After George Pickering III suffered a stroke in January, doctors pronounced him brain-dead. His mother and brother agreed to a ‘terminal wean’ – meaning that life-support would gradually be withdrawn – and doctors even alerted organ donation services.
But George’s dad – George Pickering II – wasn’t convinced that his son was ready to die.
After George Pickering III suffered a stroke in January, doctors pronounced him brain-dead. His mother and brother agreed to a ‘terminal wean' meaning that life-support would gradually be withdrawn and doctors even alerted organ donation services.
But George's dad George Pickering II wasn't convinced that his son was ready to die. Speaking to KPRC, he said:
"They were moving too fast. The hospital, the nurses, the doctors. I knew if I had three or four hours that night that I would know whether George was brain-dead."
Desperate, George took his gun and forced his way into his son's room. Hospital staff called the police, and a three hour stand-off ensued.
George eventually surrendered peacefully, but only after his son squeezed his hand. A sure sign that he had been misdiagnosed, and wasn't really brain-dead.
George II was arrested and spent time in jail, but the charges against him were reduced earlier this month, and he was released.
As his son said:
"There was a law broken, but it was broken for all the right reasons.
I'm here now because of it. It was love, it was love."
Now the criminal case is resolved, the family just want to lead peaceful lives.
The gamble paid off for this father who refused to give up as his son later woke up from his coma. Today, he is fully recovered, and will be spending Christmas with his dad.
