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Friday, September 4, 2009

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Pequot student getting better

By JODIE TWEED

Staff Writer

When Pequot Lakes High School students return to school Tuesday, one of their classmates will be conspicuously absent.

Jared Brockway, 14, a PLHS ninth-grader, is hospitalized at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis after falling ill with an unexplained brain bleed while at a church youth event on Aug. 21. He had been playing basketball with friends at the Pequot Lakes Baptist Church when he began suffering from a splitting headache. He called his mother, Patti, to come get him.

When Brockway arrived home he was sweating profusely and vomiting, then became paralyzed on the left side of his body, said his father, Bill. The family called 911 and he was taken to St. Joseph's Medical Center, then airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center and then sent by ambulance to Abbott Northwestern Hospital, which is connected to Children's Hospital where he is currently hospitalized. Since the bleeding stopped on the flight to Minneapolis, doctors decided to put him in intensive care instead of operating on the bleed.

Jared Brockaway

Bill Brockway said doctors found a buildup of blood in the back of his son's brain but they don't have any answers as to why this suddenly happened. Jared is a healthy 14-year-old. He did not suffer a blow to the head and has no tumor or abnormal blood vessels, said his father.

"It's still an unsolved mystery right now," said Bill Brockway.

Friday afternoon the Brockways plan to meet with a specialist to hopefully find out more information about their son's condition after his recent angiogram. Until they know more, doctors won't release him. He is undergoing physical and speech therapy since the incident affected his speech and vision in addition to the paralysis on his left side.

"He's making baby steps," said Bill Brockway. "His sight is getting somewhat better, his speech is getting better and he's going through physical therapy. The doctor said in time, with therapy, he can't see why Jared can't make a full recovery once they find what they're looking for to fix. He should make a full recovery because he's strong-willed and a strong boy. They feel the amount of blood in there is masking the problem and they just can't see it with a scope."

Brockway said his son, who is a member of the school band, is disappointed that he'll miss school but wants to get well first.

"His main thing is he wants to get fixed, get better and get home," said his dad. "He does miss his buddies."

Brockway said his family is grateful for the many prayers for Jared, including those from Jared's youth group and their church. The family plans to set up a benefit account to help pay for Jared's medical expenses at Pine River State Bank. Patti Brockway works at the Breezy Point branch of Pine River State Bank while Bill owns Chain of Lakes Landscaping.

To learn more about Jared Brockway's condition or to leave a message of support for the family, visit his CaringBridge Web site at www.caringbridge.org/visit/jaredbrockway.

JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.

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