So many have asked what really happened to my son, Brandon, and have asked how I deal with so many
things that I’ve personally been through in the last couple of years. One friend suggested I just write a
blog and get it out. I asked Brandon about it, and he said he WANTS his story told. As you read this, I
hope you understand this is to explain how a situation, no matter how severe, can get better. Maybe it
will give some of you inspiration.
My son, Brandon, was a very healthy, happy, energetic child. He was diagnosed Diabetic at age 4, which
only brought him and I closer together. We made jokes of how he and I were both diagnosed at age 4,
we are the only Juvenile Diabetics in the family, and even had ‘contests’ to see who could keep their blood
sugars in better control.
Brandon was in the newspaper every year for 5 years, when his school had Veterans Day Breakfast. He
was always pictured with several vets, and everyone enjoyed the time at his school. He went to Diabetic
Camp every year starting at age 5, took Martial Arts classes, and rollerbladed DAILY.
April 2004, at age 11, Brandon was sick. He had suffered from gastroenteritis before, so at the time we
though perhaps he was having the same issues again. After 2 days of being sick, (Saturday April 17,
2004) he did as always when he is sick from this same issue, and asked for Milk and crackers. This time,
he couldn’t hold any of it down.
On Sunday morning (April 18, 2004), Brandon asked for a Pedialyte Pop, took 3 bites and decided to go
back to sleep. He walked into the restroom and all of a sudden, we hear noise. Brandon’s dad ran into
the restroom, Brandon looked at him, then passed out.
Calling 911 immediately, I was in a panic. Paramedics arrive, and Brandon is unconscious, not responding
to anything. I thought this could have been Diabetic Keto-Acidosis, as he had been sick for a couple
days. This terrified me because I know how dangerous it can be if this gets out of hand.
Brandon’s dad rode with him to the hospital, I called family, got dressed, and rushed to the hospital.
When I got there, the Doctor finally came out of Brandon’s room and we are told “Brandon is in a Coma,
and on life support. His brain is swollen inside and out”.
My first question was “HOW? Did he hit his head and not tell us?” For the record, his diabetes was under
control, and not the reason he passed out.
Walking into his room, I saw my baby on life support, and I broke down. How could I fix this? Is he in
pain? How can I trade places with him? That was the first, and LAST time I cried in his room.
Brandon was transferred to a Children’s Hospital. On our way there, I made a decision, no matter what,
NO ONE will cry around him while he is in a coma. Strength is all we will show him. We have to help him
fight this. (Don’t get me wrong, I cried when I took a shower, when Doctors sent me out of the room
while they examined him, even when I was forced to leave and eat. I just wouldn’t cry in his room…I was
afraid HE’D give up if he thought anyone else did.)
The first few days were terrible. The first day, (I left for 2 hrs to get clothes, insulin, and everything I
needed to stay at the hospital), I walk into Brandon’s room and stared at my baby, not moving, and a
machine breathing for him. A Respiratory Therapist walked in and said “His dad signed a form for us to
use this probe to check his Oxygen level. It’s a trial testing the results against his bloodwork.” At the
same time, Brandon’s grandmother walked in.
I watched this BITCH squeeze and force Brandon’s mouth open to put this dumb ass probe thing under
his tongue. I said “you will NOT do that again. He is no longer in your trial”. This RT must have wanted
her ass kicked, because she said “Well his father signed the form!” I told her “I SAID NO”, and I took a
step towards her. She should still be thankful Brandon’s grandmother was in the room and stepped
between us, cause that RT was about to get knocked out!
Next day, no one would tell us anything. I asked over and over for Mercury tests, as I remembered
Brandon had eaten Popcorn shrimp and Fish sticks A LOT in the months prior to his coma. Of Course, I
was ignored and told “That isn’t what’s wrong”. Yet in the same breath, Doctors would say “We are
checking him for “blah blah”, but it’s only seen in Asia. Well EXCUSE ME, but if my child can’t go across
the street without me, he DAMN SURE didn’t go to ASIA without my knowledge!! Stupid jerks!
Next, we’re told Brandon is being checked for Mad Cow Disease, and there is no cure, nothing they can
do for him. With this news, my mom stayed with Brandon, and his dad and I walked outside to think
about what was just told to us.
While thinking of how this could have happened, I looked up and smiled. I said “Wait, he doesn’t have
Mad Cow, he DOESN’T eat meat!!”
We ran up to tell the Doctor, who was disappointed. WHAT? He should have been RELIEVED!!! UGH I
despise Doctors. JERKS!
On the 5th day, my mom and I were in Brandon’s room, and his Doctors came in. One Doctor held
Brandon’s eyes open (checking his pupils), and my mom bent down and asked “Brandon can you see
me?” Brandon nodded!
Doctors took a long, loud gasp, and the main Doc said “Let’s get this boy something for pain!” WHAT?
My baby was in PAIN for almost a week? I WAS relieved to know he could hear us, and telling everyone
not to cry in his room was a good thing!
