Christmas

We want to take this time as we honor our Savior's birth, to thank everyone who has supported our family in thought and prayer over these past months. We are thankful that Aron is still with us, and still recovering. The road ahead will be long and difficult, but we see progress each day. Please continue to hold Aron in your prayers - that he continues to progress in therapy and that his speech will return. We have hope.

Merry Christmas!

The Shubin Family
Tom and Jill
Candace, Tony, and Augie Johnson

meeting outcome

My parents and Aron met with the neurologist this morning. The meeting went well, and Aron will be getting an EEG and an MRI to determine if it is safe to lower the anti-seizure meds. The EEG is scheduled for this Friday, and the MRI will be scheduled soon. The doctor also ok'd stimulants, and my parents will be working today to see what can be introduced.

Therapy continues, noises continue - and he continues to slowly improve. Thank you for your ongoing thoughts and prayers.

slow progress and meeting with a neurologist

Aron is still slowly progressing in therapy. Through the use of heavy equipment, Aron is held in a standing or walking position in attempt to stimulate his central nervous system and get him to hold up his own body. His neck stability continues to improve, and he is regaining some of the strength in his arms. He is also able, with assistance, to do things with his hands and arms. Things he can do with help: touch the top of his head, nose, mouth, and point to the ceiling. His therapist continues to be positive, and recognizes his tiny improvements.

My parents and Aron are meeting with a neurologist on December 14 to discuss possible treatment options. One thing my parents are campaigning for is a reduction in the anti-seizure medication, which can make him apathatic and drowsy. They are also hoping to get a stimulant perscribed, to see if that will aid in his progress during therapy.

We all continue to remain hopeful - each day Aron fights through the fog and participates in therapy, even if his responses are minimal - shows he can understand and he's trying, and that is really all we can ask for right now.

therapy and noise continues

We're all dealing with Aron's situation in our own way - mine has been to stay away and focus on my family - while I'm not at the hospital with Aron, I call my parents each day for the update. My dad is with Aron every day now during therapy and spends time with him in his room and out on the patio.

The progress is slow, but things are still happening - very small things like looking the correct direction when told or doing simple things with his hands. Aron is still making noise, but clear words have yet to form. It is also important that he consistently follows commands - during each session and from day to day.

Aron continues to be physically healthy, and my dad keeps emphasizing how normal he looks.

Please continue to hold Aron up in your prayers, and with him my family, his friends, and Amy.

Thankful

“I always thank God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus.”— I Corinthians 1:4. In the spirit of this season of thanksgiving, I wanted to write a quick post to thank all of you for your continued prayers and support.

I also wanted to share a verse that Aron had just sent me in June. It was something both of us were meditating on:
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 2:1-4.

For me it has been an absolute blessing and an honor to experience the body of Christ at work. The way that fellow believers have come around us, lifted us up, prayed with us, cried with us, and just been there for us has been overwhelming. For me it’s been a beautiful picture of the body of Christ at work, and I know it’s been the same for the Shubins and for Aron’s friends.

I was finally able to get away from school to visit Aron today. He is still tolerating the tilt table and physical therapy really well and has continued to make progress and noise. We played thumb war. He won. I told him how proud we are of him and that he can’t get frustrated but just needs to keep working hard. He gave me a thumbs up and later smiled and squeezed my hand.

Please continue to pray that Aron regains his ability to speak. Once Aron can communicate more clearly, we will better be able to understand his wants and needs.

The Shubins and myself have been so blessed by the kind words of encouragement, the overwhelming outpourings of support, and the continuous prayers and visits from all of you. So thank you.

making noise

Yesterday during speech therapy, Aron started to make noise. The therapist got him to make noise for almost five minutes. Unfortunately, no one was there from my family to witness this, but when the therapist recounted the incident to my dad, she was very excited. Apparently, making noise like this is a first step to regaining speech.

three hours

Aron is doing much better after his cold.

He's continuing to receive therapy on the tilt table, and he also spends quite a bit of the day up in a wheelchair. The therapists are working towards getting him to tolerate three hours of therapy a day. By tolerate I mean: staying awake and responsive and maintaining good vitals (pulse and blood pressure). If he can continue to improve and tolerate the therapy he increases his chances of being a candidate for a specialized therapy facility which is where my family REALLY wants him.

Please continue to hold Aron in your prayers.

a cold

Aron has a cold that has been around since this weekend. He's had a fever and some congestion, but things seem to be getting better. Because of this, he hasn't been getting therapy. He spends a lot of time resting, but has been somewhat responsive at times. Please pray for his recovery and comfort.

tilt table

The therapists are now including a tilt table into Aron's physical therapy. This piece of equipment moves Aron into a supported standing position. Aron is not standing on his own, but the table holds him upright. He seems to tolerate it well, and they're going to be using it for the next two weeks. His therapist said that getting his body in an upright position can help to "wake up" the central nervous system. This is exactly what Aron needs - please pray that it works.

playing catch

I just wanted to post really quickly - my dad called me a minute ago to tell me that Aron is playing catch. Jimmy is throwing the ball to Aron from about four feet away, and Aron is catching it. He isn't throwing it back, and he isn't moving too much, but he is catching the ball.

Each day in therapy, Aron does a little more - today he correctly identified letters and he is still working on holding up his head.

In addition to the therapy Aron gets, my parents, Jimmy's parents, and Amy's parents go see Aron often. Since the accident, there hasn't been a day my brother has been without a visitor. My parents firmly believe that everyone's commitment to him is a contributing factor to his progress.

Please continue to hold Aron in your prayers.

Hi

Last week, after a lot of prompting, Aron said his first word in over four months. He said "Hi" to my parents.

It was evening, and Jimmy, Jordan, and Jacqie were with him, trying to get him to talk because his trach was plugged. When the trach is plugged, it allows air to go past his vocal chords, which is what makes speaking possible. He was making some incoherant noises, and then my parents walked in the room. Everyone kept telling him to say "hi" and after a while, a long and shaky "Hiiiiiiiiiii" came out.

This is very exciting news, and until yesterday morning, he didn't say anything else.

