Miracle christening
Published: February 17, 2006
Six months ago, John Brady was just beginning to show signs of recovering from a series of mysterious seizures that left him incapacitated and in a medically-induced coma.
On Thursday, Brady recited the Lord’s Prayer and participated in his infant son’s christening in a chapel at New England Sinai Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, Column Wrapwhere he still is undergoing treatment.
“ He’s a miracle,” said his wife, Gayle, who sat beside her husband and held 6-month-old Ryan while the Rev. Anthony Daniele of Fontbonne Academy baptized their baby with the assistance of Sister Ellen Reilly, a hospital chaplain.
Family members surrounded the couple, took pictures and enjoyed a post-baptism party that doubled as a joyful family reunion.
“ We thought we were going to lose him,” said Carol Kirwin of Nashua, N.H., John’s mother, who was present along with her husband, Arthur.
“ He’s come a long way,” she said.
Also present were Gayle’s parents, Bob and Peggy Fisher of North Attleboro, and several members of both families. Gayle’s brother, Rob, and John’s sister, Kerri, acted as godparents.
John was hospitalized last spring after suddenly being stricken with unexplained fatigue, seizures and high fevers.
The source of his symptoms remain mysterious, but viral encephalitis is listed as the “ presumptive” cause, according to physician’s assistant Wynford Brome.
After months of sedation that kept John in an apathetic state, physicians began backing off on his doses in an attempt to determine whether he could regain more of his mental abilities while still keeping seizures at bay.
Results so far have been promising, Brome said.
John, who had at one point had difficulty recognizing people, began regaining memory and initiating conversations.
Last week, the 39-year-old former construction worker from North Attleboro was able to walk for the first time with the aid of a machine.
On Thursday, John held his son and gave all the appropriate responses during the service when called on by the priest.
He still speaks haltingly, tires easily and needs to be fed through a tube.
But his wife and other family members are encouraged.
“ There’s no question that I’m taking him home,” said Gayle, who added she plans to start nursing classes in the fall.
Brome said John is clearly “ rallying” and that allowing him to go home is both a short- and long-term goal. How John responds to changes in medication will have an impact on how soon that can happen.
John’s mysterious medical condition isn’t the only trial the couple has faced.
Before her pregnancy, doctors detected a mass behind Gayle’s eyes but she opted to take her chances rather than terminate the pregnancy. The mass has now disappeared, she said.
Gayle is at her husband’s side daily, cheering him on and savoring both her miracles.
“ My baby and being here for my husband are the things that keep me going,” she said.
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