Prince Friso in Critical Condition Following Skiing Accident: February 17, 2012

[An Ard Ri]

God give them strenght at this terrible time.

[Viv]

The worst case scenario came true - how sad! Everybody did what they could to their abilities, Florian Moosbrugger, the rescue team, the doctors. However in hindsight I'm probably not alone in wondering if it were better had Prince Friso not been resuscitated!

It's sad for him and his family, it's sad for every family with a loved one with severe brain damage. Maybe there's a glimmer of hope for all of them in the research labolatories of hospitals and medical schools throughout the world.

viv

[fairy tale]

Horrible The words of the doctor hit me deep down, really shocking to hear what was actually going on. I can't even imagine what the family is going through. May they stand close together and be strong with the help of God.

[Zonk]

How terrible!

My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I feel so for those little girls, Beatrix and of course, Mabel.

[martina]

So sad news :( All my prayers to Prince Friso and his family

[Princess Robijn]

The statement in German, Dutch and English:

German:
Prinz Friso ist am 17. Februar gegen 14:00 Uhr vom Notarzthubschrauber in die Innsbrucker Klinik eingeliefert worden. Der Patient war zuvor in Lech von einer Lawine verschüttet worden. Die Verschüttungszeit wurde mit etwa 25 Minuten angegeben. In der Universitätsklinik Innsbruck wurde der Patient nach der Erstversorgung im Schockraum sofort in die Traumatologische Intensivstation gebracht. Diese Einrichtung ist darauf spezialisiert schwerstverletzte Lawine Patienten mit größtem medizinischen und technischen Aufwand zu behandeln. Leiter dieser Einrichtung ist Dr. Wolfgang Koller.

Unsere Station wurde bereits vor Eintreffen des Patienten informiert und wir konnten alles für seine Ankunft vorbereiten. Prinz Friso ist unter Reanimationsbedingungen in die Klinik eingeliefert worden. Durch die lange Zeit unter dem Schnee war sein Gehirn nicht ausreichend mit Sauerstoff versorgt. Die Folge war ein Herzstillstand, der etwa 50 Minuten andauerte. In diesem gesamten Zeitraum musste der Patient reanimiert werden. 50 Minuten Reanimation ist sehr lange. Man kann auch sagen zu lange. Unsere Hoffnung war, dass die leichte Unterkühlung des Patienten das Gehirn ausreichend vor allzu großen Schäden geschützt hat. Diese Hoffnung wurde leider nicht erfüllt. Seit Freitag hat ein Team von Spezialisten um das Leben von Prinz Friso gekämpft. Gestern war zum ersten Mal eine MRI-Untersuchung möglich, ohne den Patienten zu gefährden. Seit dieser Untersuchung und den letzten neurologischen Tests gestern Abend ist klar, dass der Sauerstoffmangel massive Schäden im Gehirn des Patienten verursacht hat. Es kann derzeit nicht gesagt werden, ob er jemals wieder das Bewusstsein erlangen wird. Auf jeden Fall wird die Rehabilitation Monate, wenn nicht Jahre dauern. Die Familie von Prinz Friso wird jetzt als erstes eine geeignete Rehabilitationseinrichtung suchen.

Dutch:
Op 17 februari werd Prins Friso iets voor 14:00 uur. per traumahelikopter naar het academisch ziekenhuis in Innsbruck gebracht. De patiënt was kort daarvoor in Lech bedolven geraakt onder een lawine. De Prins heeft ongeveer 25 minuten onder de sneeuw gelegen. In het academisch ziekenhuis van Innsbruck is de patiënt na een eerste behandeling op de spoedeisende hulp meteen naar de trauma-afdeling van de intensive care gebracht. Deze afdeling is erin gespecialiseerd om ernstig gewonde lawine-patiënten met de grootst mogelijke medische en technische zorg te behandelen. Het hoofd van deze afdeling is dr. Wolfgang Koller.

