January 6, 2006
January 6, 2006 | Updates
Just a quick update to let everyone know that Samuel is slowly recovering from his RSV and pneumonia. He still has quite the runny nose and cough and is a little sick to his stomach, but he is improving steadily.Mostly, I wanted to post the following story about the one surviving coal miner from the accident this past week. What amazes me about it is that his doctors are being quick to get him hyperbaric treatments to help with his brain injury because his injury was caused by carbon monoxide and that is one of the conditions for which insurance will pay for hyperbarics. It is absolutely insane that they don’t do the same for near drowning, hanging or choking victims. It certainly shows that there is good evidence that hyperbarics helps the brain recover. But, the sooner after the accident, the better. And the doctors of kids like Samuel won’t ever even recommend it. It is SO frustrating! Anyway, here’s the story:
Surviving Miner Is in Coma, Doctors Say
By VICKI SMITH
PITTSBURGH (AP) - The lone survivor of a coal mine explosion that killed 12 other miners was moved Thursday to a Pittsburgh hospital to undergo oxygen treatment, hospital officials said.
Randal McCloy Jr. was in a coma and appeared to have suffered brain damage, according to a doctor. He arrived at Allegheny General Hospital after being taken by ambulance from West Virginia University’s Ruby Memorial Hospital, said Tom Chakurda, a spokesman at Allegheny.
Weather conditions did not allow him to be flown to Pittsburgh, Chakurda said.
“Mr. McCloy’s organ systems have responded fairly well to the treatment he has received over the last 36 hours at WVUH,” said Dr. Larry Roberts, director of WVU’s trauma center. “His left lung is no longer collapsed. But we have not seen the neurological improvement we would like to see.”
McCloy, 26, of Simpson, was rescued early Wednesday after being trapped in the Sago Mine near Tallmansville for more than 42 hours. Twelve other miners died.
McCloy was struggling with the effects of oxygen deprivation to his vital organs, including his brain, and remained in a coma, Dr. John Prescott said Thursday at the WVU hospital.
Prescott said McCloy’s coma is not medically induced and that drugs initially used to sedate him are wearing off.
“We do believe there has been some injury at this point to the brain,” Prescott said.
With the consent of McCloy’s family, doctors decided to transfer him to Pittsburgh for hyperbaric oxygen treatment. The treatment helps get oxygen to the body’s tissues, including the brain, and can help increase blood cells to fight infections or promote healing of injuries.
I hope that the treatments help this man. And, hopefully, someday, doctors will know how to help ALL those who are brain injured. For now, we’ll just have to keep doing the best we can with the little knowledge we have 
and the tons and tons of prayers you have all offered up for our little Samuel :-)!
Love,
The Jewkes
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