CafeMom Tickers

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Brian Douglas Adams

One of my best friends, Brian, went into the Army in March 2007. I was VERY upset to learn that he was leaving out for training the DAY BEFORE MY WEDDING! He tried to have it changed, but..it's clear that a lot of people just don't have good hearts a lot of the time.

Brian and I have always went to school together and have always been great friends!! We were even boyfriend-girlfriend in the 6th grade where our "dates" consisted of him sharing his Shock Tarts with me and swallowing Gobstoppers and making them come back up for me. HAHA. Such a charmer! We continued to be the best of friends throughout middle school, high school, and on afterwards. It's something we'll always be! I have so many fond memories of Brian coming over to our house and him, Jimmy, my brother Jeffrey, and I would just sit around talking and remembering funny things... I was just "one of the guys". I could go on for days and nights about all of the memories we've had.

After training for the Army, Brian got orders to Germany for two years. We were all devastated to learn that he wouldn't get to come home often, but were so very proud of him! We'd all keep in touch through MySpace and everything. No doubt about it! Well, when he got to Germany, he met this sweet girl named Ashley! She was also in the Army and has been an Army Fire Fighter for six years and has been on TWO tours to Iraq!! They started dating and shared the great news with all of us that they were expecting a baby!!! Brian Adams... a Daddy?! It was so crazy, but we knew he'd make a great Daddy. I was so happy to find out a couple months later that Brandon and I were also expecting our little baby shortly behind Brian's baby...so they could grow up together and be the best of friends just like Brian and I are! Then Ashley and I found out that we were BOTH going to have BOYS and that made us even more ecstatic!!! Brian was going to be able to come home from Germany for 10 days while his son was being born and for some reason... he wasn't able to because as I said... I guess some people just don't have good hearts these days? Ashley was admitted to the hospital this past Friday to be induced. They kept Brian up to date on the status and everything for his sweet little mans pending arrival. Shortly after 10 pm, Levi Douglas Adams was born at 8 pounds and was 21 1/2 inches long! It was an amazing time for everyone, but hard at the same time with Brian not being able to be there. Brian was having a hard time dealing with it and was very sad and upset. To make matters worse, he was scheduled to leave for Iraq on the 1st of December. So for him to have a hard time with this, is to be totally expected! How would YOU feel to not be there for your childs birth and then leave less than 10 days later for Iraq to go to war?? Not even meeting your child until he's a few months old!!! I totally understand where he was upset and everything.

I got a very upsetting phone call this evening from his fiance, Ashley, who was completely upset and crying to where I could barely understand her. She broke the news to me that Brian was in the hospital in Germany and things aren't looking good. She said that Brian had been throwing up and his head had been hurting since Sunday, but they just thought maybe he had a virus. Well, he went to work on Monday and was still throwing up and not feeling good so he went home. He started having seizures and his roommates called 911. They took him to the hospital on base and ended up sending him to an outside hospital for a CT scan. His lungs started to get fluid in them. The CT scan showed a blood clot on his brain and he had to be immediately taken in for surgery. They had to remove part of Brian's skull to let some of the pressure off and put a tube in and put him in a drug induced coma. They knew that if Brian woke up, he'd be in too much pain to deal with...not to mention, he'd probably freak out a little bit (or a LOT knowing my Brian) not knowing what in the world just happened to him and thats the last thing they would need. So he's still in a coma and awaiting further testing and stuff.

I just got a phone call from his sister, Ashley, and she said that things aren't looking very good. They just called Brian's parents and said they need to do a procedure to suction things out and there is a 50/50 chance that this could fail and Brian could possibly die from it. I'm in total shock at this point and don't know what to do with myself. I don't want to go through losing another friend, especially as good of a friend as Brian. I've had enough of tragic news in the past few weeks to last me for YEARS. I don't want to think about losing another friend!!! I'm praying like crazy now, praying that God will take Brian into his hands and help him recover well and quickly. This wouldn't seem fair for Brian to never get to meet his son, so Lord please be with him! Please be with all of Brian's family and friends as we all take this step-by-step. Please be with his parents as they book a flight to get to their sons side as soon as possible and let their flight be easy on them!

RIGHT BEFORE I got the news, I was going through old pictures and scanned this picture of me and Brian at Graduation Celebration in 2003 when we graduated high school. My mind and soul must have known something was about to be told to me that I didn't want to hear...




And here is a picture of his SPITTING IMAGE son, Levi Douglas Adams, who Brian BETTER COME HOME TO!


"Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid nor dismayed for the Lord is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9


UPDATE

Brian had to undergo another procedure this morning because removing a part of his skull didn't relieve enough pressure off of his brain. So the procedure they did, relieved a little bit more pressure, but he still has no brain function. I am very thankful that Brian survived the 50/50 chance of living through the procedure, but we are not out of the woods yet, so PLEASE continue to pray!! They are waiting on an American Doctor and Translator to get to Germany to see what needs to be done next. I will keep updating this blog for everyone with the latest news!! PRAY PRAY PRAY!!!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for that beautiful story. It means a lot to know that he will always have awesome friends like you and Jimmy and the other guys. Brian loves you all dearly and I am praying like I have never prayed before. We love you all, Kim

Anonymous said...

Andrea,

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. I will defiantly keep him and his family in my prayers. I hope he gets to come home soon to see his baby.

Erin

Anonymous said...

hey sweetie thank you so much for that, it was so very sweet and thankyou everyone for your prayers. please god bring him home to us . lov eyou andy
love
ashley and levi adams

Anonymous said...

found this and thought you might like it.

"Everyone has a best friend during each stage of life-only a precious few have the same one'

Anonymous said...

Andrea,

I just wanted to let you know that I will be praying for Brian and his family! Everything is in Gods hands now and everything will work out. Keep having faith and remember there are people all the way in New York praying for him!

Jennifer Orr

Anonymous said...

Hi Andrea!
I haven't talked to Brian (or you for that matter) in such a long time! I'm so sorry to hear this news. I'll be sure to keep Brian and his family in my thoughts and prayers.

Mickayla Fobbs

Anonymous said...

Andrea,

I am in total shock hearing this news. I can't picture Brian weak at all. Your story is beautiful, and I like you have had the past ten years of knowing Brian rolling through my head all day. I am praying hard for a full recovery and that he gets to meet his beautiful baby!

Ashley Dalton Alexander

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry Andrea. Sabrina texted me this weekend and told me, I was out of town. I am praying for him and his family and also for you. I know how close you guys were. I was just stuck with him for years because our names were so close lol. Nah, just kidding. He was a great person and so fun to be around. He brought smiles to everyones face and will again bring smiles to everyones face. Keep your head up and know that you have friends who care and are praying for another friend. We love you and him both. Congrats Brian and Ashley on Levi. He a beautiful little boy who has a wonderful loving family.