Friday, November 16, 2007

Meeting with the Doctors

Family and Friends,
Today we met with some of John's doctors. Their assessment is grim. John is not progressing anywhere near the rate of a patient that they expect to have a good outcome from and they no longer believe that he can be weaned from the ventilator. The last time they tested him he was only able to breath on his own for 15 minutes. Since his mini-strokes he shows no responses to any of their commands and they give him less than a 1% chance of ever being off life support or regaining any quality of life. Instead of withdrawing care our family has decided to give John a few more weeks to heal from his original brain injury to see if he can regain any more strength cognitively and physically. Monday we will give our consent for a temporary feed tube, temporary tracheotomy, and ventricle shunt. We made this decision based on the fact that John does not seem to be in undue pain and the doctors can not tell us what brain damage he has actually suffered, just that he is not progressing. We ask so much that you continue to pray for John's recovery, he has nine more days in his high risk for vasospasm period. We also ask that you would pray for us, specifically that we can make wise, unselfish decisions for John. May the peace of God be with you and may His Name be praised forevermore.


Thank you to all who are praying for John and for all who post here. We are lifting all of you and John up to the Lord in our family rosaries.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you to Billy and Father Lutz for being with our family during this meeting with the doctors. We all knew to expect the worst, but it was still very difficult to hear. It is only through the support of our wonderful friends and family that we have been able to get through the past two weeks.

Heather

Zach said...

Dearest Marshman Family,

It is my understanding that you're waiting through December. I suggest that you make a novena to the Christ Child (the infant of Perague) during this time. I am always praying for all of you and for John. I will also be praying this novena for him.

Sue Welsh said...

Martha and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Please let me know if there is more I can do to help. I know your love and faith will give you and John strength. Love, Susan