Dad had Cardiac arrest with Hypoxia

[Miles7683]

My dad is 56 years old and went into Cardiac arrest about a week ago. My mom woke up a found my dad lying in bed making gargling noises as if his breathing was low, she tried waking him up but nothing worked. She called 911 and started CPR immediately until paramedics arrived 7 mins later. They revived my dad shortly and took him to the ER. We were told he coded again and they had to shock his heart 6 times before getting a pulse. We are not sure how long my dad was unconscious but he did suffer severe hypoxia to the brain.

The first day with my dad being in ICU they stabilized his Blood pressure, started dialysis, put him on ventilator in which he was breathing over the ventilator, sedated him heavily And started hypothermia treatment.

After two days my dad had an MRI done and we met with the neurologist. She told us my dad brain had minimal activity and he had significant swelling, and that the brain stem was the only thing keeping him alive. She basically told us there was nothing they could do and to prepare for the worst. That devastated us of course but we refused to give up on my dad only after 3 days.

For the past week it has been rough waiting on my dad to wake up or make some type of movement. We think he can hear us when we talk to him. He still has not woken up and when they try to turn off sedation he is still not responsive.

We just found out his ribs were broken and pneumonia has set in so they started antibiotics. They also did a CT scan.

Yesterday the neurologist came by and gave us the results basically saying my dad had dead brain tissue due to significant damage and there was nothing they could do. She stated the brain stem was now somehow severed and there would be no recovery, he would need 24 hour care if he wakes up and will be in a vegetative state. She said the brain stem was the only thing keeping him alive.

We are still praying and not giving up on my dad, we still think its too early to determine and he just needs time to rest and for his body to heal.

I guess my question is has anyone dealt with a loved one who went through this, and had a positive outcome regardless of what the doctors said?

[Sepsur]

I wish you and your family well, that sounds quite an ordeal that you have all experienced. All I can assure you is that this forum is full of individuals that have overcome extraordinary odds - myself being one of them.

[Miles7683 in reply to Sepsur]

Thank you. This has definitely been the worse thing me and my family are dealing with. We are literally here at the hospital just sitting and waiting on a miracle. All we have is hope and prayers and will not give up on my dad. Its amazing that you are here writing me after what you have been through. Glad to hear you beat the odds. Its nice talking to others who understand what we are going through.

[Sepsur in reply to Miles7683]

There were moments that my family were robbed of all hope. They experienced a level of trauma that is unimaginable to me. My ordeal only really started when I came round after 57 days. So it is important to look after yourself too so that you can best support your father when he is not surrounded by the expertise of critical care staff - remember - he is in the best place to make a recovery.

Critical care is an awful rollercoaster of emotion - recovery will take every ounce of energy.

[Miles7683 in reply to Sepsur]

Yes it seems like when we are in good spirits they give us updates that we really dont want to hear which can be so discouraging, its so awful. My dad blinked his eyes, opened his eyes, moved his hand and knee, but they told us it was involuntary and not him at all. That was a horrible feeling when they told us that, but we are still managing to hold onto hope. But yes you are right we have to take care of ourselves, and my dad is in the best place for recovery. I know now this is going to be an emotional roller coaster. But we will not give up on my dad! Thank you so much for sharing your experience

[Copse77 in reply to Miles7683]

Dear Miles

We have been through this emotional rollercoaster too and the best advice we were given is ‘remain hopeful’ by one kind consultant. Sepsur advised you to look after yourself too and that is important. You need your energy and strength to support your Dad. My previously fit younger brother in his Late 40swas critically ill in an induced coma. I visited every day. It was a month he was unconscious and unresponsive. It is very hard to keep going every day but you and your family can talk to your Dad and your presence will be a comfort and reassuring to him even if he can’t talk back. It doesn’t mean he. Can’t here you. Keep. talking to your Dad. We talked to my brother as if he were awake and exactly one month later he did start to come round. The drugs they use to induce a coma are very powerful and because your Dad is and my brother was critically ill the body is using everything to get better. My brother was on ECMO and dialysis. I remember that same kind consultant shouted at the top of his voice my brothers name and my brothers eyes opened. That was a fantastic moment but as I said he was unresponsive other than that and we were told this may be it and there may no recovery by one Dr. I was advised to keep a timeline and just record a few things each day so that on bad days we could look back and see the small signs of progress. As Sepsur says many of the people on here have survived terrible illness and I hope that is true for your Dad. Best wishes to you and your family.