Next day, Brandon (Still in coma) was trying to spit out his bite block used for intubating him. Finally, it
came out. I saw it and asked “WHAT is THAT? Why is there blood on it?” Yeah, dumbass Doctors at the
first hospital put bite block in BACKWARDS, causing the handle to go IN Brandon’s throat, and it was
bleeding! Now, shouldn’t other hospitals realize the damn thing is in BACKWARDS?
I run to get my mother to show her, but we return and it ‘suddenly disappeared’. At this point, I’m ready
to punch someone. This would be been the PERFECT time for that RT to come back in! If anyone is
paying attention, this means Brandon had the handle of a bite block sticking in the back of his throat
bleeding for 6 days!
Next few weeks are just as bad. No answers, no diagnosis, and still fighting me about checking for
Mercury poisoning. I’m told it’s time to take Brandon off his breathing machine. Oh, how was I told? His
grandfather told me, after the Doctor in the room UNSYMPATHETICLY told the nurse “We have to get
this out, this boy can’t live on this machine for the rest of his life”, and caused my father in law to have a
heart attack. Have I mentioned DOCTORS ARE JERKS?
So, I sign forms, but ask the Doctor to wait after they extubate to check if Brandon is breathing without
the need for a trache. Brandon WAS breathing through his nose, and I didn’t think a Trache was needed.
Obviously, I don’t know what I’m talking about because I’m ONLY a mom, so I was ignored. My baby
comes back to his room with a trache and G-tube.
He was then moved from one side of ICU to the other.
This was more fun. *Note sarcasm*
The nurses brought 3 teeth to me. Brandon lost them, root and all, due to the Bite block breaking his
bone between his front 2 teeth. Funny how nurses don’t think “OH, get a different bite block, and put
these teeth back in, they WILL grow back in the bone.” Yes, even a Dentist told me this…months later.
Here we are: Weeks later, no diagnosis, everyone is stressed and worried, and now Brandon has 3 teeth
missing and a broken bone in his mouth. The dentists were idiots too. They come up (Students-to make
it even worse), and had the charts mixed up. They said they were there to extract all his teeth due to the
accident he was in. If Brandon’s dad wasn’t there, they would have removed ALL his teeth! So how did I
handle that one? I threatened to call the Mayor and get him to the hospital to see exactly how bad that
place was. Yep, he was on speed dial. So they realize they have the wrong chart, and leave.
Finally a Neurologist shows me Brandon’s MRI, and talks to me. The sheath on Brandon’s brain was
demylated (Eaten away). No explanation of why this happened.
One nurse gave me a small piece of paper with a strange word on it, “Burkoholderia Cepacia”. He said
“Have someone look this up for you, this bacteria is in Brandon’s body.” A nurse slipped this to me,
Doctors NEVER brought this up!
My Sister in law looked it up and printed everything out for me. GREAT, now Brandon has a bad bacteria
in his body, and no one can tell me why, or how it got there.
He then became septic. I ask why, and his Doctor said “His brain is making him think he’s sick”. WHAT?
That doesn’t change bloodwork results! JERK!!!!!
Next, I walk in Brandon’s room and Doctors are doing a procedure without consent.
OK this is it, I finally lose my composure and blow up. It was at this moment I let EVERYONE know I’m a
Licensed Phlebotomist, I know Medical Terminology, I know what they say even if they think I don’t, and I
KNEW what I was talking about when I asked for Mercury Test to be done! (Yet they STILL fought me
and didn't do this test!)
After that, I was told if so much as a band-aid was put on Brandon. Still, no one knew what was wrong
with him and why he is still in a coma. I just LOVED when Doctors would say “He is healthy on paper!”
Yeah? Guess where you can shove that paper, ASSHOLE!
Middle of May, we go to a Children’s rehab so I can be trained on how to take care of my son at home
with his trache and G-tube. Forget knowing WHY he is in a Coma, or septic, this place only trains
parents, and takes care of children until they go home.
There for a little over a week, and Brandon is transferred BACK to the Hospital. The RT at Rehab put
Brandon’s Trache in a false track. *My despise for RTs grows stronger.
This was the only night in over a month I went home to rest, and my son is shipped back to Hospital.
UGH.
I go to the Hospital next day, and Brandon’s nurse laughs and said “Well, you said he didn’t need that
trache, you were right”. You KNOW she was looking to get a fat lip!!
Brandon was moved to a regular Hospital room. Still in a coma, but eyes are open. He began throwing
up, yet he was only getting Pedialyte through his G-tube.
The next morning I was told Brandon would be transferred back to Rehab. I stood up and said “No he will
not. He is throwing up. Something is wrong.” Nurse says “Rehab can take care of that”. I sat back down,
watched Brandon, and swore I’d smack the next idiot that walked in his room.
