If you're looking to help someone in need this Holiday season...

[Catrin]

{{{{Zoom Zoom and family}}}}

[zoom-zoom]

Thanks, Catrin. We can use all the hugs we can get this year!

[OakLeaf]

((((((zoom-zoom, Damon & family)))))) What an awful thing to have to go through.

[smilingcat]

What a horrible news about your nephew. I've been thinking most of today on what to write, what to say. Words escape me because it is so rare that we face such devastating news. My heart goes out to Damon, his parents, to you and your husband and to all of Damon's relatives. Even though I only know you from this forum and what you post, the photos of your husband and your son on a tandem racing... it's not as though we are really good friends. Yet, the news still leaves all of us at a loss.

I wish I have words of wisdom to say or to pass how I really feel. One of few times in my life, words escape me.

Please accept my empathy for what you and all your family members are going through. And let us hope for the best outcome possible. We should never give up without trying.

I wish the best for Damon and all his family.

Sincerely,

Shawn

[zoom-zoom]

Thanks Ladies. I like to think Damon feels everyone pulling for him.

[zoom-zoom]

So sad. So late last week the hospital did another MRI and brain scans to get a better picture of brain function. The news was not good. It was evident that the damage suffered from lack of oxygen and/or pressure from spinal fluid had damaged his fragile brain beyond the point of recovery. On Friday my sister, her DH, and my nephew's "sperm-donor" father made the gut-wrenching decision to remove his life support on Monday…yesterday. At 11AM EST they told hospital staff that they were ready to start the process.

At 11:30 Damon was no longer hooked to any tubes or wires. My sister finally was able to crawl into bed with him and hold him. 10-15 minutes later he was gone. He died in his mother's arms. No parent should ever have to go through this. I break down sobbing every time I envision those last minutes. Last evening I looked at the clock and realized that it had been nearly 2 weeks to the minute that I got the call from my dad that Damon was being airlifted to Milwaukee.

We're hoping to have his funeral later this week, when our family will all be together in Green Bay. To honor Damon's memory we're all planning to wear superhero T-shirts, as he was a HUGE superhero geek, especially Marvel Comics.

In a humorous little aside: the hospital was making thumbprint lockets for all of the family members. They were having a difficult time getting a clean thumbprint. It turns out his thumbs were a bit calloused from his avid X-Box gaming. While he was in a coma my sister considered having someone bring an X-Box controller from home to put in his hands…with the thought that that simple device could be just the thing to draw him back to consciousness.

We miss that sweet, funny, lovely boy so much.

[OakLeaf]

I'm so very sorry. (((((((zoom-zoom & family)))))))