Yesterday, an employee at Little Company of Mary went in Aron's room to say hello, and he said hi to her. We found out about this last night.

If there is anything Aron is known for aside from cars and surfing, it's talking about cars and surfing. And just talking in general. We all miss Aron so much, and I've found the silence to be one of the loudest things these past months. Aron always has a running commentary on life, and hopefully this "hi" is just the beginning.

thumb war

Last week, my dad attended a doctor's meeting on Aron's behalf. It was a generally positive meeting - Aron is in good physical health, he is healing from the cranioplasty, and is improving with therapy. He will continue to receive therapy five days a week.

Yesterday, Aron had an appointment with an ENT regarding the trach. For several reasons, it will remain in for the time being, however my parents have begun "plugging" it, or putting on a speaking valve, which will hopefully stimulate his vocal chords and get that part of him working again. He is able to breathe through his mouth and nose, however, not unsupervised.

Therapy happens each day - Aron is asked to identify things, reach for objects, and hold up his head. Positive highlights include him being able to correctly identify 6 out of 7 cards and hold his head up for almost three minutes. The therapists are working on stabilizing his body from the head down, so that he can better participate in different exercises.

Today Aron is being evaluated for acute rehab. My family is unsure if he is ready for this yet or not. Please pray for wisdom and guidance, and that Aron will be in the best place for his treatment.

To explain the post title - we've been trying different things to get through to Aron - coffee beans, dog chew toys, a wrench, his cologne - and of all things, he will participate in a thumb war. He's done this several times with my dad. I can remember doing this a lot as a kid, and even more memorable is "hot hands" - the hand slapping game. Aron isn't quite there yet, but I look forward to writing a post someday with that title.

Please continue to pray for Aron's progress. He is certainly moving in the right direction, just slowly. I saw my brother for the first time in several weeks this past weekend, and I am struck by the improvement he's made. I was reminded of something Amy mentioned in prayer one evening way back when all this was still very new. She asked God to help us love Aron in whatever condition he was in. Through all the ups and downs, the frustration, the sadness - I can honestly say that we love Aron just as much, if not more, than ever before.

Xbox Controller and DVD's

Left to Right:
Jimmy, Amy, Aron, Jordan

On Tuesday,  I saw Aron again, he was awake when I got there, he had his eyes open and was really responsive.  Arons parents brought his xbox controller and when I put it in his right hand he started pressing a few of the buttons, it was very cool to see something that deliberate.  I got to talk to him and he answered a few questions with the new blinking code e.g. one blink for yes and 2 blinks for no.  So he got my shirt color and my hair color correct and he also knew that it was me. All and all it was a good night for progress and we just need more of days like that for Aron to get better.

Last night I saw Aron as well, We got him a DVD player so he can have more direct stimulus that the TV.  (Thanks Gonzo for the deal on the DVD player! ). I put on Ocean's 11 because I knew Aron would recognize the movie.  From the look of his reaction he did.  He was starring intently for a while and then in true Aron fashion fell asleep after 30 minutes.

What we need from Aron now is to keep working on physical therapy, when he has his appoinments a big portion of them is working on his neck muscles to support his head.  Muscle atrophy is to be expected and something Aron must overcome to recover.  When you see Aron please give him words of encouragement and stay positive.  Thank you for all your prayers and support.

-Jordan

Back at Little Company of Mary

Aron and his famous double-burger + hotlink


On Monday, Aron was moved back to Little Company of Mary.  He still has a bit of swelling from the surgery but looks good.  He had his eyes open when I came to visit.  He was doing well when we asked him to do specific tasks.  He can turn his head towards your voice, he can answer questions by blinking three times and he even wiggled his foot.  We hope to see more progress soon as the stress his body underwent on the surgery subsides.  His blood sugar was a little high and we expect to him become a bit more active when it comes back to normal ranges. Thanks for all your prayers!

-Jordan

surgery a success

Aron's surgery is successfully completed. The piece of skull fit into place and there were no complications. Aron is resting in recovery right now.

My family, Amy and her family, Aron's friends, and ARON all thank you for your continuous prayers.

Cranioplasty this Thursday

Aron will be undergoing a reconstructive cranioplasty this Thursday, September 23. God has been faithful and answered our prayers so far: Aron is 30% responsive, he has had no infections, and he continues to improve. This surgery will restore the balance of fluid and tissue in Aron's head, and protect him from further injury. Your prayers right now mean more than ever, and Amy and my family have included a list of specific things that are crucial. We know God hears us and that He loves my brother.

Please pray for:

peace and calm for Aron
the skill of Dr. Lin and Dr. Owen, that God would guide their hands
quick surgery with no complications
no post op infection or bleeding of the brain
that the pieces of skull would fit well and not be rejected, but regenerated
quick awakening from anesthesia.
a turning point in Aron's recovery, that we would see rapid increases in the speed of Aron's progress and that this would be a positive step towards full and complete recovery

Thank You Priority One Ambulance..!

Yesterday Aron was transported to Kaiser Lakeview in Anaheim for his Pre-Op appointment and is scheduled for surgery there next Thursday, Sept, 23 at 11:00am. The surgery is to reattach pieces of Aron’s scull that were removed to protect his brain and allow more room to expand/heal. This is an answer to so many prayers and we have all been amazed by Aron’s progress. Thank you Joshua and Elizabeth at Priority One Ambulance for a safe transport…!

Last night while visiting Aron I asked him to follow some very specific commands while is propped up his right arm and wrist:

“Make a tight fist with your right hand” He did…

“Point your index finger while keeping your fist closed” He did…

“Hold up two fingers” Right on….

“Now three fingers” Good…

“Can you show me four “ Perfect….

“ Now open your hand and show me all five fingers” When Aron opened his hand I gave him a big high five…!

After completing this sequence of commands twice within five minutes Aron seemed worn out but alert, so I told him about my day, and Jacqie showed him pictures of His trip to Europe with Amy….. There’s nothing like spending time with a good friend.

Psalm 40:1
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.

Some Specific things to Pray for: A successful surgery, Speedy post-op recovery, Continued progress with physical therapy, full recovery.

