I consider myself very intelligent but right up until I found this thread I had no idea he was already ‘dead’ I read coma and thought he just needed time
When Archie was first resuscitated- meaning they managed to get a heart rhythm compatible with life he would be classed as ‘alive’ and then would have been put into the coma at this point. His brain had already been traumatically damaged at this point to be able to do anything without the support of drugs and mechanical ventilation. The CPR was enough to get the heart back into a rhythm but not started quickly enough to get blood and therefore oxygen to the brain and his other vital organs. Without the oxygen the cells in the brain start to die within minutes. A person can then not control their own breathing, blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rate etc etc with such an extensive injury and one that can’t be recovered from as the brain is just ‘too dead’.
The ventilator is breathing for him and supplying his organs with the oxygen needed to work, apart from the brain as the article above states their is no blood flow to the brain. He is likely on very high doses of vasopressors and inotropes which work together to increase blood pressure and how much the heart pumps- stopping these would result in death fairly quickly.
His temperature is most likely being artificially controlled, his digestive system will be failing so will be on pump feeds of TPN maybe. After such a long time in ITU he is likely to be in renal failure now so would be on dialysis if so.
It is incredibly sad for all involved but there is no miracle for this young boy