Heartbroken

Heartbroken.

We took this amazing picture two days ago at Coleman’s Decathlon. As of 6:30 am this morning (Friday, May 24) Jason was gone.

Exactly 24 hours ago he was headed to the ER in an ambulance because he was struggling to breathe.

They couldn’t get his oxygen levels to go any higher than 50.

Finding a strong pulse was a touch and go experience as they sent him up to ICU. The incredibly diligent nurses and doctor did all they could...suctioning for what they were hoping would be more fluid on and around his lungs.

But it didn’t happen.

His low oxygen levels baffled the doctor. He still tried everything.

At 5:10 am Jason went into cardiac arrest.
The room filled with staff to take turns with compressions, epinephrine, meds, IVs and anything else the pulmonary doctor called out to do.

Time ticked by. Only 15-20 minutes before brain function was affected. His heart started beating at 12 minutes.

15 minutes later he was in cardiac arrest again.

The doctor said that when he first came to the ICU he had no response in his eyes — a sign of injury to the brain.

Jason would not want this. I knew it. His mind is sharp and it’s one of his greatest assets for overcoming the limitations of his body.

I asked them to keep him alive till his parents arrived about 7 minutes later.

Then we told the doctor it was enough.
They took him off the machines and called his time of death 6:12 am.

At 6:13, his heart started beating and his pulse was strong. They were still breathing for him from the bag and his oxygen was terrifyingly low.

What is this??? They were astounded to see Jason do what he does best - fight harder. Because giving up was never his option.

I laughed and said, “Typical Jason. Let’s let him have his moment.” We waited for the heart beats to stop. It took many minutes. With each beat I felt him say, “Coleman. Coleman. I love you. You can do this.” Then they stopped.
About 6:30 am.

The man who ALWAYS came back...was gone.

But he is now free. Free from that neck brace. Free from that chair. Free from the constant pain. Free from struggles of a body that doesn’t give back

He can run. He can stand 6’3” tall. He is strong. He is mighty.

Finally. 💙✊🏻