Onze afdeling werd al voor aankomst van de patiënt op de hoogte gebracht. Hierdoor hebben we alle nodige voorbereidingen kunnen treffen. Prins Friso kwam in het ziekenhuis aan, terwijl hij gereanimeerd werd. Omdat hij gedurende langere tijd onder de sneeuw heeft gelegen, zijn zijn hersenen onvoldoende voorzien van zuurstof. Met als gevolg een hartstilstand die ongeveer 50 minuten duurde. Gedurende deze hele periode moest de patiënt gereanimeerd worden. Een reanimatietijd van 50 minuten is erg lang. Wellicht zelfs te lang. Het was onze hoop dat de lichte onderkoeling van de patiënt de hersenen tegen al te grote schade zou beschermen. Helaas werd deze hoop niet bewaarheid. Sinds afgelopen vrijdag heeft een team van specialisten gevochten voor het leven van Prins Friso. Gisteren was de eerste mogelijkheid een MRI-scan te maken, zonder de patiënt in gevaar te brengen. Sinds dit onderzoek en de laatste neurologische tests gisterenavond is het duidelijk dat het zuurstoftekort grote schade veroorzaakt heeft in de hersenen van de patiënt. Het is niet zeker of hij ooit weer bij bewustzijn zal komen. Een eventuele revalidatie zal in ieder geval maanden, zo niet jaren in beslag nemen. De familie van Prins Friso zal nu eerst op zoek gaan naar een geschikte revalidatiefaciliteit.

English:
Prince Friso was brought to Innsbruck university hospital by rescue helicopter at about 14:00 on 17 February, after being buried by an avalanche in Lech. He was covered for approximately 25 minutes. At the hospital, after receiving initial treatment in the reanimation unit, he was taken straight to the intensive care trauma unit. This unit specialises in treating the most seriously injured avalanche patients with the utmost medical and technical expertise. The unit's head is Dr Wolfgang Koller.

Our unit was notified of the patient's imminent arrival and we were able to prepare everything in advance. Prince Friso was brought to the hospital under reanimation conditions. Due to the length of time he was covered under the snow, his brain had been deprived of oxygen. The result was cardiac arrest, which lasted approximately 50 minutes. The patient had to be reanimated during this entire period. Fifty minutes is a very long time. One could say, too long. We hoped that the patient's mild hypothermic state had sufficiently protected the brain against excessive damage. Unfortunately, our hope was in vain. Since last Friday, a team of specialists has been fighting to save Prince Friso's life. Yesterday, a first MRI-scan was possible, without bringing the patient into danger. Since this examination and the latest neurological tests yesterday evening it is clear that the oxygen deprivation has caused extensive damage to the patient's brain. At present it is not certain whether he will ever regain consciousness. In any event, rehabilitation will take months, if not years. Prince Friso's family will now look for an appropriate rehabilitation facility.

Zijne Koninklijke Hoogheid Prins Friso, 24 februari 2012 - 13:10 - Het Koninklijk Huis

[suztav]

Upon reading the full text in English the phrase "... one can say too long ..." I prayh that God be merciful ... my mother suffered brain damage -- nothing to this extent -- following surgery. Believe me that it is a LIVING HELL to see someone previously vibrant become something that is much less functioning. At least my mother had some functionality and recognized us and had some limited speaking abiity. This is just too tragic for HM, Mabel, and those two little girls.

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by Viv

The worst case scenario came true - how sad! Everybody did what they could to their abilities, Florian Moosbrugger, the rescue team, the doctors. However in hindsight I'm probably not alone in wondering if it were better had Prince Friso not been resuscitated!

It's sad for him and his family, it's sad for every family with a loved one with severe brain damage. Maybe there's a glimmer of hope for all of them in the research labolatories of hospitals and medical schools throughout the world.

viv

Indeed you are not. But of course this is all in hindsight, at the moment you do what you can as there is still hope. It is indeed the worst case scenario!

