Emporian Nathaniel Pearson underwent amputation surgery Wednesday at Stormont-Vail Hospital. The 27-year-old has been in the critical care unit of the hospital for 30 days, since contracting a staphylococcal infection and bacterial meningitis. His condition is complicated by a blood disease that results in life-threatening blood clots; he also suffers from other blood disorders that worsen his condition.
A re-infection of areas that had been deprived of blood flow prompted the surgery on Wednesday.
“The front third of his left foot and parts of both calves is all they’ve done so far, because those have gotten infected again,” said Steve Pearson, Nathaniel’s father.
Nathaniel Pearson remains on dialysis 24 hours a day and continues to use a breathing tube. Steve Pearson said his son can breathe on his own, though it is such an exertion that assistance is necessary.
“When I left this morning, even though he’s sedated, he was very alert,” Steve Pearson said on Wednesday. “He smiles sometimes at the sound of your voice, although he can’t respond.”
Nathaniel Pearson’s business, Sporadic Games in the Flinthills Mall, has been closed since Pearson entered Stormont-Vail on Oct. 11.
A fund to help pay expenses has been opened at Bank of America, 2727 West 15th Ave. Checks need to be made payable to the Nathaniel Pearson Medical Fund. Donations are tax-deductible, according to Hillary Sullivan of the bank.