Seth’s Decision to Live: The Onset of His Journey Back to Us
A photo I captured a week later in North Tustin, near Lemon Heights, at the site of the accident
The Day That Changed Everything
The jarring impact of Seth’s head against the asphalt altered our son’s life, sending him into a coma. It caused eight skull fractures and several blood clots and shook his brain so intensely that it tore nerve fibers, disrupting brain signals and causing catastrophic neurological damage.
Rushing to Seth’s Side
Unaware of the accident’s severity, we received a call from one of Seth’s friends, informing us he had been in a skateboard car accident and was rushed to OC Global Trauma Center by the fire department. Isis and I raced there, hearts pounding, imagining, at worst, a broken arm or a sprained ankle, but nothing too severe, but still very worried. However, as we approached the ER, the sight of a fire truck outside sent a jolt of fear through me. As if God guided me, I entered through the ER doors to find Seth surrounded by medical staff in a frenzy of life-saving efforts. The shock of seeing him there, with the hospital team cutting away his clothes and working to intubate him, hit me with the brutal reality that this was far more serious than I had imagined. I barely had time to announce myself as his father before being led away, my heart heavy with the gravity of the situation.
The Weight of Reality
Moments later, I found Isis in the ER waiting room and had the heart-wrenching task of telling her that our son was gravely injured and that he was not ok. In the following hours, I felt outside my body engulfed in a state of helplessness and worry that defied belief. Then, the friends who were with Seth at the time of his accident arrived at the ER. They recounted the harrowing details of how Seth had struck the pavement with such force that he immediately lost consciousness and became unresponsive, with blood flowing from his ear. However, the police did not arrive, and nobody filed a police report — a detail I will expand on later. Shortly after learning about Seth’s accident, hospital staff quickly escorted us to a private room for an urgent update: Seth was on life support and needed brain surgery to alleviate the pressure from his swelling brain. They had to perform a craniectomy, a procedure where removing part of the skull allows the swollen brain to expand without extra pressure, thereby preventing further damage and maintaining consistent blood flow and oxygen supply. The passage of time became a blur — whether it was minutes or hours, I can’t precisely recall. What remains vivid, however, is the moment the neurosurgeon stepped into the room, bearing news that, despite the technical success of the operation, the scans unveiled profound structural damage within Seth’s brain. His overall state was depicted in stark, grim lines, signaling a prognosis so dire it whispered the unthinkable possibility of not surviving. We immediately began informing our family and close friends about the heartbreaking situation with Seth. In the following hours, we hung on for any updates or hope. As more loved ones arrived and received updates, hospital staff ushered us into his room. Our Seth lay there, encircled by a complex network of tubes and wires and the constant sound of beeping, with a line inserted through the area of his skull that surgeons had removed — a sight that profoundly shocked us and etched itself permanently into our memories.
Seth, surrounded by tubes and wires with a surgical line on his skull
Facing Seth’s New Reality
As specialists gathered to perform tests, CAT scans, and procedures to stabilize Seth, they shared a crucial detail that would etch itself into our memories forever: Seth’s Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was a mere 3 out of 15. The gravity of this score was crushing — it meant no motor response, highlighting a severe disconnect between his brain and body, no verbal response, indicating profound cognitive impairments, and no eye response, showing his complete lack of consciousness. The devastating news that no light reflex was present in Seth’s pupils, marking a GCS-P of 1, confirmed his state of deep coma. This moment of realization was shattering. I remember seeking clarity from the doctors, still hesitant to alarm his older brother Kain, who was away at college, until we grasped the full extent of Seth’s condition. But when a doctor advised us to prepare for the worst, suggesting we gather loved ones for what might be our final moments with Seth, the sorrow was overwhelming. Hearing Isis’s cries of despair was an agony I’ll never forget. Compelled by the urgency, I called Kain to break the news over the phone: a catastrophic accident had left his younger brother in a coma, and we needed him by our side. As our family and friends gathered, the grim prognosis weighed heavily on us, filling the air with shock and sorrow. While some found themselves at a loss for words, others appeared visibly shaken, yet we all united in hope and despair for Seth. As we inched closer to noon, another doctor checked on Seth, expressing optimism by saying, “He’s a fighter, I can tell.” He acknowledged our pain seeing Seth in such a state. Still, he assured us that, at that moment, Seth was alive, showing brain activity without critical swelling or herniation, which were positive signs. Unlike the usual grim updates, this was a glimmer of hope. “Every day is a reset,” he explained. “If there’s stability, you build on it and move to the next. We’re on step 2 of 200, facing many challenges ahead. But Seth’s youth is his advantage; young people fight the hardest.
But Seth’s youth is his advantage; young people fight the hardest.
