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Support the Beck Family after Elliott's tragic shooting.

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Jennifer Hoofard and Lucinda Bowman are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Jeff Beck.
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On Saturday night, 3/22, Elliott, a bright and kind-hearted 16-year-old, was tragically shot in the head in a senseless act of violence. He is currently in critical condition at Randall Children's Hospital, and his friends and family are rallying around him with hope and prayers as he fights for his life.

Elliott is a strong young man, full of love, goodwill, and positivity. He brings light to those around him, and now needs our support more than ever.

Prognosis is unclear, but he is stubborn, and he is fighter. Jennifer and Jeff and family will need our support over the coming days, weeks, and months. If you are interested, please contact me about participating in a Meal Train for the family.

Update 3/25: They did a CT scan yesterday, but no word till a Peds Neuro-Radiologist looks at it. A Nephrology doc looked at it for kidney health, and said it look fairly good kidney-wise. Elliott's potassium levels were high, but that's now under control. They have EEG leads in place to monitor seizure activity, and last I heard, no seizures. Jennifer said she likes seeing his brain activity on the monitor. They did a cranial flap procedure to relieve intercranial pressure Sunday night, and his ICP (I'm guessing this means inter-cranial pressure?) has been way down near 1 or 2 (I'm guessing this is good news.).

Jeff reported last night that Elliott is pretty stable at the moment, which is good news. He had a section of skull removed to alleviate brain pressure (guessing the aforementioned cranial flap procedure). The plan is to keep him chemically paralyzed/stable till at least Weds. Still very much a wait and see, allowing the brain time to rest and heal. Jeff reports the family is doing well, all things considered.

Note: I am not a doctor or medical professional, and am just passing on information as I've heard it to keep you all in the loop.

Update 3/36 from Jennifer's cousin Julie and Uncle Bill (Dr. who flew in yesterday): Dr. Mercural briefed the ream. Elliott's shock is subsiding & his vitals signs are stabilized. They removed his intramural brain drain today, & he's still puffy from the IV support, but kidneys functioning well. Despite IV anti-epileptics, he did have EEG activity suggesting one seizure overnight: medication to be increased. A baseline brain CT was done, but no indication for repeat for a few days. An MRI would be indicated for evaluation of soft tissue damage, but cannot do one because of the metal bullet fragments. The plan is to begin weaning support in 26-48 hours to see his response. A really good doctor & super nursing team -- very knowledgeable & on the case.

There is a letter writing event to support Elliott and the family to express support and encourage positive outcomes tonight (Tues), at Abundant Light Church (3935 N Lombard St., right across the street from the Optimist Lot, at 6:30. If you are able to attend, please do, as the support would mean a lot to the family.

Update 3/27: They are weaning Elliott off the paralytics, so that is a good sign. They inserted a feeding tube, and he is producing urine, so all hopeful.

Update 3/28: Jennifer and Jeff ended up staying the night with Elliott. They were at home trying to sleep when the phone rang. The nurse wanted to know what his music preferences were, because after removing sedation he was purposefully responding with thumbs up that he could hear commands and that yes, he'd like some music. He also wiggled his toes. All on right side so far. So amazing. He's back on sedation now as his BP and inner cranial pressure rose. He has a slight fever, but remains stable.

Jennifer and Jeff were able to get a little sleep at the hospital. They remain cautiously optimistic, but are so happy with these small, miraculous improvements. He is able to follow and track information and respond, so this is amazing!

Update 3/28: Posting several news stories here at Jennifer's request to keep everyone up to speed. I got to see Elliott in the hospital yesterday. He squeezed Jennifer's hand when I was leaving, telling him how much we all love him and are pulling for him. He was swollen and puffy from all the fluids, and the trauma, but he is hanging in there. Today is a big day. Many tubes are coming out, and they are talking about intubation, which is big. I'll also post some images of the healing altar, and all the letters and cards posted in his room. Jennifer and Jeff have been reading them to him, and passages from books he loves, and playing his music for him.