-Jimmy

Three months and a day later…

The Shubin family and I thought it would be good to clarify a few things. I keep getting asked if Aron is “awake” yet. Although Aron still has a long way to go, the word “coma,” which is characterized by extreme unresponsiveness, probably doesn’t accurately describe his current state. To us, it seems more accurate to describe him as being in a state of “limited consciousness.” It just seems like Aron comes and goes. There are times when his eyes are open, and he seems very alert and responsive. There are other times when his eyes are open, but he is not fully comprehending his surroundings or responding to stimuli.

Over the weekend Aron continued to move his toes, legs, and fingers in response to commands. He has even been able to point two fingers when he is asked. When I was leaving on Sunday afternoon, we asked Aron to wave goodbye. He wasn’t able to wave his whole hand, but he distinctly waved his thumb up and down. He also seems to be gaining better control over his fingers. As I sit there holding, squeezing, or caressing his hand, he will respond by squeezing back or moving his thumb up and down my hand. All of this takes a lot of effort, and often wears Aron out so that he goes into a state that is less alert.

It’s difficult to be patient as he comes and goes, but we need to be reminded of how far he’s come and how faithful God has been in the midst of our pain. My friend Jeff reminded me of how present God has been throughout this whole journey. He wrote me, “He was there when Aron had a 50/50 chance; He was there when Aron stabilized; He was there when Aron squeezed your hand and opened his eyes; He was there when Aron went off the ventilator; He was there when we prayed and cried; He is there now and will continue the good work He started. The Lord is there for His people.”

The last few months feel like years to me, and it’s easy to start feeling weary. I need to keep remembering that God has not abandoned Aron or me or the Shubin family. He will continue to show Himself faithful, whatever the outcome. Thank you to everybody for your constant encouragement and prayers.

-Amy

Psalm 46:1-3; 10-11—God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging… “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

progress!

Today Aron had an appointment with the neurosurgeon and was transported via ambulance from San Pedro to Anaheim. Transport went smoothly, and he even took a bit of a nap during the ride.

I don't know where to start to report on the appointment other than it went as well as we could have hoped. Aron responded to the doctor with hand squeezes, opening his eyes on command, and moving his toes on command. He was responsive and the doctor saw it! My dad told me the doctor was smiling and clearly saw Aron's progress. So clearly, in fact, that she is requesting aggressive physical therapy and a crainoplasty.

While no one, including the neurosurgeon, can predict outcome, one thing is certain - he is improving. I am united with my family and Amy and her family, in the belief that our prayers are being answered.

The above picture is a Nova at a northern California Nova event - hundreds of stickers were handed out and placed on cars and get well posters were signed for Aron. There was a moment of silence and prayer as people who share Aron's passion petitioned God's love and healing for one of their own.

Sunshine

I saw my brother this weekend for the first time in several weeks. It's hard not to see him for long stretches because I rely on other people for updates, but at the same time, I get to see his progress more dramatically. As Amy mentioned in her post last week, the biggest change is in how alert and awake he is.

My mom and I arrived yesterday to find him with his eyes open. Recently, his open eye moments have been much more frequent, and yesterday, he spent the majority of the time with eyes wide open. Sometimes he looks at us, sometimes he looks at the tv, and he seems to really focus on pictures when we show them to him.

Accomplishments lately include: pointing his finger on command (he only did it once, but he did it fairly quickly after I showed him what I wanted him to do), moving his legs on command (thank you Jimmy!), and generally following commands more frequently. The nurses and therapists will tell us "he squeezed my hand when I asked" - it's nice to know other people are having success with commands as well.

Today was the first day Aron has been outside in almost three months. After a lot of maneuvering, Aron was outside on the patio. It is a beautiful day today, and it was nice to be able to spend some time with him in the fresh air with fewer disturbances. Some friends from church and Griffiths Middle School visited, and he did a thumbs up a couple of times for them, one time almost immediately after I asked.

These recent developments have me thinking. He can hear us, that is certain, and he is sometimes able to act upon what we tell him. Now more than ever, is the time to speak positively to him. We've been encouraging him each time we see him with his eyes open. We tell him he is getting better, that he needs to keep trying, and how much we love him.

Every evening, my mom is at the hospital, and there is almost always someone there from our family or Amy on the weekend. If you want to spend some time alone with him, he doesn't have people with him on weekday mornings and early afternoons. If you're there with him, this is what we'd like to request: speak positively - it is ok to tell him he had a a skateboard accident, but be sure to tell him he is getting better. If you'd like to try to get him to follow commands, stick to simple things and stay on the same one (for example, don't ask him to do hands, legs, ect, all at the same time, just work on one thing and keep repeating yourself.)

As far as prayer: my family, Amy and her family, and Aron's friends are appreciative of everyone's constant support. Specific things to pray for now: first and foremost that the function in Aron's brain is restored. We are also advocating that Aron be approved for more therapy now that he is more awake, please pray that he is approved for this and can benefit from the extra stimulation. We feel Aron is very close to being considered for relocation to an advanced rehab facility. Please pray hard that Aron can wake up enough to be transferred to rehab. When we compare where we were a month ago, Aron has made major progress - please pray for progress progress progress.

On a personal note: lately random memories of Aron have been popping into my head, things I haven't thought of in years - his escapades with explosives and the time he almost blew up the pool, the summer he decided to learn how to ride a unicycle, the time we were pulled over and almost arrested on Christmas day night (remember, Jordan?), the time he decided to stop brushing his hair to see if he could grow dreadlocks (there were three), the bowling scores and quarter mile times he would stick to the fridge, following him down double black diamond runs - I could go on forever. I realize that many people reading this blog have all kinds of memories with him too. I ask that when these things do pop into your head, that you send up a prayer rather than getting sad. It's what I'm trying to do rather than sinking into my sadness. We all miss him so incredibly much.

Praying for Miracles

After being at school all week, I was able to see a big improvement in Aron’s alertness. He has been opening his eyes for longer periods of time and is now better able to track our movements when he is alert. Also, when we ask him to look at us, he will turn his head and focus his eyes on our faces. I also feel that Aron is sometimes able to recognize who we are.