After receiving the update that Seth was in stable condition for transportation, we decided to move him to CHOC Children’s Hospital, placing our trust in their renowned expertise to manage his intricate medical needs. CHOC is recognized as one of the premier pediatric hospitals in Southern California, and the fact that one of my closest friends, a leading pediatric surgeon at CHOC, had been guiding us since the accident’s initial hours only reinforced our confidence. As the preparations for Seth’s transfer concluded, the arrival of the CHOC team in the trauma room felt monumental, akin to the entrance of superheroes, drawing looks of admiration from everyone present. This sight instilled a newfound sense of peace in me, primarily upon learning that a room was already prepared for Seth, signaling a positive turn in our journey. Upon exiting the elevator at CHOC, we were warmly welcomed by the exceptional clinical team on the ICU’s sixth floor. Our room, positioned in a corner with a breathtaking view and adjacent to the control center, provided us with a comforting balance of proximity to the medical team and privacy. As Seth settled in, the staff’s efforts to adapt his care felt like a fresh start was underway. Then, the confident stride of the neurosurgeon entering our room and his introduction to Seth marked a pivotal moment. Within minutes, he infused us with hope, assuring us of CHOC’s commitment to explore every possible avenue for Seth’s recovery. His conviction, based on extensive experience, that Seth would overcome this challenge lifted the heavy shadow of despair. The surgeon’s presence seemed to metaphorically clear the darkness from the room, a gesture that felt like he was throwing it far away from us. At that moment, Isis and I exchanged glances of relief, profoundly feeling that we were indeed in the best hands.
Over fifty days at CHOC, Seth faced numerous challenges with resilience, experiencing victories and setbacks. The constant sound of medical machinery and the presence of diverse medical teams — spanning trauma, neurology, neurosurgery, and critical care — created an atmosphere of dedicated respect rather than overwhelm. God had directed these professionals to us, ensuring Seth received all-encompassing care. Despite his brain injury, Seth’s vital signs remained stable, a testament to the focused care on managing his life support, particularly the crucial monitoring of his intracranial pressure to prevent further brain swelling. Amidst this, the CHOC team’s exceptional kindness comforted Isis’s unwavering presence at his side and our family’s brief respites to the cafeteria. This experience seemed tailor-made, blending professional excellence with heartfelt empathy, perfectly meeting our needs during this trying time. In a future recount, I plan to honor CHOC’s impactful role in our journey thoroughly.
Seth’s CHOC trauma team, including my close friend, surgeon Dr. Mustafa Kabeer
Every day at CHOC brought a blend of apprehension and hope for Seth. We celebrated his progress, such as when he started breathing independently, which seemed as monumental as scaling Everest, achieved through gradual adjustments to his respiratory support. The possibility of a tracheostomy, which could risk his ability to sing, loomed over us, yet we were prepared to accept it if necessary. Miraculously, Seth began showing signs of breathing independently, leading to removing the tracheal tube and shifting to nasal tubes for breathing assistance. His oxygen support was gradually reduced, and then, one remarkable morning, Seth began to breathe entirely on his own.
That day was surreal as Seth gradually began to make his presence felt again. His determination to survive shone through; he was the person to pull through such adversity. The sound of his cough, unmistakably Seth’s, was a comfort. It was as though, through those familiar sounds, he was signaling to us, “Mom, Dad, I’m still here. Just wait and see.”
“Mom, Dad, I’m still here. Just wait and see.”
The Power of Collective Hope
Weeks later, God knocked at our door, ushering in a wave of support transcending faiths and borders. Our friends, some devout Catholics, dedicated every Sunday to Seth, sharing photographs as symbols of their prayers. A pilgrimage to Mexico City was made by a kind soul, offering prayers for Seth under the Virgin of Guadalupe’s protective gaze. Families connected through relations from distant Iran sent their prayers, joining a global chorus of support. Christian groups, friends, and even those we’d met but briefly united in prayer for Seth’s well-being.
Among this swell of spiritual solidarity, my cousin from back home, alongside my aunts and his family, shared video prayers and heartfelt messages, sustaining a year-long vigil of faith for Seth. Seth’s godparents mobilized prayer warriors across cities, echoing our pleas for Seth’s recovery. Our dear friends introduced Seth’s story to a prayer group within the Jehovah’s Witnesses community in La Jolla, bridging gaps between us and hearts we’d never met. Tokens of faith and symbols of divine love began to surround Seth, each a beacon of hope and a testament to a community’s collective prayer. Our neighbors embodied this spirit of community and faith. They, along with their family, friends, and church group from Saddleback, brought their prayers and presence into our lives, a remarkable testament to what an incredible family can do. Amid these acts of kindness, we were graced with sacred clay from Karbala, a symbol of healing from the Muslim community, and oil from St. Charbel’s temple in Lebanon, embodying his spiritual legacy and the unity of faiths. Encouraged by Seth’s godfather to seek precision in our prayers, Isis and I called for prayers focused on Seth’s response to light.
Eddie, Seth’s Godfather, watches over Seth following a heartfelt prayer
Seth’s Flicker of Progress
Following Easter Sunday, the doctor walked into our room to check if Seth was responsive to light. And then suddenly, there was a flicker of a change. This moment, though small, was a monumental milestone in our journey, illuminating Seth’s relentless fight and undeniable presence among us. Seth’s subtle yet profound reaction to light stood as a miraculous affirmation of faith, hope, and the immense power of collective prayer.
At that moment, it felt like God and the universe echoed our prayers, softly saying, ‘I’ve heard you. Seth isn’t lost; he’s stepping back into the light.’ As morning follows the darkest night, our faith and hope have found their answer — Seth’s journey back to us has begun.