A Yuletide Tragedy

[Elspode]

I appreciate that, LR, and I would only ask that anyone who has good thoughts and energies to send please direct them to Connor and his mother, Pamela in Children's Mercy Hospital in KC.

I just got off the phone with my wife, who spent the night with the mother at the hospital, and things are just so very, very awful. Connor still retains brain stem function, and as such is displaying basal functions...grasping of people's hands (sporadic, and not in response to stimuli), suckling behavior, and non-spastic movement of the extremities. He has no pupillary reactivity to light, no response to pain stimuli, and no response to verbal prompts. The upshot of all of this is that it is making it *much* more difficult for everyone to be with him, as his physical activity has the outward appearance of "normal" functionality. In addition, as his body continues to slowly fail, he has begun experiencing atrial fibrillation, and is now running an elevated temperature, making him appear diaphoretic and uncomfortable.

My wife is now completely physically and emotionally exhausted, and needs to get out of there, but she has a long day ahead of her as she is determined to be present when life support is d/c'ed. It would be merciful for everyone involved if that action brought a swift and calm transition from this plane to the next, but in all likelihood, it is going to be a violent, horrible thing to experience. The human body struggles to survive, and doctors and friends are now trying to brace Pamela for the sights and sounds of what is to come.

This is so horrifically sad and painful, and I don't know whether to feel bad or blessed that I am unable to be present.