Last summary update: 2005/06/21

This summary was last updated on 06/21/2005 and will no longer be maintained. Please check Lewis' daily blog for future updates.

On Saturday, June 11, 2005, Lewis suffered from bleeding in the brain beginning around 10:30am. His body then went into a coma to protect itself. There were no prior warning signs to this.

The bleeding is currently being attributed to AVM, pending further tests at a future point in time. It’s a congenital malformation causing a tangle of some arteries and veins within the brain. Over time they were causing some blockage issues, and on that Saturday, a leak occurred, causing the bleeding.

He was operated on that evening.

At this time he is recovering in the CCU (Critical Care Unit) of Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, NJ.

The AVM was located in the back of the brain, a section attributed to motor skills, balance and coordination. It is not currently known what the extent of the damage was, nor how recoverable any damage will be. However, all signs so far show very positive progress.

Lewis has been able to move all of his limbs, he has been able to write, prove short and long term memory, thumb-wrestle, move his head, watch TV, and was able to talk during the brief-time that the respirator was removed from this throat.

Currently he has no gag reflex and isn’t able to cough well. He can speak however if the tube is removed from his mouth.

His doctor is cautiously optimistic with Lewis’ case. A very similar case just last year had the patient comatose for over a month, and Lewis began being responsive just two days after surgery.

A CAT scan performed on 2005/06/20 showed no additional bleeding. An angiogram is being performed on 2005/06/21 to ensure that there is proper bloodflow.

This summary was last updated on 06/21/2005 and will no longer be maintained. Please check Lewis' daily blog for future updates.