For yes or no questions, we have been working with Aron to nod and shake his head appropriately. It still takes a lot of effort and is a work in progress, but he is improving. On Saturday, the nurses got to see Aron alert. He tracked their movements with his eyes, squeezed their hand on command, and gave a thumbs up in response to a question. Although none of this is new to us, it was good for the staff to get to see Aron’s progress for themselves. To them, our observations do not mean much until they witness it.

Aron has now been off the ventilator for almost a week. He no longer is on the cool aerosol but instead has a tube of oxygen, which is one of the last steps before being completely disconnected from any breathing tubes. The next step is to take him off the trach, when he is able to breath through his nose and mouth. When the respiratory therapist plugs the trach to test this, Aron has trouble breathing through his nose and mouth because of an obstruction in his airway. This could either be from his tongue or from the trach itself. There are different types of trachs, and they are going to try a speaking trach so that he will be able to swallow on his own. Once Aron is off the trach, he will have to move to a different facility. We are hoping that Aron will be more alert before he is able to be off the trach. In which case he will be able to transfer to a better facility that is more equipped for rehabilitation.

Please continue to pray that Aron will become more alert and more responsive, especially before they take him off the trach, and he is forced to move to another facility. Also, Aron’s parents are advocating for insurance to allow him to have a cranioplasty, a surgery that will replace the part of his skull that was removed to relieve the pressure in his brain. Please pray that Kaiser will approve this surgery with the doctor we want. Right now Aron’s brain is vulnerable and mostly unprotected without the skull cap on his forehead. We all will feel more comfortable after the cranioplasty.

I was reminded by our pastor today in our church sermon that we should be praying for miracles both in and through this situation. Meaning that we should continue to pray for healing and full restoration, but also for miracles in our own lives and the lives of others touched by Aron—that we would grow in love and patience and that others would come to know the Lord. Thank you again for your support and prayers, especially to those who have come alongside us as encouragement and comfort.

—Amy

Psalm 130—Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Cool Aerosol

Since Tuesday Aron has been off the ventilator, he is going through a a cool Aerosol trial. This is a combo of oxygen and normal saline. Right now he is on 20% oxygen but the machine has not breathed for him since Tuesday! Normally, when they transition a patient from a ventilator to the cool Aerosol, they know within about 30 min if they can tolerate it. Aron made it past that mark and is still going strong. Last night Jimmy and I went down to see him and he had his eyes open again. I noticed he can track with his eyes far better now than last week. Jimmy brought Aron some Starbucks coffee beans, and it seemed that Aron could smell them (Aron Loved himself some coffee). Once again, we are thankful for progress that brings Aron a little closer to us each day.

Please keep praying! Thank you all for your support.

-Jordan

Engine Firing Order Sparks Response

1…8…4…3…6…5…7…2

For most those numbers don’t mean much, but to Aron that sequence is engrained into his mind. Those numbers constitute the engine firing order for a small block Chevy, and they sparked a response for Aron. Tom, Aron’s dad, asked Aron to keep his thumb down for an incorrect answer and raise his thumb for the correct answer. He gave Aron the number order and asked if that was a phone number, and I could see Aron firmly pressing his thumb down. Then Tom asked if that was the engine firing order, and Aron resolutely raised his thumb.

We were all very excited and were praising Aron and telling him that he’s doing a great job and making us happy. Then Aron decided to open both his eyes wider and try to stick his tongue out—it seemed as though he was excited that we were happy and wanted to do all the things that make us happy at once!

We continued to ask Aron similar questions—what year is your race car, what day is your birthday, what year is your wagon, etc. For the most part Aron continued to correctly answer the questions, but after a while he seemed to get tired and his responses got slower and slower.

Aron had his eyes open for quite a bit, and we put his glasses on to help him see better. It seems like he is able to follow our movement a bit more. We asked him to nod his head if he could see me, and he attempted to do so. We’ve been working with him to nod his head “yes” and shake his head “no.” When we ask him to, it’s clear that he’s trying, but it takes a lot of energy and is still difficult.

As far as the weaning off the ventilator, Aron has been doing well but still has a little ways to go. He was able to successfully tolerate a gradual lowering of the breath rate on the ventilator from 16 all the way to 4—and able to compensate by initiating his own breaths. The next step is to put him into CPAP—a mode where he is hooked up to the machine but is breathing on his own. The last few days they have put him into CPAP, but he was not able to tolerate it. They moved him back to 6 breaths per minute because his breaths were too shallow and not consistently high enough. So please keep praying that they can finish weaning Aron off the ventilator.

On a personal note, I am moving to Malibu to start Law School at Pepperdine tomorrow. This has been a prayerful decision, and I feel a peace that law school is still where God is calling me to be. I also believe that Aron would want me to continue to pursue my dreams and passions. In many ways this is a leap of faith for me. As badly as I want to be there for Aron everyday, I’ve realized that whether I am at the hospital or not, Aron continues to remain in God’s hands. I will come home on the weekends as often as possible to still support Aron. Thank you to everybody who has prayed for this decision and helped me process everything that is happening. Also thanks to everybody who has continued to visit Aron. He needs friends and family now more than ever, and I know that if he could thank you, he would.

Please keep praying and trusting the Lord. Thank you all for your comments and encouragement. I love hearing stories of how God is working in the midst of this tragedy. I feel like it gives us glimpses into God’s bigger picture and plan even in the midst of our pain.

Psalm 27:13-14—I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

-Amy

Open Eyes - Once, Twice, Thrice

Today when I went to see Aron, he had his both eyes open. I was able to talk him through a few commands and he responded. He was able to flatten his hand out a few times and when I asked him to blink 3 times, he also responded. Then asked him to blink 5 times and he got to 4. After all that activity, you could tell he was taxed so we gave him a break.

Later on that evening, he opened his eyes again, I was looking into both eyes and asked "Aron, its Jordan. If you can see me, blink three times hard." Almost immediately, he blinked three times! It was a determined and decisive action. Needless to say, it was hard to contain our excitement after his response.

Things like this are truly answers to prayer. We need to remember that Aron continues to show marked improvement and not to despair. Keep on praying and have faith, it helps more than we can know.

Love you Aron, and I can't wait to talk to you.

