required more sedation to keep him calm and his BP in check. So they would raise it and then try it again later or the next day.

Thursday 12/7-ish, they took the breathing tube out. He was able to sit in the chair, was off all IV meds and on a soft food diet.

He was evaluated by physical therapy on Monday 12/11, and given the OK for small bites of food. They had also received orders to transfer him to a regular room once one became available.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Lisa Heldenbrand — Jan 30, 2024

Update.. it's been a while since I've updated.. as there hasn't been much going on.

Mike has been in the hospital since November 30, 2023. Doctors determined that he suffered an Anoxic Brain Injury. This affects his thought processes, sometimes his ability to put thoughts/sentences together and get them from his brain to speaking them. It has also affected his balance.

It was discovered that while he was at Casey's getting food on the day this happened, he fell and hit his head on the side of the building. After falling, he apparently got up, drove home, and that is where he collapsed and was found in the parking lot.

They have been searching for a placement for him to go to that will help with rehab and also long term living. They have also been waiting for his insurance to switch over to Medicaid (I think). There aren't any placements locally that have room for him so he is being placed in Cedar Rapids. That move will take place this week - either Wednesday or Thursday. Once I have an address, etc. for where he is - I will make another post with the information.

Read More of the journal titled "January 30, 2024"

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