Giralang Primary School teacher Jacob Burridge has come through his surgery well in Japan after collapsing with brain haemorrhages, but remains in an induced coma.
An update posted by the family on the Go Fund Me page set up by his brother Thomas to help pay for his treatment and accommodation, said his head neurosurgeon believed the surgery had gone extremely well and the team had removed the artery vascular malformation without any additional bleeding or clotting.
The surgery was performed in Chikamori Hospital, Kochi City.
“Jacob has a slightly high fever, which they believe is just his body being exhausted after three surgeries. The tests for infection and virus turned up negative,” the family said.
He said that the tube to drain blood would remain and that a watch must be kept on his blood pressure due to a high temperature.
He also had a slightly high intracranial pressure and ice is being applied to reduce Jacob’s temperature, as well as his head being slightly elevated.
Once these issues are under control the doctors can look to bring him out of the coma, establish his condition and decide on what rehabilitation is needed.
“We have no timeframe yet for this – so we are hoping the temperature goes down over the next couple of days or week. But it is expected he will stay in a coma for two to three weeks at the minimum,” the family said.
“We thank everyone for their support. Jacob is not out of the woods yet. But the hardest surgery in the brain has been completed, now we take it day by day and the road to recovery begins.
“Again thanks everyone for their support and generous donations. We don’t know how we could manage this time without your help and messages of kindness.”
Update: The latest post says Jacob’s fever is under control and his temperature is dropping.
“The medication to reduce the cranial pressure is also working and it has dropped too. So good signs and all is well! A few of us will be returning home to Australia on Saturday now that things have settled. My Mum and sister will continue on until the doctors decide to bring Jacob out of the coma.”
The crowdfunding target is nearing its target of $100,000.