For a short time during the weekend, Nathaniel Pearson of Emporia was removed from a dialysis machine and a ventilator in the critical care unit at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka.
Nathaniel is the son of Steve and Ellie Pearson of Emporia.
Ellie Pearson said Tuesday afternoon that the machines, removed at separate times, were re-started and Nathaniel remains sedated and unable to communicate.
“He actually did breathe on his own,” Ellie Pearson said. “Then they turned it back on” to help him breathe easier. She said she expects they will periodically remove the ventilator to wean him from assisted breathing.
Although his kidneys did not work when he was removed from dialysis, she said that doctors expect their function will return later.
“His infection is gone,” she said.
Nathaniel was admitted to Stormont-Vail on Oct. 11 with a staphylococcal infection and bacterial meningitis, complicated by a blood disease, Leiden Factor V, which results in life-threatening blood clots. He also has other blood disorders that worsen his condition.
Septic shock caused circulation problems that killed cells in his extremities and his nose, she said; plastic surgery will be needed, though that will come later.
“So he’s going to suffer from that,” Ellie Pearson said.
Nathaniel’s father, Steve Pearson, managed to get to Ottawa Tuesday night to coach the Emporia High School soccer team’s game against Ottawa High School.
“They haven’t had me the last two weeks, and I really appreciate them working hard while I’ve been gone,” Steve Pearson said. “Leon (Ramirez) took over while I was gone. They’ve been understanding with me not being there, and they came through for me tonight. They did a great job.”
A fund to help pay Nathanial’s 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.
F Sports Editor Michael Ashford contributed to this report.