-Jordan

Thumbs Up and Tongue Out

Today Aron gave us a “thumbs up” on command. This is great progress and is a reflection of his increasing ability to respond quicker and in a more controlled manner.

I want to explain a little of the context of his responses to give everybody a better understanding of where Aron is at in terms of progress. We spend long hours at the hospital talking to Aron and encouraging him, and occasionally we get moments where he is more alert and able to respond. Much of the time Aron just seems to be resting, so we play music for him and do our best to take care of him through range of motion etc.

The good news is that although it still takes lots of time, Aron has been responding quicker than before. Initially it literally took hours of asking and encouraging just to get him to move his thumb. Now he sometimes wiggles his thumb within a minute. For Aron to give the “thumbs up” today I first asked him to wiggle his thumb, and after he did that I asked him to give a “thumbs up.” Then I explained that he needed to straighten his thumb and curl his fingers into a fist, and he slowly and deliberately followed my instructions within just a couple minutes.

As I was writing this, I just heard from the Shubins that Aron stuck his tongue out on command! The first time he stuck it out, then yawned and did it again, as if to show off. Jill said it seemed like he was happy to be able to do something that made them happy. Aron also has been opening his eyes a few times throughout each day. It still takes lots of effort, but he’s doing it.

On another brief note, Aron has a blood clot in his right arm. It’s not in an artery, which is good, but it’s still a concern. He also had an organism in his blood, but he is being given antibiotics. The doctors now think the organism was in his picc line because once they removed the line, they couldn’t detect the organism in his blood anymore.

Please keep petitioning God for miracles—for returned function to Aron’s brain, and increased ability to respond, and that God would be glorified.

Isaiah 26:3-4—You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the rock eternal.

-Amy

quick update

I just wanted to let everyone know how Aron's doing - I know people check this blog daily. This past weekend we saw improvement in the time it took Aron to respond to a command ("move your thumb", "raise your arm"). He also had a lot of open eye moments. The open eye moments don't necessarily correspond with the command following moments - it seems like right now one thing is about all he can handle at a time.

Last night, we think he responded to a question with eye blinking. A therapist was working with Aron, and he had his eyes open. The therapist said, "blink if you hear your mom" and Aron blinked in rapid succession. We are hoping and praying that this was a response, and that we will see more of this type of behavior.

Please continue to pray for my brother - we feel he is making progress, and he needs to continue along this path. We remain hopeful and positive. We just need to keep reminding ourselves to be patient.

Slow but steady

The last few days Aron has continued to open his eyes. Yesterday he started opening them for longer periods of time—for 10 or 20 minutes at once multiple times throughout the day. His eyes are not all the way open, and he is still fighting to blink them open. He is building up stamina. It seems like he is looking at us but not quite tracking or following us yet. Also, Aron has continued to respond occasionally to commands. Other times he is just too drained and tired to exert any more effort. So we all need to be patient with him.

Today, Candace, Jill and I met with the doctors and staff at Little Company for our first “monthly meeting” to discuss our concerns as well as Aron’s progress. Overall, the meeting went well. We were able to express concerns regarding: Aron’s picc line; providing more padding on his bed so he doesn’t cough and hit his head; his blood sugar, which has been high and low sporadically; and a variety of other issues.

There are a couple positives to take from our meeting. Firstly, Aron’s doctor told us that he doesn’t think Aron’s brain was ever cut off from oxygen. This is different than what the neurosurgeon said—she thought his gasp-like breathes after his fall weren’t sufficient and called his injury anoxant as well as traumatic. However, this doctor said that since Aron’s heart never stopped, the blood going to his brain was still carrying oxygen.

Secondly, the doctors and staff are trying to wean Aron off the ventilator. There are three settings. Aron was on the strongest ventilator setting that completely breathed for him, but now he is on the middle setting, which allows him to breath over the ventilator. The doctor said that he could be off the ventilator in just a couple weeks. Then they will reassess removing the trach, since he has to be able to cough and clear his lungs on his own, or he could develop pneumonia again.

We thought that we should break down a list of specific prayer requests, so that all of you know what to be praying for. Please pray:

1. For God to restore the neurological function to Aron’s brain.
2. For no infections or bed sores.
3. That Aron will be able to respond more consistently, not only for us but also for the staff—to commands as well as to painful stimuli.
4. That the swelling in Aron’s brain keep subsiding.
5. That Aron would be able to open his eyes all the way for longer periods of time—that he would be able to follow us with his eyes and really be able to see (right now everything is probably fuzzy and unclear to him).
6. That Aron can get off the ventilator and the trach.
7. For the nurses, staff, and doctors—that they would have wisdom and a sense of responsibility to fulfil their duties and take good care of Aron (even if it’s just turning him on schedule so he doesn’t get bed sores).
8. For all those touched by Aron and this situation—that they would know Jesus and His power.
9. We will keep pray for healing, restoration, and mercy, but ultimately our prayer is that God will be glorified.

Again, the Shubin family, Aron’s friends, my family, and I cannot even fully express our gratitude for all of your prayers and support. It really is encouraging to hear from so many different people. Aron is so loved—it’s overwhelming to think that God loves Aron even more than we do, and we can trust that God has a perfect plan in all of this, even though we don’t understand it.

Jeremiah 29:11-14—"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord..."

-Amy

six week update

I just wanted to write briefly to update everyone on how Aron's doing. This past week, each day, he opens his eyes for brief periods of time. It seems each day we see an increase in open eye moments. When he does open his eyes, it is usually for a few minutes, and sometimes he looks around the room. He also continues to respond to some basic commands, sometimes more quickly than others. Today he was asked to raise his arm, and he did it right away.

The next thing we hope to see is Aron being able to answer simple yes and no questions with a head nod, and to follow people around the room with his eyes. Please continue to keep Aron in your prayers as he works toward regaining consciousness.

My family, Amy and her family, and Aron's friends all appreciate your comments, however we don't always know who you are by your username. If you do leave comments, please sign your name so we know who you are, and so hopefully when Aron reads this blog, he will know also.

