Dana
My brother Dana was shot 3 times. Twice in the leg and once in his abdomen.
The news report on it was vague, but covered the bare facts: that it was an armed robbery. That they took his truck. That he was airlifted to a hospital.
He’s been in the ICU since Saturday, in and out of plateaus of healing. Lower, lower, higher. Higher, lower, lower, low.
Dana’s never been one to rest.
He usually gets about 4 hours of sleep a night, and is constantly in action. Even sedated, with wires on him, dripping tubes and with a ventilator, he had to be strapped to the bed because he was trying to get up.
So many wires. So many machines.
And so much love.
I can’t thank all of you enough for the outpouring of prayer and love that you’ve given to Dana and my family. I don’t want to keep asking for more, but I am, because Dana is not out of the ICU yet.
He’s come a long way and still has a long way to go. He can use all of the prayers and healing energy that you can send him.
Moxie has helped me a lot in this.
As I emerged from prayer the other day, I was struck funny by the fact that the last time I have prayed this hard was when I was pregnant with this little girl.
Yes, she with the dirty face from climbing around the gardens of the hospital and running all over the place.
When I was pregnant with her, she had diffuse fetal hydrops – her skin was completely separated from her body and filled with fluid. She had fluid in her head. She had huge heart holes. She was not expected to be born alive, indeed, they said she wouldn’t likely make it past the second trimester. She was given a “0%” chance of survival.
There she is again, that child who had a “0%” chance of survival, leading the way in a race to the cafeteria.
So… miracles happen. They do. Moxie, born with no health issues whatsoever, is proof of that. Her hydrops and heart holes cleared by themselves before birth. She was born healthy and remains one of the healthiest people in our family.
This gives me hope with Dana, and refreshes my connection with the power of prayer.
I don’t really have words to describe the pain and sorrow that I know all of us feel in seeing our beloved Dana in so much pain.
We know that this is a pivotal place in his life. He’s living his story now, and it’s an intense one.
And we remain here for him.
Hula vinaka Meriah. I’m sitting here at the hospital waiting for my husband who is in the hyperbaric chamber for oxygen treatment. Reading your story about Dana’s life and what happened that led him to be in critical condition in the ICU.
I wept as I read your story.
I am so sorry that that happened to him. It’s senseless.
I will continue to say prayers for his recovery.
Thinking of you guys in my frequent prayers.
Much love to you and your family.
Mele from North Carolina. ❤❤❤
Thank you so much, Mele… xoxo I hope your husband is okay? Is he? Did something happen?
And yes, it’s all so senseless and horrific. We’re crying over here, too.
Much love. xox
sending love to you and your family and especially to dana for a speedy and full recovery….gail
thank you.
Sorry Meriah. Following, hoping, praying sending every bit of everything I have to send. Im so sorry. hold his hand, love him.
Thank you, Miriam – xox
What a devastating turn of events! I’ve been quietly following your blog for awhile, and I so appreciate your voice and perspective. Thoughts and prayers for your family and Dana.
thank you.
Thank u so much 4 the updates ….I went 2 church this morning 2 pray 4 him and lit a candle 4 him… I hope that God hears my prayers…love u both soooo much !!!!! I left my cell no.# on ur messenger. …XOXOXOXOXO’S
Thank you so much, Susie! Much love. xoxo
Dana is an amazing, beautiful person. We love him, and are sending every healing thought we can. I can’t wait to see you at the cafe again! But for now, just rest, heal, and get better.
thanks, Aaron
Dana is a friend of mine. I too live in blue lake and have many many fond memories of Dana and his huge amount of love. A year ago today, I was actually on my way to the hospital or just arriving at the hospital as I write this, I was in a major motorcycle accident outside of blue lake. I broke many bones on the left side of my body and broke my back in 4 places. Some one that was visiting me said Dana sends his prayers of love and healing, which meant a lot to me, and now I’m doing the same. Dana is a very strong man and he will pull through this. I will continue to send my prayers his way and to you and entire family.
thank you
I’m sending healing prayers for Dana and courage for him and your family. I am a neighbor and customer of the cafe and have always appreciated Dana’s welcoming kindness. I hope to see his bright, smiling face in Blue Lake soon.
thank you – xo
Meriah,
My daughter posted this on Facebook. I have never had to walk in your shoes, as I have been the one in accidents. I remember when I hit my head on the bottom of the swimming pool with 2 babies to care for. The fact that I was alive was the first miracle! I was rushed to the hospital and they x-rayed my neck vertebra by vertebra, only to find that I didn’t break my neck. Second miracle. I could go on and on with that one or many others. Dana is needed by you and your daughter. We will pray for his healing. My hubby has a world wide prayer chain, and I will ask him to put this out so people from all over the globe will be praying for your Dana. The enemy willseek to destroy, but God heals!
thank you – I really appreciate the prayer chain. And also the account of miracles. I love miracles.
I was so sorry to hear about what happened to Dana. He has done so much for the town od Blue Lake. I remember when I told him I was born in China and he asked me where. I told him it was in Tsingtao and he said no way. He said he had lived there for awhile. I hope so much hope for a speedy recovery.
