bmcmo

Spent 5 weeks in a medicinal induced coma in ICU, Had to be cut open from sternum to belly button, temporarily closed up and opened 3x a day to change salt packs that were put in me to draw acids and poison out of me caused by leaking of colon contents. Called in family 3x to say their goodbyes, but kept breathing surprising even the most seasoned doctors. Came out of coma and was sent to rehab hospital to die, but didn't. Main surgeon brought me back to original hospital on the assistance of spouse.
developed fistulas after being closed up, original surgeon moved, found a burn and wound doctor, James Kraatz, who told me he thought he could fix me. He put me on nothing by mouth for 6 months, home for two weeks, in burn and wound ICU for 4 weeks every two months: having 3 surgeries by him on top of the two in rehab and 22 in the 5 weeks I was in coma.
Last surgery was June of 2008, dr. Kraatz fixed the fistulas and a wound vac closed the giant stomach wound in less than a month.

People ask would you do it again or are you glad you did it? Of course I wouldn't do it again based on the outcome of the surgery. Am I glad I did it...well, I'm glad I'm alive.

Anything can happen when you are under anathesia (sic). While your doctor is important....your anathesiologist (sic) is as important.

I had never been overnight in a hospital before the surgery. To tell you it wasn't hell is to lie to you. I have two daughters who were 2nd and 4th grades at that time and being away from them was really hard, one had a nervous breakdown, my youngest cried a lot, her not so understanding teacher told her to buck up she wasn't the only kid having problems.

My wife is a pharmacist and she questioned every med they put me on, I attribute my being here to her and the power of prayer!