That night, Brandon got sick 3 times…all over me! I’d run to his bed when I heard him, and yep, I got a
shower from it. After 3 changes of clothes, Doctor finally came in and asked the nurses “Do you know
what color it was?”
I said “Here, I changed clothes 3 times cause he got it all over me, would you like to see it?” He said
no…stupid jerk. So I get my wish, and Brandon is kept in hospital. Next day, nurse comes in with insulin.
I notice the syringe held WAY too much insulin, so I asked about it. The nurse mixed his Humalog with
Lantus. If you’re Diabetic, you know you CAN’T mix these. I squirt the insulin in the cap of Syringe and
tell the nurse “You can’t mix Lantus with anything”.
She gets the Head nurse, who brings a book, and shows me “You can not mix Lantus with any other
insulin or medication in the same syringe”. Really? I KNEW THAT!
So, I request Brandon be transferred to a Diabetic Floor. FINALLY, something will be done right.
After a few more days of Brandon getting sick, and noticing he hasn’t had a bowel movement, Doctors
order a KUB. This showed Brandon was impacted up to his breastbone. Of Course his body couldn’t
handle anything, he was completely full of poop up to his breastbone! Can you imagine his pain? The
nurses had put in 5 IVs over a week’s time just to get nutrition in Brandon’s body somehow, they
couldn't feed him via G-tube because he was throwing up, and all because NO ONE thought there could
be something wrong with his digestion or bowels? I cried for an hour in the shower that night.
Finally back in Rehab. It was terrible. PT had to work with Bandon, but watching him cry and scream
cause of the pain was killing me. His only relief was when nurses changed his Fentanyle patch. The first
day he always slept most of the day. He was out of his Coma July 16, 2004, but had SO much work to
recover. While in Rehab, he began to eat again, but only pureed foods, and thickened liquid. He began to
speak again, very slowly. At one point, Brandon went through a Turrets Syndrome stage. He didn’t cuss,
but would say a word, turn his head and scream it again. This was so scary.
I was shown how to properly get Brandon out of bed, into a wheelchair, and vice versa. At this time, he
still couldn’t hold on, move his legs, or do anything on his own.
Yes, at age 11, he was back in diapers as well. This mysterious coma caused him to have to learn
everything over again.
We had learned that Brandon did, in fact, suffer from a stroke while in his coma.
I cut Brandon’s hair before one of his baths one morning, and his nurse was great in helping me. I told
her I had to keep some of his hair, and she thought I was nuts. I explained that I think I know what
caused this coma, but I needed to have his hair analyzed. The nurse smiled and told me I was doing the
right thing.
Brandon still didn’t remember most family members, and most of his friends, but we knew it would come
back in time.
*For the record, his analysis came back and he DID have toxic amounts of Mercury. Toxicologist said
“Chronic Mercury Poisoning from small amounts of Mercury over a long period of time accumulated on
Brandon’s brain.” Yes, eating too much shrimp is BAD! If you get headaches, it’s a sign to STOP eating
the shrimp, or any seafood.
IF Doctors would have checked for this in the beginning, Brandon would have been put in a Coal Bath,
and been awake 3 days later. The Bacteria (Burkholderia Cepacia) would have been treated seriously, and
there would have been a chance his stroke would have not happened.
We found out in late August 2004, the Burkholderia Cepacia came from contaminated probes used on
Brandon the first day/night. You know, the one that RT bitch forced in his mouth? They did that test
twice that day. Brandon is colonized with this Bacteria which CAN cause Meningitis or another Stroke if it
becomes active. Sadly, 13 children contracted this bacteria, (11 newborns), and 9 died from it. Because
Brandon was the first to contract Burkholderia Cepacia, it was treated as ‘just one of those things you
can get in a hospital’ (Comforting, isn’t it?). It took 12 others getting this before ANY investigation was
done. If they paid attention when Brandon contracted Burkholderia, maybe those 9 newborns would be
here today. Why assume a bacteria shows up cause ‘sometimes it does’?
If your child is ever in ICU for any reason, that is NOT the place for Medical Trials. Don’t consent to any of
them. Children are not to be used in trials anyway! Tell the Medical Staff to get screwed, or better yet, tell
them to call ME. I guarantee they will NEVER bother you again!
Brandon came home August 4, 2004. Hospital and Rehab stay lasted 4 months. The day he got to come
home, his Doctor asked me if I was sure I was ready to do this at home. Well, I wasn’t afraid to use his
G-tube (He had a button by then, which Brandon called the B-Button. Brandon’s Button!), I could get
him in and out of his wheelchair, I knew his Med schedule, I knew what time to feed him, he could eat
some normal consistency foods, I knew how to thicken his liquids, so yes, I was ready.
I did NOT figure in the time I needed to cook! That was difficult at first.
Brandon had been home a couple days, and still didn’t remember most people. One day, I put him in his
wheelchair so he could go in the kitchen with me while I cook his dinner.