Love, Jim Kiniery
Thanks, Jim. I hope to share this with him when he comes out
Heartbroken to hear this! I was a student in Blue Lake in 2008-2009 and Dana was one of my closest friends. I was up last week, visiting from New York, and poked my head in to see if he was around! Is there a hospital address I could send flowers or a card to?
Not yet – but I’d be glad to share something later, when he’s totally out of the woods. Thank you – xo
Dana my brother is in icu right now since last Friday he arrived in septic shock and accute pancreatitis with perforated bowels. They had us saying our goodbyes Friday night with a 1/10 chance he’d even make it out of surgery. … it’s Thursday now he’s still alive and has beaten incredible odds power of prayer is definitely amazing have hope Dana I will be praying with you through this.
wow! thanks for sharing. And I hope your brother has a complete recovery too.
I’m sorry Dana is your brother none the less have hope all of you. We have a amazing God who can do all things.
0 Melissa !!! Please take every chance you have to whisper in Dana’s ear that we love him and are holding prayer vigils to honor his healing. My heart pours out to you & yours with much love . . .
For MERIAH, Dana & Family ~ much love & prayer !!! ((read Melissa’s post and reacted with typo))
Everybody loves Dana so much…he is one of the most positive and wonderful people I have ever met. Always there with his shining light and big bear hugs…whoever robbed and shot him must not have known him. Because if they did, they’d have known that if they had told him their troubles, Dana would have given them the shirt off his back and sent them away with a smile. So so sad to hear this news. Sending white light and love. Xoxoxo Please let us know when we can visit him.
Thank you – and that is so true. Dana WOULD have given them the shirt off his back.
I’ll let you know – he’s still not out of the woods yet. May likely be a while. But at least it’s in sight at this point! xo
Huge hugs and healing thoughts from my heart to yours
Meriah, the whole Blue Lake community is saddened by this and we are praying for his recovery. Please share with him that we are all thinking of him and miss his smile.
I will. He’s been unconscious (heavily sedated) since last Friday, but I think he can hear and understand at times. I’ll tell him.
Thank you for the prayers – xox
He has always been do kind to me, I am praying and I also have a prayer chain going in Southern California from family and friends there. Thank you so for the updates.
Thank you, too, for the prayer chain and love.
Dana my thoughts and prayers have been with you and your family and will continue to be until I see your smiling face,and can get one of your famous hugs I will have some chantrelles waiting and we can have one of those yummy pizzas get well soon my friend stay strong.
To Dana and his family. Our heart’s go out to you all. I’m seriously trying to be positive but first I have to let these big alligator tears flow for I am truely saddened by this incident. Dana was a huge part of our lives when we (my husband Wayne, my daughter Kassidi and myself),were at a tough transitional place. The kindness and generosity he gave, especially to my child, had a greater impact on our lives than anything else going on at that time. It’s been many years ago (8-9)but we all still have much love and respect for Dana for being such an awesome person. Now I will pray on bended knee that it be Gods will for Dana to make a full and speedy recovery. The story of meriahnicols beautiful daughter is great and does remind me that miracles still happen. If anyone can do this it’s Dana! God bless You all! With much love and respect the James family
Thank you so much – for the sharing and the love. We’ll be telling Dana of your message as soon as we can. Love to you all. xox
I send Dana all the bright smiles and cheerful good mornings, he has shared with me and my family over the years, right back to him. May they usher him out of the ICU on a river of smiles and love very very soon. Be well. We are thinking of you.
Your cross the road Christmas lighted neighbors.
Thank you! xo
Thank you for sharing these beautiful words! We are sending all the love and prayers we can! Your family is so amazing and generous with golden hearts that miracles should keep coming true. Much love to you all! Please tell Dana we are looking forward to seeing his shining face here in Blue Lake soon!
Thank you! I’ll tell him as soon as I can. xo
I am so, so sorry! I will be saying prayers for your brother and family. Hugs from the Bay Area, Kristen & family
I’m so sorry your family is going through this. Hospital waiting rooms are terrible places for families to gather. Sending healing thoughts. xoxoxo
Meriah,
I just found out about Dana and got an update from Yu-han today. I am calling around Hawaii asking for prayers to as many Baha’is as i can.
Jason
Thanks Jason – man, it’s good to hear from you! Lots of love to you and your family
I’m adding Dana to my daily prayers for a “refuah shelaymah” (complete and speedy recovery). Thank you for sharing this story. It’s heartrending, but full of hope. And there are times that all we can do is pray and hope.
I heard yesterday that Dana didn’t make it. Please say it isn’t so. I’ve been thinking he was on the mend????
Bula Mariah,
Hope Dana has recovered. We were in the same class back in Yat-sen in 1986 (Form 3).
Thinking of you and Dana and the whole family in prayer.
Susana
Bula Susana, and thank you.
Dana did not recover. He passed away on September 5th. Please keep him in your prayers and thoughts, as he is wrapped in the mercy and love of God.
xo meriah