Trusting

Aron has continued to progress. We keep getting reports from the nurses that he has been partially opening his eyes when they move him or suction his lungs. Today he opened his eyes halfway for my mom and I. He also moved his thumb on command a couple times and lifted his arm on command once. Aron is struggling to come back to us. Thank you all for your constant prayers and support, as we continue to trust in the Lord.

On a personal note, last Monday the girls in my family attended a women’s Bible study at our church, King’s Harbor. The study was on Habakkuk—on remembering God’s faithfulness, waiting, and trusting God in the midst of tragedy. The Lord really spoke to me through the message, and I think it might be helpful for others who are likewise hurting and missing Aron. Like all of you, I am so heart broken by all of this and want Aron back so badly. This was not what Aron and I were planning for our summer. But I am trying to pour out my brokenness, my doubts, and my pain to the Lord and trust that He is faithful.

Habakkuk 3:19—The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.

Here’s the link to a synopsis of the message:

http://khcwomeninministry.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/refuge-tunnel-vision-2/

There is also a link to the recording of the message at the bottom of the page, or you can click here to listen to it: http://www.box.net/shared/jp7ikz9989

five weeks later

The past few days, Aron has worked very hard to come back to us. I should preface this post by saying that he is still in a coma. While he moves around and is aware of visitors, he is not yet awake. He has moments of what seem like wakefulness - he will move a thumb for Amy or move his eyelids when we play music.

Yesterday, my mom was working with him, and three times, he lifted his arm when she asked. The third time, his hand got caught on a pillow, but he still made an effort to move it. Also yesterday, my family noticed him moving his eyelids more than usual, and began to cheer him on and encourage him to open his eyes. He did, for a moment, and just a tiny bit. We wanted to wait to post about this until he did it again.

Today, my mom, dad, and I were with him. My mom started working with him and asking to lift his arm. Nothing was happening. We noticed his eyes moving a lot - it looks like he wants to blink. We started asking him to open his eyes, telling him he could do it, that we were there for him. We cheered and encouraged, and a very determined expression was on his face. I don't know how to explain it other than it was clear to all of us that he was trying very hard. His eyes were quivering, his face clearly showing the struggle. It looked so difficult that we started telling him it was ok, we knew he tried and that was enough. Just after that, to our great joy - he opened his eyes about half way. He kept his eyes open for about five minutes, halfway, blinking. We told him the date, that he had had an accident on his skateboard, and that he is getting well. This tremendous effort exhausted him and once he closed his eyes, we thanked him and reassured him some more.

The doctors have told us this would be a slow process. We now understand what that means. It is important that Aron wake up, and today was the first step. It happens little by little, and we are grateful to God for the progress he made today. Our family, Amy's family, and Aron's friends are thankful for your continued prayers.

Update

We continue to be uplifted by small steps in the right direction. Amy has been with Aron the past several days and he continues to respond to her by moving his thumb. Today, while Amy and Linda were in the room with him, Aron stretched and almost sat up in bed, holding that position for a while.

Later this evening, my dad, mom, and I visited. Today, dad recorded Aron's race car engine revving, as well as Mandy barking. We brought the recording on an iPod, and Amy was putting in the earbuds - to do this, she had to move Aron's head to the side, and in the process, she was squeezing his chin. This is when we believe something pretty major happened - Aron lifted his hand towards his head. This is called localizing. So far, Aron responds to pain, but localizing is the next step - it means he is seeking out the source of the pain or discomfort rather than just moving away from it. I watched this happen from the foot of the bed, and got chills all over.


We are so thankful for this progress - it is small, but we have to start somewhere. My family is so grateful for all the prayer support of everyone across the globe - we continue to hear of someone who has brought Aron's situation to their church or prayer chain - be it here in the United States or in Bolivia. We know God hears every prayer and we trust His plans for Aron's life.

Candace

Thanking God for the little things

Good news today! Aron responded to me!!! We are so excited and are praising God for this miraculous step in the right direction.

I asked Aron to move his thumb, and he did—at least a dozen times. The movement was isolated to his thumb. He didn’t move any other part of his body or arm, and it wasn't a twitch. I also asked him to move his fingers, and he did. The responses were not always immediate. Sometimes I had to ask a few times, and it seemed like a very concerted effort. At times he would barely move his thumb, and I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it or not. So I would tell Aron he had to move it BIG, so I could see—and he would move it more obviously. Aron is fighting to regain function, and God is answering our prayers. I think that Aron will have highs and lows as far as responsiveness goes. Sometimes he is more alert than others, and we need to remember that his brain is still healing, and he needs time. After responding for several hours, he seemed worn out and wasn’t as responsive. So we gave him a break.

My mom and I kept encouraging Aron and telling him how proud we are of him and how it makes me so happy when he responds. After that I kept talking to Aron and repeating all of the things that we’ve been telling him all along—how much we love him, that we’re all praying for him, and that we want him to come back to us. As I was holding his hand, Aron continued to move his fingers occasionally. To me it seemed like it was in response to what I was saying. He would move his thumb or repeatedly squeeze my hand, and I kept telling him that when he did that I knew he was hearing me and responding. He also squeezed my hand when I played music for him and talked about Mandy and how much she misses him. Everybody keeps telling us this will be a long process, so I am trying to prepare myself and keep the right perspective.

This definitely is not how I pictured coming home, and I know Aron had different plans that would have made us both immeasurably happy. But I keep thinking of one of the verses Aron wrote on his mirror: Proverbs 19:21—Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

I appreciate everybody’s encouragement and prayers so much—more than words can express. No matter what happens, Aron is in the palm of God’s hand. He is faithful, and we will continue to trust the Lord with childlike faith.

-Amy

July 5th

Today Aron was moved to The Little Company of Mary a sub acute care center in San Pedro. The move went smoothly and while Jacqie and I were there the nurses were getting Aron settled in to his new room. I'm not actually sure what the visiting hours are but they do have a two visitor per room rule which they don't seem to be enforcing at this time. Aron seems to be doing about the same and his swelling is slowly getting better. We are all Praying the God will heal Aron and full his mind.

Little Company of Mary

1322 west 6th st

San Pedro Ca 90732

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

-1Peter 5:10-11

We love you Aron and we're praying for you constantly...