I also just heard that they have the 15 year old boy who shot Elliott in custody. KATU is reporting he turned himself in, though Portland Police Bureau just said they'd arrested him, so this is unconfirmed information. But a huge relief.




Update 3/38: Today is a big day for Elliott, as they are removing a lot of tubes, and talking about extubating him, which is huge. He's got some lung infection and fever from being on the ventilator, but it was another good night for Elliott.

So good, in fact, that he is going to have a busy day. He passed his spontaneous breathing tests this morning. The ICP (inter cranial pressure monitor, I believe) has already been removed and they plan to removed his intubation and catheter soon, and we'll see how his response goes. He is actively communicating as best he can with thumbs up/down and following simple requests like pursing lips for suction of mouth.

ARREST MADE: The 15-year-old turned himself in and has been arrested in connection with Elliott's shooting. He was booked into the Juvenile Detention Hall on charges of first-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and first-degree robbery. They held his arraignment this afternoon, and are keeping him in custody.



Update 3/28: Elliott was extubated and doing well this afternoon, except in a delirium and talking a lot about the accident, and reliving the trauma. He was having trouble breathing, so they reintubated him tonight. The MD is talking about doing a tracheostomy to avoid this cycle again so he can rehab. Very hard for his parents to see him reliving the trauma of the shooting, as you can imagine. Super triggering.

Update morning of 3/30: Elliott had a good day yesterday. He will likely get his tracheostomy today. He's communicating well with his hands. When Jennifer left yesterday, he threw a fidget ball at her! He's fully conscious, but intubated still and sedated but communicating with his hands when you ask him a question. They got an exemption to have his girlfriend visit yesterday, and he loved holding her hand:)

Update afternoon of 3/30: The tracheostomy went well. Elliott is on a broad spectrum antibiotic as he has been having fevers and his WBC (guessing white blood count) is trending higher (guessing from the lung infection from the ventilator). Also guessing the fevers caused his delirium when he was first extubated. He is doing well despite this, and really using his right hand to communicate. He is also starting to move some of his left side, which is a great development. Jennifer is calling him her dragon warrior (guessing Chinese zodiac year of the dragon?). Again, not a medical professional, but my sense is this is amazing progress given we are only a week out from the shooting. The DA said they weren't sure he would live, so this is all super hopeful.

Update 3/31 morning: Elliott is doing great! He has both eyes open, nodding, following commands, giving Jennifer the "Oh god, really mom?" looks. Speech Language Therapist, Occupational Therapist, and Physical Therapist all working with him today. He just took Jennifer's ring off and is twirling it around on her hand and tapping her with it:)

Update 3/31 afternoon: I saw Elliott briefly today, and he looks much better... less puffy/swollen. And get this, after I left, he wrote on a whiteboard! He wrote: Tell Mom I love her!! This kid is a serious inspiration! He is on 2 broad spectrum antibiotics for an infection, but they aren't sure what is infected. But seriously unbelievable!

Update 4/1: Jennifer and Jeff are so grateful and humbled by the outpouring of support from their community: "we feel so lucky to have such awesomeness in our life. Please keep up the momentum and thoughts/prayers/energy into the universe that are flowing to Elliott's recovery. Elliott is doing really well and has had no fevers. They are evaluating him for the prediatric rehabilitation floor after his trach heals this week. They are looking to transfer him next mid-week if all goes well."

I asked about removing the bullet, assuming they we waiting till he was stabilized and the swelling down, to perform surgery to remove it. Turns out the bullet shattered into fragments. Going into his brain to remove them isn't indicated, as they have all cauterized, and the risk outweighs the benefit.

Update: 4/2: Elliott's infection is resolving, and he worked with Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy today, got up into a wheel chair and stayed upright for an hour, and even pushed himself in a wheel chair around the ward. He'll have to stay in the Pediatric ICU until his first tracheostomy change, then he'll move to the Pediatric rehab floor likely next week. Elliott keeps beating the odds in his recovery. It is truly phenomenal.