[crm2317]

Originally Posted by Viv

The worst case scenario came true - how sad! Everybody did what they could to their abilities, Florian Moosbrugger, the rescue team, the doctors. However in hindsight I'm probably not alone in wondering if it were better had Prince Friso not been resuscitated!

It's sad for him and his family, it's sad for every family with a loved one with severe brain damage. Maybe there's a glimmer of hope for all of them in the research labolatories of hospitals and medical schools throughout the world.

viv

I agree that being left in a vegetative state seems worse than being allowed to die. I wonder if he is breathing on his own or if he is being kept alive by life support machines. If he is being kept alive by the machines then the family may decide to switch them off.

[Lenora]

Originally Posted by crm2317

I agree that being left in a vegetative state seems worse than being allowed to die. I wonder if he is breathing on his own or if he is being kept alive by life support machines. If he is being kept alive by the machines then the family may decide to switch them off.

This reminds in a way of the late Princess Grace, when the family decided to let her die....

[Al_bina]

Friso, Dutch Prince, Suffered Brain Damage, Doctos Say

[Duke of Marmalade]

Its a terrible situation to be in. I remember my grandfather being only kept alive by machines after a stroke and the doctors advised his children to switch off as there was no hope - he was 88! Still, all of his children (incl. my father), although knowing that it was the right decision, felt guilty about it whenever the topic came up.

And Friso is a young man with two young young children - I cant imagine what must be going through their heads now!!!

Its a different thing to be in the situation or theoretically thinking about it. I guess 99% of all posters here would for themselves say that they wanted machines to be switched off instead of being kept alive without any hope of full recovery but actually doing it - eg by a relative - is a different matter, for the person who is pushing the button!

[mary stuart]

they just annoced on sky news that he may never regain conceniss how terrible for all:( prayers for the all the family they must be deverstaed :(

[marlene]

This is very sad news indeed .I think the doctor was trying to gently prepare people with the words" One could say too long".I think the family will have some very hard decisions to make in the next few days.The fact that his resuscitation took 50 minutes is a very long time to spend without a proper flow of blood and oxygen and can have very serious consequences to the brain.I am afraid I don't hold out much hope for a rehabilitation but I hope I am wrong.Gaby Gifford's injury is in a way easier for the brain to accommodate to, I know this sounds incredible but it is just the way of the human body.I hope his family continues to support each other in the difficult days ahead.

[Josefine]

were does frisco and mabel live with the girls?

[Dierna23]

The worst fears have come true... Can't say how sad I am to learn about his news. I wish Mabel, the girls and Queen Beatrix all strength in the world...

[crm2317]

I didn't know whether to post them here with regards to the family's privacy at this time but over at PPE there are heartbreaking pictures of the Queen, Mabel, Prince Constantijn, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Margriet leaving the hospital. Constantijn looks like he is holding Queen Beatrix up

[corazon]

so horrible!!! poor beatrix and mabel! al the energy for them.

[Dierna23]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Its a terrible situation to be in. I remember my grandfather being only kept alive by machines after a stroke and the doctors advised his children to switch off as there was no hope - he was 88! Still, all of his children (incl. my father), although knowing that it was the right decision, felt guilty about it whenever the topic came up.

And Friso is a young man with two young young children - I cant imagine what must be going through their heads now!!!

Its a different thing to be in the situation or theoretically thinking about it. I guess 99% of all posters here would for themselves say that they wanted machines to be switched off instead of being kept alive without any hope of full recovery but actually doing it - eg by a relative - is a different matter, for the person who is pushing the button!

So true, DoM. I still feel guilty because I had to put my cat down, how must it feel if you have to decide about life and death when it comes to a family member or a friend? It's the toughest decision one could ever face I guess. I do think age does not really matter here, but of course it's even more tragic that Friso is still so young and his daughters just girls. I was at a similar age like Luana when I lost my father, I really feel sorry for the girls. My thoughts are with the family.

[Her_Majesty]

Oh dear, that's simply horrible news. I feel so sorry for the family.