The Coma Watch Begins

10/9/12
Brian Kinkead, my youngest son, was a 17-year-old senior at Ashland High School on October 8, 2001. He was a gifted artist, a top student, a poet. Brian was fluent enough in Spanish that he wanted to attend college and major in Spanish and Art. The previous summer, Brian had been a student ambassador with the People to People program, traveling to Europe. He had a part-time job in a local restaurant, a car with a great stereo system, and a rich social life. He was a typical teenager who pushed all boundaries, as well. All this was lost, including his memories of Europe, on October 8th 2001.

Tuesday, October 9, 2001
Took Brian off sedation temporarily, and he showed signs of purposeful movement to try & take out ventilator tube. Re-restrained and re-sedated. Vital signs good. Coloring good. Back on full ventilator due to probable lung infection - so he doesn't have to work so hard - let the machine do it.
Visitors: Thom Lyttle, Rosemary Kinkead, other Aunt Mary Gardiner, Alana, Chance, Brad, Bonnie, Gretchen, Micah, Zane, Jackie, Darby, Randy, Ahsa's mom, Allie Gardiner, Max, Sarah & Dan Golden, Casey G, Jacob B, Chris, Rachel.
Evening eval - pneumonia being treated with antibiotics; Lydocaine stopped because no sign of heart fibrilations, no retinal response, no pain response (still heavily sedated). No idea of "residual effects" until he is off sedation. Will test in morning. Brain swelling but "not  timely" to do CT scan yet - no hematomas. On auto-cooling blanket with temperature monitor to try and break fever. Being given Tylenol also. Worried about liver functions (Tylenol shouldn't cause problems). Monitor liver & kidney functions according to schedule. Will start internal feeding tomorrow.

The visitors were mostly Brian's friends. Rosemary is his paternal grandmother. Mary Gardiner is Marshall's sister and Allie (Ali) is her youngest daughter, who is Brian's age. Some of the kids had known Brian nearly all his/their life/lives. Others were newer. Their devotion and commitment to bringing him back was extraordinary. I don't remember this day. I was awake for so many hours, days, at first, that it is a total blur. I didn't even change out of whatever weird clothes I had on for about three days. We "camped" in one of the conference rooms in ICU. The hospital staff were so very kind and patient with us. We literally took over the waiting rooms.