It’s been a roller coaster of emotions involving our friend, Extra Inning Softball Editor Carlos Arias and the biggest Lakers/Dodgers home you’ll find.
I’ll give him the last ones as his is Cali guy!
To recap for those not current, Carlos—who does so much for Extra Innings including team rankings, The Last Inning columns and player spotlights through blogs and Extra Star Powers—had a major stroke several weeks ago and twice he was just hours away from being taken off life support.
We were all in shock but our devastation turned to amazement and gratitude as Carlos continued to fight and today has even surprised his doctors with how he’s battled through this.
Not to say his recovery will be easy, but it’s on-going and that’s the main thing right now.
I’ve been in regular contact with his parents Will and Sue Arias and here is the latest (Quotations marks are for statements from his mother):
* First, it looks like it will be a long recovery, but if anyone can do this Carlos can. Many don’t know that he was a boxer in his earlier days—he covered boxing and MMA along with youth sports at the Orange County Register where he worked for 25 years— so he’s tough!
* Sue just told me today the good news that”
“The doctors are planning to upgrade him out of ICU. He will be on the same floor. The plan is to get the trach (tube) out next.”
If you know Carlos, he is an animated conversationalist and it’s frustrating for him to try and communicate.
Earlier in the week the doctors had tried to remove the ventilator tube but had to reinsert it as his lungs weren’t strong enough to cough on their own and remove fluids in his lungs. Progress towards that has been key…
* Another positive was tests such as an angiogram showed less damage to the brain stem than the medical staff originally expected.
“It is a bit of wait and see,” Sue said on Friday, “but last week there seemed to be no hope, now there is some… (continue to) PRAY!”
* Carlos had a tracheotomy done on Friday and it went well.
“They put the pic line (feeding tube) in and that was great. He was alert but a bit frustrated with the restraints on, but we explained they don’t want him pulling anything out.”
* My favorite update of the entire process happened on Friday…. Here’s how his mom tells it:
“He was watching the Alabama softball (Super) Regionals and it seemed to calm him. When we left, he made his index finger motion to his Dad who got close and his Dad gave him a kiss on the forehead and he smiled. And so did we…”
*****
We’ll continue updating the news on Carlos and encourage all to keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Personally, I am convinced that the prayers and positive wishes from everyone has made a huge difference.
And when Carlos gets back from this, I especially want him to know how supportive the softball community has been.
Here is one example of a note I got from a great friend in the fastpitch family who wrote:
“Hey Brentt hope all is well and Carlos is still moving in the right direction. We are praying and ready to help with any fundraising when needed please keep us posted!”
I will be looking into a GoFundMe-type of situation soon so stay tuned there.
A week from Monday we’ll start 14U club team rankings; again, if you sent info to Carlos originally on your team and did it through direct email to him, please forward to me as well or, more preferably, use our Team Nominations tab (scroll to bottom of the page).
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball
Email: Brentt.Eads@ExtraInningSoftball.com
