6 February 2018

Jacob wakes from coma after life-saving brain surgery

| Ian Bushnell
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Waka, Matia and Jacob Burridge: Looking forward to coming home.

Giralang Primary School teacher Jacob Burridge has woken from his coma after life-saving brain surgery in Japan on 29 January.

The latest post on the Go Fund Me page set up by the family to help pay for his medical treatment and accommodation in Japan says his life support has been turned off and that he is breathing on his own.

“We just had some incredible news though that I had to share,” his brother Thomas Clifton says. “Jacob is awake!!! The life support is turned off and the cooling pads have been removed, and he is breathing on his own. He is not completely awake yet … still ‘sleepy’, but all the machines have been removed over the weekend and today.”

Thomas says there will be an update soon with the head of Neurosurgery, along with more CT scan results.

“Everybody is crying with joy, Waka was out doing some paperwork and rode her bike to the hospital as soon as she heard the news,” Thomas says. “Will have more later tonight including how he is responding and all the rest of the news including what’s next etc.
“Thanks again for all the donations.. we couldn’t have gotten this far without all of you. I can’t wait to have a big welcome home and thank you party for all the 990+ donators.”

Wife Waka holds her husband’s hand in Chikamori Hospital.

Thomas says that on Saturday the medical staff at Chikamori Hospital, Kochi City, turned down the sedatives for Jacob and yesterday he was having more movement in his arms as well as coughing and blinking.

He says the doctor said he would give him ‘wine’ sedatives instead of ‘vodka’ sedatives, ‘so a less severe hangover’.

“Love those Japanese Dr’s… Signs of consciousness including squeezing Matia’s hand yesterday and some blinking,” he writes.

On 23 January, Jacob collapsed with a brain haemorrhage while preparing to return to Australia with his wife Waka and daughter Matia.

The crowdfunding campaign for the popular Canberra teacher has so far raised $103,290.

Update: Jacob has spoken for the first time since his collapse, saying goodbye to Waka and Matia when they were leaving the hospital.

“He was also waving! The nurses were all astonished and the Dr’s said he is really strong to be doing this so early. They have also reclined his bed up to 45 degrees for an hour to help him sit up.
Right side drainage has been removed, but left side remains. He also had a blood transfusion today, so Waka says hes now half Japanese.”

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