Second Chance for Jameson #SC4J


Jameson Christopher Novotny born August 2nd 2015, to a loving mother, father, sister, brothers, and family.  Full of life, smiles, and love.  Jameson was a happy boy that loved baseball, his planes and cars, dinosaurs, sporadic junk food, boisterous hijinks with his siblings and cousins, and most of all snuggling with his family.  Tragically on October 7th 2018, three year old Jameson Christopher Novotny nearly drowned in a family pool. His lifeless body pulled from the water where family immediately started CPR.  Rushed to the hospital, chest compressions and oxygen continued where a pulse was finally gained in the ER.  He was then shortly flown to the Children's Trauma Center at UMC in Las Vegas NV.  There, the amazing medical staff worked around the clock to save little Jamesons life.  The family was preparing for the worst and the medical staff gave little hope on Jamesons condition.  Jameson fought hour by hour and day by day.  

As time went by more issues arose and Jamesons prognosis continued south.  EEG and CT tests led the medical staff to believe Jameson was "brain dead," that he wouldn't recover, and that he would never wake up. It was also discovered that Jameson needed emergency exploratory surgery to address an immediate life threatening issue in his abdomen. The family was told that Jameson would not survive the surgery and had to decide to address the issue in his abdomen; or, given his condition to pull him off life support.  At this point Jameson started to defy the odds.  Breathing over the ventilator with a strong heart beat, his little body was doing everything it could to survive.  Jameson has been a fighter and a tough little boy his whole life so the decision was easy and the family wanted to give him the chance to keep fighting.  Jameson went into surgery and came out with flying colors, again defying expectations and reminding us that he's not done fighting.  Shortly after recovering from surgery, where EEG scans were primarily flat, we started to see signs of hope.  EEG waves started to go crazy.  Hope filled the room as the family asked whats next?  What can we do? What test can be done? The doctors scheduled him for an MRI.  The family patiently waited for the results of the MRI, hoping that there will be some hope, some tiny speckle of life left in Jameson, something we can all hang our hat on in hope for a better future for Jameson.  So again the family waited. Three and a half days after the tragic incident an MRI was performed on Jameson’s entire body and the results read to the parents the following morning.  The results grim and painful.  Jameson's MRI indicated that he was in a vegetative and primitive state.  That the family needed again, to prepare to make the decision to pull him off his life supporting measures.  An emotional rollercoaster, we grieved in agony all day over what decision to make.  Everyone investigated any and every option available for Jameson.  We questioned every prognosis, every x-ray, CT scans, MRI, EEG, and ultrasound.  

The family tried clinging to hope when all hope felt lost.  The family dwelled over the possibility that we may need to take this little boy, this angel, off of life support,  as the parents met with the organ donor network. The family sat by his bedside... waiting for a sign of life.  Hours went by and tears flowed  as the family was dreading making any decision at all.  Along came Thursday October 11th just around 7pm, four days after the tragic accident, Jameson Christopher Novotny miraculously opened his eyes and made eye contact with his mother for the first time since the accident.  Defying odds yet again.  We've never felt so happy.  Family and friends eyes were full with tears of joy.  Uncontrollable hope filled the second floor of the Children's Hospital.  The following days, Jameson started moving his hands, arms, shoulders, and eyes.  We all realize that Jameson is far from out of the woods, and it's undetermined what recovery he might make. We are cautiously optimistic, but we are optimistic and full of hope.  

We are raising money for Jameson to receive Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, and possibly other treatments as they present themselves. There have been remarkable success stories with the Hyperbaric Treatments and the family is willing to do anything to help Jameson continue to fight for his second chance.  Thank you for reading his story and the family appreciates anything and everything you can do, especially a prayer. #SC4J #TeamJameson

CPR Link:
https://cpr.heart.org/AHAECC/CPRAndECC/AboutCPRECC/WhatIsCPR/UCM_499896_What-is-CPR.jsp

Pool Safety Link:
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Swimming-Pool-Safety.aspx