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Click Here to send a message to Elec
A member of our ChiliHouse family, Elec Northam,
age 25, suffered a massive stroke early Saturday morning.
He was transported by helicopter to University Med Ctre
in Jackson.He is unconscious, on full life support, and
short of a miracle, not expected to live. The neurologist
did say, however, that he had seen miracles happen.
He said that Elec, being so young and strong had
already exhibited a will to live in that he actually survived
the immediate stroke and again by surviving the trip to
Jackson, where he was then put on a ventilator.
Neurologists are trying to get his blood pressure,
heart rate, and general vitals to a normal and stable level
so as to measure the extent of the damage to the brain.
There are certain criteria that have to be met through a
series of tests to determine the extent of damage to the
brain or brain death. Those are not my horrible words,
but those that came out of the neurologist's mouth.
He said not to lose hope that Elec will wake up because
he has seen many miracles happen throughout his career,
but that it will take a miracle and that is what we should
hope and pray for. He said that Elec has already taken,
what would seem to us as little stuff, leaps and bounds
to live by: #1 living through the stroke (most people die
instantly with a stroke of this magnitude), and #2 staying
alive long enough to get to Jackson. Those are indicative
of his will to live. He also has going for him that he is only
25 years old, healthy, strong and strong willed. So the hope
that can't be lost is that of a miracle. The odds weigh heavily
against him waking up, but the neurologist said that he has
seen those odds be beat before. Elec is the focus for all of us
right now, and it weighs heavy on all of us, who love him so
much. I will be headed back to Jackson tomorrow to sit with
Elec for a while. Maybe it will give Rick and the rest of the
family a little room to breathe for a minute. Maybe they
will go for a quick lunch together or just walk outside and
get some sunshine and a breath of fresh air. Pray for the peace
of his family through their faith that God has a reason for
everything. Daddy always said what doesn't kill you makes
you stronger and what does makes others stronger.
Please pray unceasingly for Elec, and his dad, Rick.
I just got an update on Elec from my son, Ashley. Ashley and
2 more of Elec's friends went to the hospital at the 5-6:00
visiting hour to see Elec. Elec's sister from Florida went into
his room with them to visit. I really don't know what all of
this really means from a "scientific" view but this is what happened.
They all went in with positive attitudes and talked to Elec. While
they were talking to him, his eyes began to twitch. Ashley, always
being the prankster of the group, reached down and tickled his foot
and Elec's pulled his leg back in a flinching motion. Daniele, his sister
decided to brush his teeth for him and he moved his head and neck,
then bit down on the toothbrush. And, this is amazing and wonderful...
The doctors have been trying to get his blood pressure down since
he got there. Well...while they were in his room visiting, guess what?
His blood pressure dropped. The nurses were tickled and said that this
was the first time any of these things have happened since Elec got there.
I don't know what it all means yet. We will see what the doctors have to
say about it, but it sure does give me hope that a miracle is on it's way!
Ashley said that they stuck some earphones in his ears, turned on some
good music and left him "rocking out." Don't stop believing!
Thank you all for the prayers. God is listening. Please don't stop!
If you would like to send Elec a message, you can go to our website
or post a message on thechilihouse myspace page. I will be printing
them off and carrying them with me when I go to visit Elec tomorrow.
I know they will cheer him up!
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We went to Jackson yesterday to visit Elec. He is still in stable condition.
He is trying to breathe some on his own, and the doctors plan to do a
tracheotomy which would act as a "quick connect", so to speak, as they
try to let Elec come off the respirator and breathe on his own.
The doctors said that they have done about all they could do
on their end. The rest is really up to Elec. On that note...
Elec seems to be responding slightly to people he loves talking to him.
Just a flitter of his eyelids, a slight hand squeeze, moving his head a little
while getting his teeth brushed, crinching his eyebrows, in response to
things that are said to him. The doctors say that it is possible that these
are reflex actions, but the family has to make the decision as to how to
interpret these actions. There are mixed emotions of course, within the
realm of Elec's family and friends, but for the most part there is hope that
Elec is still in there. I am really nervous to be the one updating all of this
information, as I too love Elec as one of my own children, and my emotions
are hard to keep at bay. I am just trying to list the facts, as I know them so as
not to give a biased report on his condition. I have been listening very closely
to the information given by the doctors and Elec's family. There is, in my
opinion, a "Medical Side" and a "Miracle Side" to Elec's condition.
While the "Medical Side" does not hold much hope for recovery,
the "Miracle Side" seems to be offering a growing hope that Elec can
hear, feel, and sense those around him. We have gotten soooo many
e-mails and posts on the Meridian Star forum, from Meridian, Tupelo,
Alabama, South Carolina, New Orleans,even California,all the way to
Australia. All of these are prayers for the miracle Elec needs at this time.
It has only been 3 days since this tragedy occurred. It is hard to communicate
properly with others after 3 days with the flu. On the "Medical Side," I am not
one to drag out a situation like this one to an extreme, but on the "Miracle Side,"
lean to the thought that Elec may need "just a minute" to figure out, in his own
mind/self/soul what has happened to him and make some decisions within himself.
That is of course, My humble opinion. I can not get myself into his family's "shoes"
no matter how hard I try. They are all being so strong and I can tell you, they are
thriving on all of the prayers that are being sent their way. I am transferring all of
your messages to a single document and taking them to Elec and his family daily.
It is giving them the strength they need to hold it together. Really. So, please don't stop.
They have so many decisions to make, so many crossroads. Your prayers and comments
give Elec and his family, a security that someone's "got their back." I will be updating
again as soon as I get more news to share. Think Miracle.
PS... Just got a call from Elec's sister. Nurse said that Elec opened his eyes during the night
last night. Hey!  ___________________________________________________________________ UPDATE: NOV.5 Click Here to send a message to Elec Elec's tracheotomy is complete and he is now breathing on his own!!!!! God is showin' out!  Talked to Rick. He said that Elec is opening his eyes and keeping them open for a "little bit."
He said that sometimes Elec's stare is a little "blank" and other times
he seems to follow him. Keep up the prayers. They are obviously
giving Elec strength. No one thought he would make it this far, when
this first happened. Think "Miracle." I will be going over on
Thursday and will give another report, I know it will be a good one, when I get back.
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