An update on Dylan...

Some of you may know that my 18-year-old brother, Dylan, suffered a stroke last night. I am posting this in hopes to keep our friends and family updated as to his condition. I will start by saying he is doing remarkably well for how much he has been through! Also, forgive me if my details aren't 100% correct. All that I know was pieced together from a number of reports.

Dylan has been complaining of numbness on his right side off and on for about a week. I remember texting him about it as I was in the mother's room at church on Sunday. I jokingly asked if he was having a stroke and asked him if he could think clearly. We determined it must just be a pinched nerve and kind of brushed it off. Last night around 9pm he was getting ready to go to a movie. His girlfriend, Nicole was with him. He collapsed all of the sudden and had no control of his right side, had slurred speech and a painful headache. Nicole (whom I just have to say is amazing) called an ambulance and got him some water and aspirin. He was assessed by the medics, had a normal blood pressure reading and was taken to the ER here in Twin Falls. We got a phone call from my mom & dad, who were already on her way from Hagerman to have Dennis meet grandpa Jim & Nicole at the ER to give Dylan a blessing. Dennis' sister, Kati was over at our house and we were just starting a movie. She offered to watch the girls and I hopped in the car with Dennis.

We got to the ER and waited, and waited, and then they allowed the men to go in and give Dylan a blessing. Soon after, Dylan was showing almost a 100% recovery. He was talking normal and had feeling in his arm and leg. The doctors were debating on whether or not to give him blood thinning medication. They could see a dense mass in the c t scan they gave him. If they were going give it to him they would life flight him to the hospital in Boise because if he were to have any internal bleeding (highly unlikely) they wanted him to be somewhere where they had a neurosergion (we don't in Twin) because bleeding would be very dangerous and he would need surgery right away. They had just decided that they were not going to send him to Boise when he suffered another stroke. They changed their minds and he was sent to Boise via helicopter. En route he had yet another stroke and was admitted to the ICU upon arrival in Boise. My parents and Nicole drove to Boise to meet them there and Dennis and I went home to take care of our girls.

Dylan was given multiple tests just as a precaution because they thought there was a very small chance that he would need surgery on his brain (1-2% chance). He was given an angioplasty to get a better image where they saw the clot, it was a very large blockage and decided to operate immediately to remove it. I have been told that it was stuck in tight and that it would have flat out killed him. Minutes later we may have lost him.

The doctor performed the surgery to remove the clot and the only incision Dylan has is on his leg where they entered the femoral artery. I find that simply amazing that you can operate on the brain through one's leg! The surgery was successful at getting blood flowing through his brain again. He was awake through the surgery because sedation would be too dangerous, but he has suffered few pains and is only taking Tylenol and complaining of hiccups. He is now starting to feel a little sore but we are truly amazed at everything that has happened (or not happened) thus far.

Doctors are still at a loss as to why a healthy 18-year-old like Dylan would suffer such a massive stroke. They suspect he may have a heart defect, possibly a hole in his heart where the clot may have passed through to his brain. They are running multiple tests (involving echoes, bubbles and letters that don't make any sense to me) to try and get to the bottom of it and we hope to hear results over the next few days. He will be in the ICU through tomorrow until the anti-clotting drugs ware off and will be in the hospital for at least a few more days.

My mom said that "as of 1:00 pm, Dylan continues to improve. He can speak, swallow, read, move his right arm and leg (though not at full strength). He will continue to undergo a battery of tests over the next few days, looking for a cause and any damage done... Truly a miracle thus far!!!"

His doctor says he is doing great but not out of the woods yet. They want to be sure they removed all of the clot and figure out what caused it in the first place. Mom and dad will be in Boise for sure through the weekend and I will be traveling up to visit him tomorrow morning since I am taking pictures at a wedding this evening. All in all we feel very blessed that we are surrounded by such awesome people that have helped save my little brother's life. Please continue to pray for Dylan and I will try and keep you updated. I firmly believe that all those that have helped Dylan (from Nicole calling 911, the decision to fly to Boise, the tests ordered, the surgery given...) have been divinely inspired.We know that Heavenly Father is aware of us and hears our prayers!