Jimmy

Waiting on the Lord

Yesterday, we got the results from Aron’s MRI. The good news is that, as expected, Aron’s brain has been healing. This MRI compared to one from a week ago showed decreased bruising and less blood. It did, however, show damage to the left side of Aron’s brain stem. Since the brain stem is so small and dense the doctor doesn’t know exactly what area is damaged or how it will affect him. The bleed in his brain stem, like the rest of his brain, has been healing.

The real question is not whether or not his brain will heal but is how his brain will function. So we need to be praying not just for healing but for restoration—that God will fully restore the function to his brain.

We are yet to get Aron to respond to verbal commands to squeeze our hands or wiggle his fingers, and all of his arm and leg movement has been characterized as reflexes rather than responses by the doctors. However, today Tom, Jill, my dad and I were all watching, and suddenly Aron stretched his arms and flexed his hands, which is different than the reflexes and twitches we’ve been seeing. We’re not sure exactly what this means, but we’re hoping it’s a good thing.

Kaiser has been trying to move Aron to a sub-acute facility. They were planning on moving him today, but he got a low-grade fever (now he’s fine), so Aron will probably not move until early next week. So check the blog before heading out to visit. Tom and Jill have looked at different facilities and have chosen Little Company of Mary in San Pedro.

That’s all the updates for now. We are continuing to wait on the Lord and look toward Him for a miraculous healing and restoration of function to Aron’s brain. Only He is able, and our hope is in Him. Thanks again for all of the prayers and encouragement.

-Amy

Psalm 62:5-8—Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.

Hope

I want to thank everybody for all of their love, prayers, and support for Aron, his family, friends, and myself. While I was finishing up at Oxford, it was comforting for me to know how many people Aron had surrounding him and praying for him.

I want everybody to know the full situation, so that if God does choose to heal Aron, the honor and glory goes to Him alone. The doctors are telling us not to expect a full recovery and that we should be happy if he opens his eyes and recognizes us.

But I keep reminding myself that to a certain extent, what the doctors say does not matter. Our hope is in Jesus. I fully believe that He can perform a miracle and completely heal and restore Aron to us, if it is His will. If Aron is restored in this life on earth, it will be a miracle that comes from God alone—to Him be the glory. Only He has the power to heal Aron. I continually pray for that miracle, that Aron will be restored to us and that he will wake up praising God. Keep hoping in the Lord. He is faithful.

Isaiah 40:31— “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

-Amy

June 29, 2010

Aron was successfully transported to Kaiser Lakeview. Yesterday he was taken in for another CT scan which according to the doctor showed no signs of irreversible brain damage! While this is great news the doctor followed by saying that a CT scan is not as accurate as an MRI and the injuries Aron has suffered will take time to heal. Aron is not yet responding to verbal commands which could be attributed to the swelling of his brain which is slowly improving.

It's difficult to understand the lessons God is teaching all of us with Aron, we must Pray for God's wisdom to guide us in this difficult time, Pray that Aron starts responding to verbal commands such as "squeeze my hand or lift your arm", Pray for comfort for Aron's Family & Amy, and God will be Glorified.

Most of you already know that Amy is home from Oxford where she has completed her Masters Degree. Congrats Amy..! We love you and we're all glad to have you home.

Jimmy

Patience

This weekend Aron has held on strong. Each day he seems more and more responsive. Not just to touch, but to voices in the room. He is moving more and more, for now its small moments, but we will take those! He had a slight fever and that has broken for now. Once again he has no spine or spinal cord damage. This is Aron's time now to get better, his body can focus on repairing his brain.

So friends and family wait patiently, he will pull through.

Aron will be moved today from UCI to Kaiser Lakeview. He is stable so the Doctors gave the go ahead for the transport. Lakeview is well known for neurology department. He will be in good hands there.

-Jordan

------------

Lakeview Medical Offices

Medical Office Building

411 N. Lakeview Ave.

Anaheim CA 92807

Thursday Update

The results from Aron's MRI did not reveal anything new. Thursday was one of the first days Aron could have woken up, so we still need to patient. At this point, Aron is a "light coma" and he will wake up when his brain has repaired. We need to remember he did suffer massive trauma and this could take some time. Its up to Aron now. We need to keep positive and keep praying!

Wednesday

Today we got some exciting news. Dr Lindsky, Aron's neurosurgeon, told us there was brain stem activity and that the prognosis for recovery looks promising! His pupils are dilating "briskly" now as opposed to "sluggish". Aron was also moving a bit more yesterday. His arm moved when the nurse what checking on him, and his eyes opened for a quick second. What an answer to prayer!

Aron is still fighting a bit of pneumonia and his left arm is swollen from a superficial blood clot, they have that arm on a heat pack to get rid of it. Normally these kinds of blood clots can resolve themselves and heat will help speed that recovery.

Aron got an MRI yesterday and we will wait and see what comes next. So keep praying and remain hopeful.

Tuesday

Just talked to Candace, she let me know there has been some more movement from Aron. He bit down on his intubation tube today, and he is reacting to people in the room. Even though his reaction is small, the celebration is huge! He was moving his lips as family and friends spoke to him tonight.

His vitals have remained normal again for another day. So today was one more good day. His brain pressure monitor was also removed today, the doctor stated he no longer needed it. It seems with every day, Aron is slowly being brought back to us. Each day that passes fortifies my faith that Aron will be with us once again. God is good.

I want to thank Candace and her husband Tony for keeping me updated when I could not be near. Thank You! They have a newborn, Augie, and he is awesome!

I also want to thank James and Jackie Fiorillo for helping me maintain this website and supporting Aron's family and myself. And of course, every person praying for Aron. Your comments and your contributions are truly appreciated by everyone close to Aron.

-Jordan

Monday

Today I got to see Aron, with Jimmy Jacqie and Kurt, seeing him today was cathartic. I had not been in the hospital the last few days and felt good to check on my buddy. He looks good, all things considered. Its as if he is in a deep sleep, he just needs more time before he wakes up. I can't wait to talk to Aron again!

