Update on Raider Ben Featherston

[SmashMouth]

For those that have been following:

(Please continue to pray and give the glory and success of Ben’s condition to God)

11/14/2021
What a beautiful sunny Sunday in Texas.  Ben’s 24th floor room and windows look out over NRG stadium and the iconic Astrodome.  Today is Ben’s 46th day at Texas Children’s and he is slowly improving. 
      We have come a long way in 46 days.  Ben’s multi-system organ failure had him as close to death without touching it as one can be.  Drs have shared that upon arrival, if Ben’s condition was a medical test question, the answer would have been one sentence, “not compatible with sustaining life.”  
     Ben has outlasted the ECMO, ventilators, 10 plus surgeries, reduced IVs from 20+ down to 4-5, chest tubes/drains reduced from 8 to 1.   And today he is alert, awake and last night had 4 phone calls with friends.  
     4 Weeks in an ICU bed without movement zaps ALL your strength.  After starting and stopping and starting Phys Therapy (PT) over the last two weeks, Ben is already recovering a lot of strength and is progressing. 
     In spite of hundreds of tests looking for the origin of Ben’s illness, it has not and probably will never be determined.  Tissue samples were sent all over the country to specialists and yet no identification has occurred.  Many, many diseases and viruses were ruled out, including that the origin did NOT have anything to do with  COVID or the associated vaccines.  
     Likely what strange bug that sent his immune response into overdrive was killed in the first 10 days of his illness, leaving his exaggerated immune response to continue.  Drs see Ben’s originating disease as a one in a million+ chance of happening.  
    Whatever it was (viral, bacterial, food borne, toxic algae, or tick bite) does not change how he is being treated at this point.  Albeit, it would be nice to have some disease name to be pissed at. 
     As you know, Ben’s legs were amputated just above the knees two weeks agosto result of prolonged profound shock and compartment syndrome.  A decision not easily come to, but one at the time necessary to save his life. 
     He is progressing well and Rehabilitation Drs have already been consulted to get Ben back up and running when he is well, including temporary prosthetics as soon as he is strong enough.  
      Challenges remain that keep him in very serious condition, such as antibiotic resistant infections, and getting his stomach/intestines back working.  This is a very delicate thing when a gut has not worked for over a month.  Getting the gut working is key to getting the rest of his organs ( liver, kidneys) functioning normally.  This is a priority, but a very slow process!
     As Cardiac Surgeon Hickey told us early on,  this will not be a day to day thing, it’s a week to week thing.  He was so right, two steps forward, one back.  And this journey will take a long time. 
     Although Ben has fought the ICU delirium, he is much better.  His speech has gotten stronger the last week.  Ben remains in very serious condition, but everyday he gets a little stronger.   
     Ben smiles, jokes and is dealing with losing his lower legs bravely.   He recognizes the instant battle he is in and the longer term battle ahead.  Our hope and unrealistic expectations for recovery are fast, but in reality this will take a while (general healing and then rehabilitation). Week to week, Ben has made incredible progress, some people here and in Beaumont, call it a miracle.  They are right!
Ben recognizes he must keep up the fight with a goal of being back at UT and scuba diving this time next year! Sometimes that is hard when you see how sick he is, but he never wavers when asked to make an effort to get better.  
     Lastly, Ben’s strength and ours is derived from you, our beloved friends, family, Drs and nurses, that fight for Ben every day.  Prayers work with God’s actions through these Drs and nurses hands.  Last night Ben had 4 phone calls and talked with his buddies about food, College, football, and he also told his awesome buddies “I love you.”   Something, weeks ago,  we worried he would never do again.  Now he is sitting on the side of the bed with help and working to get stronger.  And he told the Orthopedic Surgeon (when she told him his stumps looked very healthy) “ then get me a wheel chair and roll me out of here.”
     As I write this the roller coaster continues, his infection attempts to make him more sick and his fever spikes.  We don’t panic any more, we just deal with it.  But compared to 4 weeks ago (relating to  his favorite toy as a kid, character Buzz Lightyear”) we are light years from where were!
     Ben’s body continues to heal and he continues to be strong.  Your love, care outreach, gifts have supplied us with incredible energy and continue to help Ben heal.  As one of his Orthopedic Drs told him “ You are going to have incredible story to tell some day!”   
      “To infinity and beyond!” Thank you and Love to All from the Featherstons

[Hagar]

Prayers to continue for Ben.  Us older adults realize that death is in our relative near future, but for a young man and his family to have to go through this ordeal is so tragic and I can’t imagine the strain.  May God send his healing Angel to Ben and send love and support to the family.

🙏🙏✝️🙏🙏

[KF89]

🙏🙏🙏

[png9mon]

Prayers for God's Healing Perfection!🙏

[SmashMouth]

Thank y’all. This young man is incredible. Your prayers and God’s loving Grace has made all the difference. 

[piratevillain]

Continued prayers for Ben, his family, friends, and the Lumberton community as a whole.❤️

[SmashMouth]

Things have turned. Ben is in dire straits. Needs every prayer we can muster. 

[dj]

12 minutes ago, SmashMouth said:

Things have turned. Ben is in dire straits. Needs every prayer we can muster. 

Praying

[SmashMouth]

13 minutes ago, dj said:

Praying

Thank you. 

[tvc184]

I am sorry to report that Ben passed away not long ago. 

[Walk-off]

Prayers