[Miles7683 in reply to Copse77]

Thank you so much for your kind encouraging words. Just hearing your story makes me want to continue holding on to hope for my dads recovery. I will continue praying for my dad and make sure we all take care of ourselves. Will give an update soon.

[Copse77 in reply to Miles7683]

I know how difficult it is. Keep talking to your Dad. You, his family know him better than anyone. I used to pray every night too. The nights are the worst time. Stay strong.

[Sophiemorgan]

This is the same that happened to my daughter 40 yrs old also starved of O2 on paper for 90 mins but as we no not possible but we were told a less than 1% chance of survival they difibed her 13 times in order to get her back .. ???? To what quality of life .she has 5 children youngest twins 1yr old .. now 2and 1/2 so they told us say ur goodbyes now as shes not going to make it and if she did she would be complete vegative for life so after they turned of life support again told us to say goodbye ...still my daughter refused to go ..every movement she made they said involuntary she was doing full circle round the bed so much padding on the bed on her legs on her arms so difficult to watch but i knew then thats my girl fighting to come out of this so to cut long long storie short my gi.rl is now in nursing home she knows we are there when wr visit she gets all excited and smiles ..she has cortical blindness so can see but only looks like a jigsaw puzzle as brain is not giving msges as to what the eyes are seeing we tell her stuff about her kids (who go and see her most days as thats been another battle ) but when talk about her kids she sobs real years and when tell her about funny stuff she will lol love to see her lol. so yes my girl is still hear after a less than 1%chance of survival i no she will never be my girl bit i pray that she will get her sight so she can watch her 5 beautiful kids growing up we are still FIGHTING the battle but its gong to be a hell of a long one but dont give up keep playing favourite songs and telling them how well they are dong i pray for u all as i no what u are going through ..some people say its cruel and that they wouldnt want to live like this .. this hurts me as i no my daughter wouldnt want this life .. this is true but what are we expected to do my daughter is calling the shots the only way we can stop her living is to stop the peg feed and we wont ever do that as thats criminal to think how the body shuts down no no no good luck babes

[M-RES]

Sounds very like my own experience with my wife 5 years ago. She was unresponsive in Critical Care and had severe swelling of her brain (only her brain stem keeping her vital organs going), but I noticed her arms/legs/hands/feet looked swollen, because she was retaining water so they put her on diuretics and as the water retention dropped, so did the swelling. They'd essentially given up hope of her regaining consciousness, but she slowly began to show signs of higher brain functions - initially just moving an arm slightly.

It took a month for her to emerge from the coma, but it made the team on the ICU rethink how they treat other cases going forwards. The most important thing is to keep talking to the team, communicating your observations, staying involved.

I really wish you well, keep pushing for more time. Sometimes that's all it needs. My wife has been left with permanent life changing hypoxic injuries (chiefly a loss of most of her vision and memory impairments) and it took her a year of rehab to learn to many simple things again like holding a knife and fork, but she's still with us.

[primrose123]

Hello Miles7683, I myself was 2 weeks in an induced coma, my family were told they may not have the sister they once had , if I did survive I could be brain damaged or paralysed& would require 24 hour care, I think the doctors must prepare family in the event of anything happening, but I came out of the coma unable to talk, unable to walk, I was hospitalized for 2 months, & with the loving care & support of the woderful medical team & my loving family I am completely back to normal now, totally unscathed, it is 11 months now & I have never looked back,so always remember. Miles7683 where there's life there's hope, & sometimes things turn out so much better than we think they will, so my humble advice to you is, keep praying for your dad, & look after your own health as that is very important too.You are all in my thoughts & prayers..Take care, Love &God bless..xx

[bravehearts6563]

Hello Miles,I totally sympathise with you all and I hope your dad makes a significant recovery like my husband....He died at the wheel of his car and lay dead....thankfully nurses drive by and worked on him....he had 9 shocks a cardiac arrest and we lost him 4 times and he was away for 31 minutes! He had 2 stents fitted and was in 2 induced comas for 10 days and allowed home on the 12th day! He has also suffered hypoxia and now has a tracheotomy as his vocal chords are almost closed...he is a fighter and hopefully your dad will be the same son...don’t stop talking to him.....I wish you’s all the best.