He’s awake and aware, in critical but stable condition.
My father died of a stroke, in the crawlspace of my parents’ house. This brother is the one who crawled in and dragged his body out. He seemed dazed for hours after that. I will always remember the look on his face.
This is my oldest brother, who taught me how to read by sitting me on his lap at the dining room table and reading book after book to me while running his finger under the words.
He’s the oldest of six. He takes that seriously. He would do anything for you.
He’s an engineer. He loves to build things and to tinker and to invent. He loves to spout right-wing bullshit. He’s frustrating and funny, obnoxious and terribly kind.
Married for 29 years to a very nice woman. They have two kids.
I’m going to lose him someday, and I am not ready and never will be ready.
Good luck to you. An aneurysm is what got my father. The doctor was careful to explain to us though that an aneurysm is the opposite of a stroke. Said aneurysms have no known links, not age, not smoking, blood pressure, nuttin’, just one of those things that can happen to anyone anytime. Seems an aneurysm is like a tire blowout, while a stroke is caused by the blood flow becoming restricted. This is all what the doctor told us. Be sure to consult closely with your brother’s doctor to find out exactly what to do post-care.
jsgoddess - I am very sorry to hear this terrible news. Your love for your brother glows brightly in your post and I know how difficult this must be for you. My nephew had a similar event in his thirties. Things looked very bleak at first, with severe paralysis and impaired mental function. Progress was very slow, but he was determined to overcome his situation and worked very hard at it, doing hours of physical therapy everyday. Eventually (months to years later) he surprised all of us by learning to walk again. He can get anywhere now, a little slower than others, using only a cane.
The prognosis for brain injury is hard for your brother’s doctors to estimate at this early stage, which makes dealing with his injury even more difficult; but there is plenty to hope for with the support of you and others who love him.
Best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery and, if not that, for a return of your brother to his normal self, with only some physical limitations.
Peace be with you.