One moment in the year 2015 changed the life of Jonathan Buckelew, whose life was supposedly a trip to his regular chiropractor. He had walked in to his routine neck adjustment when suddenly something went wrong. Jonathan lost consciousness and felt lightheaded. Panicked, he was taken to a Georgia hospital.
In that instance, the medical personnel could not figure out what was really going on: a sharp brain stem stroke. The critical time to treat the stroke ran out as doctors misunderstood the critical scans and ignored the set instructions regarding stroke. This led to him developing locked-in syndrome; a rare and fatal condition which rendered him completely conscious with being unable to move or speak: all he can do now is use his eyes to communicate.
The disaster might have been prevented. His attorney, Lloyd Bell, said in a statement that Jonathan was suffering a stroke and they did not notice. What he says highlights how the events could have been avoided, which would be repeated in court. A jury voted to conclude the gross negligence of two doctors that had failed to recognize and react to the symptoms of a stroke. The jury given Jonathan $75 million as the damages award that would provide copious medical bills, equipment, treatment, and constant life support 24 hours a day until his death.
Jack and Sharon Buckelew, the parents of Jonathan, cannot be bought off to forget what was lost. The son that they used to know as active now leads a life of being imprisoned in a body that no longer follows his lead. And they have converted their house into what amounts to a mini intensive care unit. There are feeding tubes and suction machines, specialized beds and communication devices, and all these are carefully set up to assist the vulnerable state of Jonathan. Jack said, it hurts us to see him that way. The psychological affect is indescribable, yet they are determined to make Jonathan comfortable and as mentally active as possible.
It is a daily balancing act between care giving and grieving. They speak to him, they read to him, they decipher his eye movements and small I-to-I moments in an otherwise alienating reality are experienced. Although the award of 75 million dollars is both rare and an outstanding outcome in a legal setting, it is also a painful reminder of what medical error could lead to. Though with such a verdict, the legal process is not yet complete, the family continues to go through both an emotional and legal process, appeals to the ruling are active.
The story of Jonathan is a strong warning on the need of early and accurate diagnosis and the human toll once the medical community fails. It is also a testament of love in a family through all odds of inconceivable struggle.