Update 4/3: Not much to report really, but that is a good sign! Signs of infection are lessened, and they're backing off the antibiotics a bit. They are also decreasing his pain meds, so we will hopefully see a more alert and interactive Elliott soon. The message he wrote on his whiteboard this morning was, "Can we go home in 20 min?" Only the tracheotomy healing is keeping him in the PICU at this point. There is a 7 day policy, so likely heading to rehab floor on Sunday (which is really remarkable, if you think about it. 2 weeks exactly after the shooting) after his first trach change. PT/OT will be by soon for another transition to assisted standing and then wheelchair.

Update 4/3 afternoon: Jennifer wanted me to add: Elliott received massive platelet and blood transfusions in his first 48 hours, keeping him alive. Please consider donating your blood to support other families going through medical crises.

Update 4/6: No news has been good news, as Elliott gets stronger. Today is a big day, as they will do the 1st trach change, and then he will move to the Rehab floor. Not bad for 2 weeks out!

Update 4/7: Elliott's trach change went smoothly, and he was transferred to the Rehab floor yesterday. He is asking more about the incident, as he doesn't have much memory of that night, which is a mercy right now. Jennifer reports that the Rehab floor is great, and that he is getting a shower today, and she was going to bring his girlfriend to visit him, as Elliott's been dying to see her.

Now that Elliott is out of the woods, and has been transferred to the Rehab floor at Randall, it seemed a good time to set up at Lotsa Helping Hands account for the Beck family. This is a place they can post different daily needs they could use help for while they focus their energies on supporting Elliott. He likely has a long recovery ahead of him, and this is a site you can sign up to take something like laundry, yard work, pet care, housecleaning, or errands off their to-do list. This is in addition to the Meal Train, just FYI. Here's the link to join their community: https://my.lotsahelpinghands.com/request/help-for-the-beck-family-1

And be patient if they haven't had a chance to post needs yet.

Update 4/9: Elliott starts a pretty strict schedule of inpatient rehab today. Elliott has been bored and antsy, so good he'll have something to occupy him. Jennifer says she's exhausted from being with him all day yesterday, trying to redirect him from being so feisty. I think we all know that spirit is what is driving his remarkable recovery.

Jennifer is having a lot of anger coming up. She had a dentist appt only to find out her crown broke. Yesterday they had to draft a statement to the court stating why the kid who shot Elliott should remain in custody. Normally her self-care would be to work out really hard, but obviously she hasn't been able to do that for some time. She channeled some of that anger into an email she sent to Mayor Wilson asking what his plans are to stem all the gun violence in North Portland. Since he is from North Portland, she wants to keep him accountable for how he is showing up for the community.

To his credit, Mayor Wilson sent an immediate response. He actually wanted to come to the house to speak to them in person last night, but Jennifer was too drained. She's scheduled a call with him today.

Here was his response to her email:

"Jennifer, Mayor Wilson here. I am very sorry about the trauma your son and your family is experiencing. As a father who deeply cares for my babies, I can't even imagine the pain you must be feeling. You asked to know my plans for caring for Portland and the work my team and I are doing to care for our loved ones. If my presence at your home would not be an imposition, I could stop by shortly to talk."

Jennifer will certainly be an advocate to keep the mayor accountable to his promises re: re gun violence in North Portland during her call today. She also asked me to share the following sites with you all:



Update 4/10: Elliott's IV is out, and every rehab discipline is very impressed at his performance and skills so far. He's dressing in his own clothes. Brain injuries are fluid and recovery is ongoing, but Elliott is definitely beating the odds. And he is talking around the trach, so that is amazing!

Jennifer spoke with the Mayor by phone yesterday, and he listened to her feedback about the police and says he is reaching out to the chief of police. He also connected her with Stephanie Howard, who oversees the city's office of violence prevention, who texted Jennifer promptly to say she would assist them in any way she can.
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    Co-organizers (2)

    Jennifer Hoofard
    Organizer
    Portland, OR
    Jeff Beck
    Beneficiary
    Lucinda Bowman
    Co-organizer
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