Phantom Enigma

I wanted to let everyone know that my brother, who you guys know as Phantom Enigma, had emergency surgery this morning for a ruptured aneurysm. He made it through the surgery beautifully and is now starting a long recovery. He'll be hospitalized for about two weeks. Though doctors are optimistic about a full recovery, it's going to be a long and rocky process for him. Matters of the brain are always tricky and delicate.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. If you would like to pass along any well wishes, you can either PM them to him or e-mail them to me at arwen.darkbalde@gmail.com.

He'll make it. You can't keep a good viking down.

I hate to hear that but I'm sure he'll make it through to cause trouble amongst the general populace again.

Hope he makes a speedy recovery and his skill at generating names is unharmed.

Here's to a speedy recovery.

Very scary. It's great that everything went as well as possible. Hope everything continues to go well and he's up and at 'em again very soon. I'll be thinking about you all and wishing for the best. Take care.

My thoughts are with you guys!

I'm sure it must have been a rough day, Arwen; "aneurysm" is one of those words you hope never to have cause to learn to spell properly.

Phantom and you will be in my prayers.

Little update as I can... he's doing better... and rowdy as ever... fighting the IVs and such every time he comes even a little outta sedation.

I'm very lucky that Arwen's family is letting me stay with him overnight, so I'm feeding info as it comes. And as she said, the doctors are all very optimistic about everything.

Hope everything keeps going well and everything is back the way it should be soon.

Quick update from my phone - Phantom is awake, off the ventalator and talking. His short term memory is off and the situation hasn't fully set in. I'll post a better update when I am at my computer.

Thank you all for your well wishes!

Glad to hear he's making what sounds like excellent progress!
Here's to hearing that it keeps going that way!

Minor setback today as he was rowdy enough to pull the drain tube out of his head... -_-;; so they have him sedated quite heavily for the next couple of days. He did NOT do any damage to himself however, and the doctors are still very optimistic. He's just a PIA patient.

Karo already posted what I was going to update you with, but I wanted to share some of the more amusing things from when he was awake.

Our youngest brother flew home from NJ last night (he's in the Coast Guard and they gave him emergency leave), and Phantom was quite happy to see him. At one point the nurse asked Phantom if he knew why he was there, and he pointed to our brother and said "He told me I ran head first into the TV." (Little Brother had said nothing of the sort) Phantom has no memory past Wednesday, and he's trying to fill in the gaps by making stuff up, sometimes to humorous results. When I told him it was Friday, he said "That's not possible. What did I do yesterday?" I said "You spent yesterday in a coma and had major brain surgery." He did a fist pump and said "Alright!" :-)

When we got to talk to him today he showed signs that his personality and creativity are still intact. However since the damage is in the frontal lobe, he has no social filters and he said some pretty colorful things. >.>

I want to thank you all so much for the messages you've sent. It means a lot to my family to know that Phantom is being thought of. :-)

Hey Arwen.

I don't think i've ever had the pleasure of grouping with your brother, though I may have and not realized it, but if he's anything like you I know that he is a wonderful person.

I know that well wishes and sympathies are sometimes small and insignificant solace. And in times like this that test our abilities to cope with things we don't like to think about or contemplate, like the injury your brother has survived, we often have to confront the very real fact of our own mortality. Thankfully, it appears that you've all been given a second chance.

But please for his sake and your family's, though I know it is difficult and easier said than done, concentrate on the fact that he has survived. I know that his condition is still uncertain, but focus on the fact that you can still tell him that you love him and see him smile back at you. Treasure that and be thankful that he is young and strong, and I am sure he will come through this.

Nothing but Empathy for him, and you and your family. Best wishes.

Here is to a super speedy and complete recovery!

Not to mention had someone not been at the right place at the right time, the outcome could have been much, much worse. So despite things still being quite unknown and how frightening and emotionally nerve-wracking this all is for Arwen, their family and Kat, I honestly think anyone in such circumstances can't help but feel a certain sense of relief and gratefulness for the extra time granted and that there's hope.

There's no significant news for Phantom today, other than he's responding to commands and questions by giving a thumbs up or thumbs down. He's still progressing nicely, though injuries of this sort are very slow to heal. Doctors are all pleased with what they see. He's also opening his eyes a bit to the sound of my voice, but he's still on a ventilator so he's not going to be fully awake again for a while.

Thank you all so much for your outpouring of well wishes and concern. I was stunned speechless by some of the e-mails and PMs I received. Once again Justice reminds me why it's my virtual home and why I love you all so much.

Brax told me about what had happened and I'm glad he's on his way to recovery. I wish him well in the coming weeks and hope the best for him.

*hugs* still keeping him in my thoughts and hoping for a speedy recovery.

Arwen,
Just came on this news.

I'm glad you're brother is doing as well as he can right now.

Here's to a full and speedy recovery!

To him.. for his health!
To you and the rest of the family and friends.. for your sanity!

Tell him "hi" from everyone here and get well soon!

Cos

All is quiet on the Phantom front tonight. He's still making slow and steady progress, and his prognosis is great. Doc said yesterday that he sees no reason why Phantom won't fully recover.

Again, thank you all so much for your outpouring of concern and well wishes. I've shared them all with my family, and they thank you as well. It means a lot to all of us that so many of you think fondly of Phantom.