I thought it couldn't get any worse but after Johns second cardiac arrest yesterday in ICU, doctors ran tests & found out that he has blood poisoning called sepsis, it's bacterial. Doctors have said he got sepsis from the infected incision area from the nureosurgery to stop the bleeding inside his brain from a burst vien, he had 8 days ago. They've started him on IV antibiotics yesterday evening & have told us that it will be 2-4 days before they know if the antibiotics have worked. He's still critically ill in a deep coma, not medically induced.
It now been 8 days since he was rushed to hospital & all I & his family want is for him to get better.
Laura.
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kerr28
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Here is an article: Can Coma Patients Hear You? Families Should Tell Stories To Loved Ones In A Coma
Researchers created audio recordings of family members telling a familiar story that the patients heard four times a week for six weeks via headphones. They also gauged how the blood oxygen levels in the brain changed while listening to recordings by exposing patients to both familiar and unfamiliar voices telling different stories while in an MRI at baseline. Families of coma patients sat down with therapists to discuss at least eight important stories that would resonate with their loved ones.
At the end of the six weeks MRI scans revealed the patients’ brains increased in neural activity when they heard a loved one calling out their name and telling a memorable story. Patients who heard the recordings of a familiar voice covered their consciousness faster and had more of an overall improved recovery compared to patients who did not hear recordings. Following the six weeks of recorded stories, the research team found that listening to unfamiliar voices telling the same story heard at baseline led to changes in blood oxygen level, meaning increased responsiveness to an unfamiliar voice.
Source: Steiner M, Rosenow J, Pape T, et al. Placebo-Controlled Trial of Familiar Auditory Sensory Training for Acute Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. A Preliminary Report. Nuerorehabilitation & Neural Repair. 2015.
A memoir from a lady who describes her coma experience is by Anita Moorjani called "Dying to be me - my journey from cancer to near death to true healing." In 2013 I purchased the audio file and listened to her really amazing account.
I & John's family have defiantly been telling him good stories & will continue to. I'll defiantly have a look at the webpage link in more detail you've sent me tomorrow.
So sorry to hear your latest news and hope the antibiotics begin to work really quickly.
When my son was in hospital, following a subarachnoid haemorrhage, he had a form of meningitis caused by an infection in one of his ventricular drains inserted to relieve pressure.
He was critically ill, thankfully the antibiotics worked and that was the beginning of his recovery.
I hope we'll hear more positive news from you soon.
Hi, it seems that serious infections are not uncommon after BI - my Dad got one within a a couple of weeks, probably starting in the chest because BI patients are vulnerable in the early stages when they can't sit up, move around and clear their chests by coughing properly. He got through it. I'm hoping for the best in John's case too x
Oh dear you really are going through it but remember that everyone on this site is here for you so please use us.
I hope that John responds to the antibiotics soon but as I have often been told by the hospital there are always ups and downs, good days and bad when someone is in intensive care. I didn't want to believe them and thought that every time Paul improved it would stay that way but he had a few steps back. Now Paul is doing really well, 6 weeks in to his rehab.
These dark days are hard so utilise all the support you can, whether it's friends and family, services or here.
Take care and let us know how you and John are doing.
We're praying 24/7 & aren't giving up hope whatever the doctors say!, with the help of the hospital Chaplin, who visits John once a day in the ICU. The Chaplin is a very kind, caring, polite & understanding gentleman.
thoughts with you all,yes postative thoughts and healing help allot! when my hubby had his first op i was in the mutli faith chapel,i opened a sacred space and did a healong ritual and sent reki.
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...and its good positive news from me as well :-)
Reminiscing about accident.. good or bad? 
Fantastic news!