He slowly said “Do you smelllll…what mom is cookin”. I dropped everything, leaned down and said “Buddy,
do you know who use to say that?” He smiled and said “The Rock!” YES! He remembered someone! Not
sure what The Rock did to make an impression on my son, but he remembered!
2 days later I was online looking up remedies for wrist pain. (I thought I pulled my muscle or sprained my
wrist putting Brandon in his wheelchair). Brandon wanted to see what I was doing, so I pulled him by my
computer. I’m not sure why I also had Myspace open, but Brandon noticed and said “What is that?” I
opened the browser and Brandon saw a picture of someone on my friends list…he said “MOM, that’s Matt!
He’s one of the Hardy Boyz!” I asked “Do you know who the other one is?” He said “JEFF!”
He was smiling, and asking to see pictures of Matt and Jeff…then he’d try to do the hand signs both of
them did in the pictures. Then he asked if I had pictures of ‘Sexy Boy’. Honestly, it didn’t click who he
was talking about. He said “Mom, sexy boy believes in God!” By now I’m almost scared…who is Sexy Boy?
Has some pedophile been talking to my son before this happened? THEN it hit me! I googled a name to
find a pic and said “Baby is this who you mean?” He smiled and said “Yes!” It was Shawn Michaels!
I finally asked….”Buddy how do you remember them?” he only smiled and said “God wanted me to”. Till
this day, he still asks if he will ever talk to any of those guys, cause God wanted him to remember them,
so he wants Brandon to talk to them. How do you tell these guys something like this? You can’t….
More happened in that coma than any of us will ever know. Brandon told me while he was ‘sleeping’ (In
his coma) he played cards with my grandfather, who passed away when Brandon was 7, and God told
him he would be ok.
We started watching WWE together again, and Brandon slowly remembered more people. Undertaker,
John Cena, then Triple H.
He now has other favorites as well, but The Rock, Shawn Michaels, Matt, and Jeff Hardy are the ones he
really remembers, even before he remembered family.
Brandon had OT, PT, and Speech Therapists visit every week. After being told he won’t walk again, he
proved Doctors wrong and DID walk again. He still needs assistance with day to day living, but is getting
better each day.
Someday soon, Brandon will get a chance to go to Hospitals and talk to wounded Soldiers. That’s
another dream of his. He wants to tell all of them NOT to give up, and they can do more than Doctors
think!
Brandon also proved Doctors wrong by working very hard and graduating when he was 15! (They said
he'd start over in school). He took his Diploma everywhere for 2 weeks so he could show everyone!
BRANDON is who keeps me believing something bad can be turned into something better. No matter
what problems you have, it can somehow get better! He is ALWAYS happy, and I can’t help but be the
same way around him! Not once has Brandon ever complained, he lives every day knowing he is very
lucky, and spreads laughs and love with everyone he meets.
As for me, the stress has really taken a toll on my health. You have to understand, my life dramatically
changed after Brandon’s coma as well. He depends on me to help every day, with whatever he needs. He
can’t be left alone at any time. When his dad is off, I get a break for the day, but those are the days I
clean all day, wash clothes, catch up on work I missed, etc. Honestly, I miss Brandon when he isn’t here!!
Since all this happened, I’ve had a heart attack, ripped a tendon off the bone on left wrist, eye surgery
(Yes folks, they REALLY took my eye out and peeled it!), and a plethora of colds, throat issues, etc. Most
recently, I have been diagnosed with Graves Disease. ALL on top of Diabetes that I’ve had since I was 4.
It doesn’t matter! I am fine, I’m happy, and I have one of the most AMAZING kids in this world! All he
has EVER asked me to do is let The Rock, Shawn Michaels, Matt, and Jeff Hardy know about his story,
and let them know how important THEY are to him. (For whatever reason. Maybe we’ll all find out why if
he ever gets to speak to any of them)
Brandon actually requested to speak to John Cena recently. He said “Cena visits sick kids, he cares. I
want him to know my story so he can tell other kids I believe in them and I pray for them”. It may sound
strange, but some family members have actually called and asked Brandon to pray for them or their
friends, who were dealing with surgery, heart problems, etc. Others believe in him as much as I do!
Brandon has a spiritual connection none of us will ever understand.
I hope this story explained a little more of why Brandon and I are so adamant about helping others, and
why I truly believe you can get past anything that stands in your way. If Brandon isn’t proof that even
the worse situation can turn out good, I don’t know what is!
We all get down, have a period of “What do I do now”….but taking time to think about the situation, and
moving through it without dwelling is best. Thinking you CAN’T get past it isn’t healthy, and won’t help in
the long run. Rant if you need to, get it over with, then…think positive!
I hope some of you who have also tuned in to Distant Thunder Radio, and heard Brandon (DJ Super B)
on air NOW understand more about him. Maybe some of you reading are the jerks who sent Private
messages saying “Get that retard off air”. If so, I hope you realize what a true ass you really are!
