Nick went into cardiac arrest at the VA hospital on April 6th. He has been unconscious since then. Medical staff performed CPR and he was med-flighted early morning on Sunday April 7th to Gundersen Hospital in Lacrosse WI. Gundersen kept him under sedation and on partial life support while running some initial tests. Urine and blood was tested, a MRI was taken, and an electroencephalogram (EEG) scan was performed. The tests didn't provide much information on what happened or why Nick wasn't becoming wakeful when sedation was removed. The MRI and EEG was negative for signs of brain damage. Nick suffered seizures while at Gundersen but was given an anti seizure medication that seemed to stop further seizures from happening.
After 2 days at Gundersen the doctors wanted to move Nick to a hospital capable of running a continuous EEG. Nick was moved to the VA Hospital in Madison, WI at that point and has been there since.
The continuous EEG came back negative and he has shown no signs additional seizures. The EEG also came back negative for brain damage. Doctors have been trying to remove Nick's sedation, however at lower sedation levels Nick has been fighting the respirator to the point medical staff are concerned he doesn't get enough oxygen. Doctors in Madison also found that Nick had an infection and later discovered minor kidney damage which later showed signs of improvement.
Doctors will be running additional additional brain scans and attempt to remove sedation in the coming days. We ask that you please pray for Nick.
To view a copy of Nick's obituary and funeral arrangements please see the link below. http://m.torkelsonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/events?obituaryId=4394990
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