His numbers were in normal range today, his heart rate was dropping a bit towards 50 but his blood pressure was still normal. The nurse told us a few causes of lower heart rate, she stated his body could be relaxing more or it could be that he is in less pain. For all we know this may be his normal heart rate, Aron liked to keep in shape. So we just need to be patient, of course easier said then done.

I want to thank everyone once more for the abundance of your prayers and support. His Family and friends are very grateful!

-Jordan

Sunday

Aron had another good day..! Jac and i went to see him this afternoon, and we were able to talk to him and hold his hand. His ICP actually increased a little bit (still in the good range) while we were in the room so the nurse asked us to talk softer. His ICP came down shortly after we left. Aron's is showing small signs of improvements, today his eyes were dilating sluggishly, he had a gag reflex to a procedure to remove fluid to his lungs, and he best of all he had a reaction to a pain test. Aron is getting a lot of love right now thanks to all the friends and family for your thoughts and prayers. Aron would also want me to thank his students for all the letters and posters, Thanks Griffiths Middle School..!

Happy Fathers Day.....

Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.(Psalm 103:13)

Saturday Update

Aron is still holding on strong, he has had good numbers all night. Both pupils are still dilated evenly but very sluggish. Candace mentioned he is have some slight reactions, he had a facial twitch so we are moving in the right direction. We may have some more reactions tomorrow, he just needs more time.

-Jordan

Friday Update

Aron has been taken off the drugs that keep him in an induced coma, he is also on less oxygen than he was yesterday. They have him on sedatives but today he will coming back into a higher state of consciousness. We hope to see reflex reaction as soon as Sunday.

Thanks everyone for your support!

Thursday Night Update

.:Aron With Augie:.

.:Aron with his family on his 27th birthday:.

There was little news today, which is great news. Aron's condition today has been consistent, his ICP number is still in normal range. The aortic filter has not yet been placed. An ultrasound of his abdominal aortic vein was taken today, in preparation for the surgery.

The plan is to take him out of the induced coma tomorrow morning. This does not mean he will just open his eyes, they will take him out slowly and steadily. They expect to have reflex reaction by Sunday.

Jill and Tom just came out of the room with Aron and after they prayed his intracranial pressure had gone from 11 to 9. Awesome!

Thursday Morning Update

Aron had another good night, his intracranial pressure did not step outside normal rage. (7-20mmHg). Today he will be undergoing a preventive procedure for blood clots. They are putting an aortic filter into his heart. Again, a purely preventive measure to catch the unexpected.

Once again thanks to everyone for their support and prayer!

Night Update

Aron's condition has stayed relatively the same throughout the day, his ICP numbers are still in normal range. He is still in his induced coma so he is experiencing the expected side effects.

The doctor stated that early stages of pneumonia are setting in. Once again, this is to be expected, his body is so sedated that his vili, the hairlike structures in your esophagus, cannot expel mucus naturally. They are treating this with antibiotics until they bring him out of the induced coma.

All and all, the MD stated he had another good 24 hours, each day that passes is another small battle won. The family wants to thank everyone of the outpouring of support and prayers, keep them coming we have a long road ahead. Before we left the hospital tonight we all held hands and thanked God for his faithfulness and grace.

-James and Jordan

Morning Update

Aron had another good night in terms of his intracrainial pressure. his number never was above 15mmHg and the last read at 8:50am shows his ICP at 10mmHg.

-Jordan

PM Update

Aron is still in very stable condition and scans are showing that he does have brain activity. To put it in the doctors words we have won a the first battle but not the war... Yet, apparently the doctor doesn't know Aron Shubin very well. Tonight through Thursday night are going to be the most critical for swelling but they are hopeful because so far the doc's have been able to maintain his swelling in the acceptable range for the past 24 hours. Keep the Prayers up tonight through tomorrow. God will show us his power. Amen

Steve's Nova site

Aron loves this site, after word got out about his accident, there has been an outpouring of support from fellow gear heads. He cruises with these nova enthusiasts and talks them all to death about car specs and quarter mile times. If you want to read what his nova buddies are saying check it by clicking --> here.

Today's Update

Aron was strong through the night. His ICP (Inter cranial pressure) stayed low which is a good thing, but it is expected to fluctuate up and down as the brain continues to heal itself. Swelling is expected to peak between 3 and 5 days. So far there have been no major issues. Stay strong Aron our prayers are with you.

post surgery update - Jordan

Aron has had a good intracranial pressure number range since his surgery. He is hanging around 2 mmHg and has a few spikes up to 14mmHg. Normal adult ICP ranges from 7 to 15mmHg. This is very good because it allows for natural bloodflow levels, what the doctors refer to as CPP.

more updates to come...

*mmHg is a unit of pressure used commonly in the medical profession

Recap of events

Yesterday morning Aron's CAT scan showed up with no new swelling, this was good news. However he was no longer responding to a drug named Mannitol to control spikes in his intracranial pressure. The next step was to lower the pressure with a drug called phenobarbital. This was not as effective as hoped for and the next logical step was a surgical solution. The Surgery was supposed to be for 2-3 hours, however the doctors completed their work ahead of schedule and the surgery went as planned. The pressure on his brain was reduced drastically. Now we wait some more to see what happens next.

These are all small steps in the right direction to get Aron back. Thank you for all your support and prayers! The response is overwhelming.

-Jordan

Surgery Results

Aron's surgery went very well! Were not out the woods, but its still very good news.

Surgery

Aron went into surgery about an hour ago. He came out ahead of schedule. The surgery was to help remove pressure on the brain. We will know more soon.

Aron's Accident

On Saturday June 12th, Aron was downhill skateboarding in La Mirada, there was some extra sand on the street, this caused him to lose control of his board. After the impact he starting breathing but was unconscious. 911 was called immediately and it seemed they arrived in no time at all. He was transported to UCI Medical Center in Irvine.

He has suffered severe head trauma and the doctors goal is to reduce swelling in his brain. It seems that his spinal cord has not been damaged. Furthermore, he has no broken bones or anything else contending with his recovery.

It is very serious, but we are hopeful and have faith that Aron will get through this. Your prayers are greatly appreciated by his family and friends in this difficult time.

Update from Todays Cat Scan 6.14.2010:

No new swelling from the last scan, this is good news.