Much Love,
~Angel Clark
things that I’ve personally been through in the last couple of years. One friend suggested I just write a
blog and get it out. I asked Brandon about it, and he said he WANTS his story told. As you read this, I
hope you understand this is to explain how a situation, no matter how severe, can get better. Maybe it
will give some of you inspiration.
My son, Brandon, was a very healthy, happy, energetic child. He was diagnosed Diabetic at age 4, which
only brought him and I closer together. We made jokes of how he and I were both diagnosed at age 4,
we are the only Juvenile Diabetics in the family, and even had ‘contests’ to see who could keep their blood
sugars in better control.
Brandon was in the newspaper every year for 5 years, when his school had Veterans Day Breakfast. He
was always pictured with several vets, and everyone enjoyed the time at his school. He went to Diabetic
Camp every year starting at age 5, took Martial Arts classes, and rollerbladed DAILY.
April 2004, at age 11, Brandon was sick. He had suffered from gastroenteritis before, so at the time we
though perhaps he was having the same issues again. After 2 days of being sick, (Saturday April 17,
2004) he did as always when he is sick from this same issue, and asked for Milk and crackers. This time,
he couldn’t hold any of it down.
On Sunday morning (April 18, 2004), Brandon asked for a Pedialyte Pop, took 3 bites and decided to go
back to sleep. He walked into the restroom and all of a sudden, we hear noise. Brandon’s dad ran into
the restroom, Brandon looked at him, then passed out.
Calling 911 immediately, I was in a panic. Paramedics arrive, and Brandon is unconscious, not responding
to anything. I thought this could have been Diabetic Keto-Acidosis, as he had been sick for a couple
days. This terrified me because I know how dangerous it can be if this gets out of hand.
Brandon’s dad rode with him to the hospital, I called family, got dressed, and rushed to the hospital.
When I got there, the Doctor finally came out of Brandon’s room and we are told “Brandon is in a Coma,
and on life support. His brain is swollen inside and out”.
My first question was “HOW? Did he hit his head and not tell us?” For the record, his diabetes was under
control, and not the reason he passed out.
Walking into his room, I saw my baby on life support, and I broke down. How could I fix this? Is he in
pain? How can I trade places with him? That was the first, and LAST time I cried in his room.
Brandon was transferred to a Children’s Hospital. On our way there, I made a decision, no matter what,
NO ONE will cry around him while he is in a coma. Strength is all we will show him. We have to help him
fight this. (Don’t get me wrong, I cried when I took a shower, when Doctors sent me out of the room
while they examined him, even when I was forced to leave and eat. I just wouldn’t cry in his room…I was
afraid HE’D give up if he thought anyone else did.)
The first few days were terrible. The first day, (I left for 2 hrs to get clothes, insulin, and everything I
needed to stay at the hospital), I walk into Brandon’s room and stared at my baby, not moving, and a
machine breathing for him. A Respiratory Therapist walked in and said “His dad signed a form for us to
use this probe to check his Oxygen level. It’s a trial testing the results against his bloodwork.” At the
same time, Brandon’s grandmother walked in.
I watched this BITCH squeeze and force Brandon’s mouth open to put this dumb ass probe thing under
his tongue. I said “you will NOT do that again. He is no longer in your trial”. This RT must have wanted
her ass kicked, because she said “Well his father signed the form!” I told her “I SAID NO”, and I took a
step towards her. She should still be thankful Brandon’s grandmother was in the room and stepped
between us, cause that RT was about to get knocked out!
Next day, no one would tell us anything. I asked over and over for Mercury tests, as I remembered
Brandon had eaten Popcorn shrimp and Fish sticks A LOT in the months prior to his coma. Of Course, I
was ignored and told “That isn’t what’s wrong”. Yet in the same breath, Doctors would say “We are
checking him for “blah blah”, but it’s only seen in Asia. Well EXCUSE ME, but if my child can’t go across
the street without me, he DAMN SURE didn’t go to ASIA without my knowledge!! Stupid jerks!
Next, we’re told Brandon is being checked for Mad Cow Disease, and there is no cure, nothing they can
do for him. With this news, my mom stayed with Brandon, and his dad and I walked outside to think
about what was just told to us.
While thinking of how this could have happened, I looked up and smiled. I said “Wait, he doesn’t have
Mad Cow, he DOESN’T eat meat!!”
We ran up to tell the Doctor, who was disappointed. WHAT? He should have been RELIEVED!!! UGH I
despise Doctors. JERKS!
On the 5th day, my mom and I were in Brandon’s room, and his Doctors came in. One Doctor held
Brandon’s eyes open (checking his pupils), and my mom bent down and asked “Brandon can you see
me?” Brandon nodded!
Doctors took a long, loud gasp, and the main Doc said “Let’s get this boy something for pain!” WHAT?
My baby was in PAIN for almost a week? I WAS relieved to know he could hear us, and telling everyone
not to cry in his room was a good thing!
