Friend in Need of Prayers
I've spent more than the last 12 hours at Ben Taub General Hospital with a friend whose husband was hit by another car yesterday afternoon in the northbound HOV lane of the North Freeway.
Their car had overheated and started to catch on fire. He got out of the car to put it out while she called AAA -- all as cars and buses flew by. (They had gone past the Shepherd exit off of the HOV.) At about 4:17 p.m., a car clipped the back left hand corner of their Lexus propelling their car into him - as he was in the front of the car (facing north).
It's thought that he was trying to get out of the way and was straddling the concrete barrier because of injuries that he sustained on the insides of his legs.
However, he suffered major brain trauma when his head either slammed on the concrete barrier or the ground on the North Freeway side of the interstate.
They attempted to do some surgery, taking off a piece of his skull to relieve some pressure. But they had to sew him back up because he was bleeding too much and losing blood pressure.
They've given him over 5 gallons of blood. He's 54 and a very tall and well built man.
They can't do any further surgery until they get the swelling down, yet keep his blood pressure high enough. It is a very delicate balance.
The neurosurgeon, who is on the most compassionate and intellectual doctors I've ever seen, stated that the normal pressure on a person's brain is a "15". Agitated, maybe 20. He said that the man's is over 30.
The prognosis is not good. He stated that 90% of patients with this type of head and brain trauma don't survive and it is very, very rare that those that do return to any type of normal routine.
This couple, not in the running community, are good people, and had enjoyed the day together in downtown Houston and the Galleria and where returning home.
Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.
Their car had overheated and started to catch on fire. He got out of the car to put it out while she called AAA -- all as cars and buses flew by. (They had gone past the Shepherd exit off of the HOV.) At about 4:17 p.m., a car clipped the back left hand corner of their Lexus propelling their car into him - as he was in the front of the car (facing north).
It's thought that he was trying to get out of the way and was straddling the concrete barrier because of injuries that he sustained on the insides of his legs.
However, he suffered major brain trauma when his head either slammed on the concrete barrier or the ground on the North Freeway side of the interstate.
They attempted to do some surgery, taking off a piece of his skull to relieve some pressure. But they had to sew him back up because he was bleeding too much and losing blood pressure.
They've given him over 5 gallons of blood. He's 54 and a very tall and well built man.
They can't do any further surgery until they get the swelling down, yet keep his blood pressure high enough. It is a very delicate balance.
The neurosurgeon, who is on the most compassionate and intellectual doctors I've ever seen, stated that the normal pressure on a person's brain is a "15". Agitated, maybe 20. He said that the man's is over 30.
The prognosis is not good. He stated that 90% of patients with this type of head and brain trauma don't survive and it is very, very rare that those that do return to any type of normal routine.
This couple, not in the running community, are good people, and had enjoyed the day together in downtown Houston and the Galleria and where returning home.
Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.
posted by WalkSports.com | 8:09 AM
2 Comments:
Jon, I am so sorry for your friend and his family. Another reminder how precious each moment is.
Jon,
I will certainly keep your friends in my prayers. Joe is so right; we can never take these precious moments that God gives us for granted, but I usually do.
Thinking of you...
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