Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Jan 18, 2010 10:35 pm US/Central
Crosby, Minn. Dad Disabled By H1N1 Complications
Heather Brown
ROCHESTER, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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<DD>Tom Johnston with his wife, Tammi Johnston, and their children. Johnston Family
</DD></DL>
Thomas Johnston needs help breathing and his brain doesn't respond much, but every so often he squeezes his children's hands. It's much better than he was just a few weeks ago, when doctors told his wife he might not make it.
"This is just devastating and mind-blowing and I still can't wrap my head around what happened to him," said Tom Johnston's wife, Tammi Johnston.
At the end of October, Tom Johnston was a healthy 40-year-old who came down with the H1N1 flu. A few days later, he started throwing up and his nose and lips turned blue. He'd come down with pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital because a virus had started attacking his kidneys and brain.
The last time Tammi Johnston heard him talk was on Nov. 3.
She says it's particularly hard because his friends know him as tough and strong. His family knows him as funny, while his 3-year-old daughter only knows her daddy isn't taking her to the park.
"I don't want to live without him," Tammi Johnston said. "Kids don't want to be without their dad."
Just a few days before Christmas, Tom Johnston was transferred to St. Mary's Hospital at the Mayo Clinic where he's getting treatments that doctors say will give him the best chance down the road.
Neurologist Dr. Lyell says patients with brain damage make very slow progress, if they ever do.
"Do I think he'll get 100 percent back? I don't know, but we want to give him every chance he can to do that," Dr. Lyell said.
Two months ago, Tom Johnston financially supported the family while Tammi Johnston stayed home with the children. He took care of the finances and the bills. Now, Tammi Johnston can't even ask him what goes where. Everything in their house reminds her of him.
Tammi Johnston says she often asks, "why him?" Doctors say they don't know why a young, healthy guy got so sick.
During the week, Tammi Johnston stays at home with the kids in Crosby while they go to school. They visit Tom Johnston on the weekends. It's the only way they know to live right now.
"I'll hang onto whatever bit of hope there is and that's what we'll have to live on until the future comes, and that could be a long time," said Tammi Johnston.
You can help the Johnston family by donating to:
Thomas Johnston Benefit Account
First National Bank
PO Box 520
Deerwood, MN 56444
(218) 534-3111
The family is also holding a benefit dinner and silent auction.
Saturday, March 6
Convention Center
Aitkin, MN
http://wcco.com/health/flu/thomas.johnston.h1n1.2.1434135.html
Crosby, Minn. Dad Disabled By H1N1 Complications
Heather Brown
ROCHESTER, Minn. (WCCO) ―
<DL class="cbstv_article_images cbstv_img_border" sizcache="0" sizset="8"><DT>
<DD>Tom Johnston with his wife, Tammi Johnston, and their children. Johnston Family
</DD></DL>
Thomas Johnston needs help breathing and his brain doesn't respond much, but every so often he squeezes his children's hands. It's much better than he was just a few weeks ago, when doctors told his wife he might not make it.
"This is just devastating and mind-blowing and I still can't wrap my head around what happened to him," said Tom Johnston's wife, Tammi Johnston.
At the end of October, Tom Johnston was a healthy 40-year-old who came down with the H1N1 flu. A few days later, he started throwing up and his nose and lips turned blue. He'd come down with pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital because a virus had started attacking his kidneys and brain.
The last time Tammi Johnston heard him talk was on Nov. 3.
She says it's particularly hard because his friends know him as tough and strong. His family knows him as funny, while his 3-year-old daughter only knows her daddy isn't taking her to the park.
"I don't want to live without him," Tammi Johnston said. "Kids don't want to be without their dad."
Just a few days before Christmas, Tom Johnston was transferred to St. Mary's Hospital at the Mayo Clinic where he's getting treatments that doctors say will give him the best chance down the road.
Neurologist Dr. Lyell says patients with brain damage make very slow progress, if they ever do.
"Do I think he'll get 100 percent back? I don't know, but we want to give him every chance he can to do that," Dr. Lyell said.
Two months ago, Tom Johnston financially supported the family while Tammi Johnston stayed home with the children. He took care of the finances and the bills. Now, Tammi Johnston can't even ask him what goes where. Everything in their house reminds her of him.
Tammi Johnston says she often asks, "why him?" Doctors say they don't know why a young, healthy guy got so sick.
During the week, Tammi Johnston stays at home with the kids in Crosby while they go to school. They visit Tom Johnston on the weekends. It's the only way they know to live right now.
"I'll hang onto whatever bit of hope there is and that's what we'll have to live on until the future comes, and that could be a long time," said Tammi Johnston.
You can help the Johnston family by donating to:
Thomas Johnston Benefit Account
First National Bank
PO Box 520
Deerwood, MN 56444
(218) 534-3111
The family is also holding a benefit dinner and silent auction.
Saturday, March 6
Convention Center
Aitkin, MN
http://wcco.com/health/flu/thomas.johnston.h1n1.2.1434135.html