Next day, Brandon (Still in coma) was trying to spit out his bite block used for intubating him. Finally, it
came out. I saw it and asked “WHAT is THAT? Why is there blood on it?” Yeah, dumbass Doctors at the
first hospital put bite block in BACKWARDS, causing the handle to go IN Brandon’s throat, and it was
bleeding! Now, shouldn’t other hospitals realize the damn thing is in BACKWARDS?
I run to get my mother to show her, but we return and it ‘suddenly disappeared’. At this point, I’m ready
to punch someone. This would be been the PERFECT time for that RT to come back in! If anyone is
paying attention, this means Brandon had the handle of a bite block sticking in the back of his throat
bleeding for 6 days!
Next few weeks are just as bad. No answers, no diagnosis, and still fighting me about checking for
Mercury poisoning. I’m told it’s time to take Brandon off his breathing machine. Oh, how was I told? His
grandfather told me, after the Doctor in the room UNSYMPATHETICLY told the nurse “We have to get
this out, this boy can’t live on this machine for the rest of his life”, and caused my father in law to have a
heart attack. Have I mentioned DOCTORS ARE JERKS?
So, I sign forms, but ask the Doctor to wait after they extubate to check if Brandon is breathing without
the need for a trache. Brandon WAS breathing through his nose, and I didn’t think a Trache was needed.
Obviously, I don’t know what I’m talking about because I’m ONLY a mom, so I was ignored. My baby
comes back to his room with a trache and G-tube.
He was then moved from one side of ICU to the other.
This was more fun. *Note sarcasm*
The nurses brought 3 teeth to me. Brandon lost them, root and all, due to the Bite block breaking his
bone between his front 2 teeth. Funny how nurses don’t think “OH, get a different bite block, and put
these teeth back in, they WILL grow back in the bone.” Yes, even a Dentist told me this…months later.
Here we are: Weeks later, no diagnosis, everyone is stressed and worried, and now Brandon has 3 teeth
missing and a broken bone in his mouth. The dentists were idiots too. They come up (Students-to make
it even worse), and had the charts mixed up. They said they were there to extract all his teeth due to the
accident he was in. If Brandon’s dad wasn’t there, they would have removed ALL his teeth! So how did I
handle that one? I threatened to call the Mayor and get him to the hospital to see exactly how bad that
place was. Yep, he was on speed dial. So they realize they have the wrong chart, and leave.
Finally a Neurologist shows me Brandon’s MRI, and talks to me. The sheath on Brandon’s brain was
demylated (Eaten away). No explanation of why this happened.
One nurse gave me a small piece of paper with a strange word on it, “Burkoholderia Cepacia”. He said
“Have someone look this up for you, this bacteria is in Brandon’s body.” A nurse slipped this to me,
Doctors NEVER brought this up!
My Sister in law looked it up and printed everything out for me. GREAT, now Brandon has a bad bacteria
in his body, and no one can tell me why, or how it got there.
He then became septic. I ask why, and his Doctor said “His brain is making him think he’s sick”. WHAT?
That doesn’t change bloodwork results! JERK!!!!!
Next, I walk in Brandon’s room and Doctors are doing a procedure without consent.
OK this is it, I finally lose my composure and blow up. It was at this moment I let EVERYONE know I’m a
Licensed Phlebotomist, I know Medical Terminology, I know what they say even if they think I don’t, and I
KNEW what I was talking about when I asked for Mercury Test to be done! (Yet they STILL fought me
and didn't do this test!)
After that, I was told if so much as a band-aid was put on Brandon. Still, no one knew what was wrong
with him and why he is still in a coma. I just LOVED when Doctors would say “He is healthy on paper!”
Yeah? Guess where you can shove that paper, ASSHOLE!
Middle of May, we go to a Children’s rehab so I can be trained on how to take care of my son at home
with his trache and G-tube. Forget knowing WHY he is in a Coma, or septic, this place only trains
parents, and takes care of children until they go home.
There for a little over a week, and Brandon is transferred BACK to the Hospital. The RT at Rehab put
Brandon’s Trache in a false track. *My despise for RTs grows stronger.
This was the only night in over a month I went home to rest, and my son is shipped back to Hospital.
UGH.
I go to the Hospital next day, and Brandon’s nurse laughs and said “Well, you said he didn’t need that
trache, you were right”. You KNOW she was looking to get a fat lip!!
Brandon was moved to a regular Hospital room. Still in a coma, but eyes are open. He began throwing
up, yet he was only getting Pedialyte through his G-tube.
The next morning I was told Brandon would be transferred back to Rehab. I stood up and said “No he will
not. He is throwing up. Something is wrong.” Nurse says “Rehab can take care of that”. I sat back down,
watched Brandon, and swore I’d smack the next idiot that walked in his room.
That night, Brandon got sick 3 times…all over me! I’d run to his bed when I heard him, and yep, I got a
shower from it. After 3 changes of clothes, Doctor finally came in and asked the nurses “Do you know
what color it was?”
I said “Here, I changed clothes 3 times cause he got it all over me, would you like to see it?” He said
no…stupid jerk. So I get my wish, and Brandon is kept in hospital. Next day, nurse comes in with insulin.
I notice the syringe held WAY too much insulin, so I asked about it. The nurse mixed his Humalog with
Lantus. If you’re Diabetic, you know you CAN’T mix these. I squirt the insulin in the cap of Syringe and
tell the nurse “You can’t mix Lantus with anything”.
She gets the Head nurse, who brings a book, and shows me “You can not mix Lantus with any other
insulin or medication in the same syringe”. Really? I KNEW THAT!
So, I request Brandon be transferred to a Diabetic Floor. FINALLY, something will be done right.
After a few more days of Brandon getting sick, and noticing he hasn’t had a bowel movement, Doctors
order a KUB. This showed Brandon was impacted up to his breastbone. Of Course his body couldn’t
handle anything, he was completely full of poop up to his breastbone! Can you imagine his pain? The
nurses had put in 5 IVs over a week’s time just to get nutrition in Brandon’s body somehow, they
couldn't feed him via G-tube because he was throwing up, and all because NO ONE thought there could
be something wrong with his digestion or bowels? I cried for an hour in the shower that night.
Finally back in Rehab. It was terrible. PT had to work with Bandon, but watching him cry and scream
cause of the pain was killing me. His only relief was when nurses changed his Fentanyle patch. The first
day he always slept most of the day. He was out of his Coma July 16, 2004, but had SO much work to
recover. While in Rehab, he began to eat again, but only pureed foods, and thickened liquid. He began to
speak again, very slowly. At one point, Brandon went through a Turrets Syndrome stage. He didn’t cuss,
but would say a word, turn his head and scream it again. This was so scary.
I was shown how to properly get Brandon out of bed, into a wheelchair, and vice versa. At this time, he
still couldn’t hold on, move his legs, or do anything on his own.
Yes, at age 11, he was back in diapers as well. This mysterious coma caused him to have to learn
everything over again.
We had learned that Brandon did, in fact, suffer from a stroke while in his coma.
I cut Brandon’s hair before one of his baths one morning, and his nurse was great in helping me. I told
her I had to keep some of his hair, and she thought I was nuts. I explained that I think I know what
caused this coma, but I needed to have his hair analyzed. The nurse smiled and told me I was doing the
right thing.
Brandon still didn’t remember most family members, and most of his friends, but we knew it would come
back in time.
*For the record, his analysis came back and he DID have toxic amounts of Mercury. Toxicologist said
“Chronic Mercury Poisoning from small amounts of Mercury over a long period of time accumulated on
Brandon’s brain.” Yes, eating too much shrimp is BAD! If you get headaches, it’s a sign to STOP eating
the shrimp, or any seafood.
IF Doctors would have checked for this in the beginning, Brandon would have been put in a Coal Bath,
and been awake 3 days later. The Bacteria (Burkholderia Cepacia) would have been treated seriously, and
there would have been a chance his stroke would have not happened.
We found out in late August 2004, the Burkholderia Cepacia came from contaminated probes used on
Brandon the first day/night. You know, the one that RT bitch forced in his mouth? They did that test
twice that day. Brandon is colonized with this Bacteria which CAN cause Meningitis or another Stroke if it
becomes active. Sadly, 13 children contracted this bacteria, (11 newborns), and 9 died from it. Because
Brandon was the first to contract Burkholderia Cepacia, it was treated as ‘just one of those things you
can get in a hospital’ (Comforting, isn’t it?). It took 12 others getting this before ANY investigation was
done. If they paid attention when Brandon contracted Burkholderia, maybe those 9 newborns would be
here today. Why assume a bacteria shows up cause ‘sometimes it does’?
If your child is ever in ICU for any reason, that is NOT the place for Medical Trials. Don’t consent to any of
them. Children are not to be used in trials anyway! Tell the Medical Staff to get screwed, or better yet, tell
them to call ME. I guarantee they will NEVER bother you again!
Brandon came home August 4, 2004. Hospital and Rehab stay lasted 4 months. The day he got to come
home, his Doctor asked me if I was sure I was ready to do this at home. Well, I wasn’t afraid to use his
G-tube (He had a button by then, which Brandon called the B-Button. Brandon’s Button!), I could get
him in and out of his wheelchair, I knew his Med schedule, I knew what time to feed him, he could eat
some normal consistency foods, I knew how to thicken his liquids, so yes, I was ready.
I did NOT figure in the time I needed to cook! That was difficult at first.
Brandon had been home a couple days, and still didn’t remember most people. One day, I put him in his
wheelchair so he could go in the kitchen with me while I cook his dinner.
He slowly said “Do you smelllll…what mom is cookin”. I dropped everything, leaned down and said “Buddy,
do you know who use to say that?” He smiled and said “The Rock!” YES! He remembered someone! Not
sure what The Rock did to make an impression on my son, but he remembered!
2 days later I was online looking up remedies for wrist pain. (I thought I pulled my muscle or sprained my
wrist putting Brandon in his wheelchair). Brandon wanted to see what I was doing, so I pulled him by my
computer. I’m not sure why I also had Myspace open, but Brandon noticed and said “What is that?” I
opened the browser and Brandon saw a picture of someone on my friends list…he said “MOM, that’s Matt!
He’s one of the Hardy Boyz!” I asked “Do you know who the other one is?” He said “JEFF!”
He was smiling, and asking to see pictures of Matt and Jeff…then he’d try to do the hand signs both of
them did in the pictures. Then he asked if I had pictures of ‘Sexy Boy’. Honestly, it didn’t click who he
was talking about. He said “Mom, sexy boy believes in God!” By now I’m almost scared…who is Sexy Boy?
Has some pedophile been talking to my son before this happened? THEN it hit me! I googled a name to
find a pic and said “Baby is this who you mean?” He smiled and said “Yes!” It was Shawn Michaels!
I finally asked….”Buddy how do you remember them?” he only smiled and said “God wanted me to”. Till
this day, he still asks if he will ever talk to any of those guys, cause God wanted him to remember them,
so he wants Brandon to talk to them. How do you tell these guys something like this? You can’t….
More happened in that coma than any of us will ever know. Brandon told me while he was ‘sleeping’ (In
his coma) he played cards with my grandfather, who passed away when Brandon was 7, and God told
him he would be ok.
We started watching WWE together again, and Brandon slowly remembered more people. Undertaker,
John Cena, then Triple H.
He now has other favorites as well, but The Rock, Shawn Michaels, Matt, and Jeff Hardy are the ones he
really remembers, even before he remembered family.
Brandon had OT, PT, and Speech Therapists visit every week. After being told he won’t walk again, he
proved Doctors wrong and DID walk again. He still needs assistance with day to day living, but is getting
better each day.
Someday soon, Brandon will get a chance to go to Hospitals and talk to wounded Soldiers. That’s
another dream of his. He wants to tell all of them NOT to give up, and they can do more than Doctors
think!
Brandon also proved Doctors wrong by working very hard and graduating when he was 15! (They said
he'd start over in school). He took his Diploma everywhere for 2 weeks so he could show everyone!
BRANDON is who keeps me believing something bad can be turned into something better. No matter
what problems you have, it can somehow get better! He is ALWAYS happy, and I can’t help but be the
same way around him! Not once has Brandon ever complained, he lives every day knowing he is very
lucky, and spreads laughs and love with everyone he meets.
As for me, the stress has really taken a toll on my health. You have to understand, my life dramatically
changed after Brandon’s coma as well. He depends on me to help every day, with whatever he needs. He
can’t be left alone at any time. When his dad is off, I get a break for the day, but those are the days I
clean all day, wash clothes, catch up on work I missed, etc. Honestly, I miss Brandon when he isn’t here!!
Since all this happened, I’ve had a heart attack, ripped a tendon off the bone on left wrist, eye surgery
(Yes folks, they REALLY took my eye out and peeled it!), and a plethora of colds, throat issues, etc. Most
recently, I have been diagnosed with Graves Disease. ALL on top of Diabetes that I’ve had since I was 4.
It doesn’t matter! I am fine, I’m happy, and I have one of the most AMAZING kids in this world! All he
has EVER asked me to do is let The Rock, Shawn Michaels, Matt, and Jeff Hardy know about his story,
and let them know how important THEY are to him. (For whatever reason. Maybe we’ll all find out why if
he ever gets to speak to any of them)
Brandon actually requested to speak to John Cena recently. He said “Cena visits sick kids, he cares. I
want him to know my story so he can tell other kids I believe in them and I pray for them”. It may sound
strange, but some family members have actually called and asked Brandon to pray for them or their
friends, who were dealing with surgery, heart problems, etc. Others believe in him as much as I do!
Brandon has a spiritual connection none of us will ever understand.
I hope this story explained a little more of why Brandon and I are so adamant about helping others, and
why I truly believe you can get past anything that stands in your way. If Brandon isn’t proof that even
the worse situation can turn out good, I don’t know what is!
We all get down, have a period of “What do I do now”….but taking time to think about the situation, and
moving through it without dwelling is best. Thinking you CAN’T get past it isn’t healthy, and won’t help in
the long run. Rant if you need to, get it over with, then…think positive!
I hope some of you who have also tuned in to Distant Thunder Radio, and heard Brandon (DJ Super B)
on air NOW understand more about him. Maybe some of you reading are the jerks who sent Private
messages saying “Get that retard off air”. If so, I hope you realize what a true ass you really are!
Much Love,
~Angel Clark
Living Life to the Fullest
Brandon- 5yrs old
Brandon with BACA- Blue shirt in middle
Brandon- Super B!
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