A TEENAGE boy who was declared dead after being hit by a van has started breathing - just hours before his organs were going to be donated.
Lewis Roberts, 18, started to wake up and blink after his grieving relatives were told he was brain dead four days following the tragic crash in Leek, Staffordshire.
3
3
Hours before he was set to undergo an operation to donate his organs, the teen began breathing on his own despite there being "zero chance" he would pull through.
Two weeks ago, the former Leek High School pupil, from Blackshaw Moor, Staffordshire, appeared to have lost his fight for life at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Lewis was knocked over on the afternoon of Saturday, March 13 and was flown to hospital by air ambulance.
His sister Jade Roberts, 28, posted an extraordinary video with her brother from his hospital bedside on March 18 - where the teen begins breathing on his own.
Recording the machine monitoring his breathing, she said: "Are you ready Lew, one, two, three breathe."
We are literally unsure where to start.. Posting on behalf of the whole family.. Yesterday North staffs after taking out numerous tests told us Lewis had given up the fight, no response and had suffered brain stem death... We signed forms you wouldn't even believe and conversations you'd never believe... This morning we were intended to say our final goodbyes. He was officially certified as dead yesterday... And his death was even reported to the coroner.. I headed up at midnight along with Emily, brother and sister and law, I held Lewis hand and asked him to breath after 1 2 3... We were waiting for a brown line to show for many days, to show he had taken a breath for himself but we had nothing.. Midnight When I said 1 2 3 breath Lewis a brown line showed. The middle line of the video shows the brown line which is Lewis taking a breath for himself.. When I said breath the brown line showed and he took a breath.. We were told no it must be an error impossible. And they are sorry and they understand its such a difficult time for the family... We agreed no Lewis can hear us that isn't no inconvenience... Got back home to a phone call... 'Lewis is breathing now' .. His eyes are dilating which before we had nothing. Zero... And to be told he was brain dead and suffered brain stem death and was literally certified as dead.. The hospital family etc can not even believe the miracle they said they've never ever witnessed this and Lewis is the second person in the whole wide world to do this!!!! Mega mega mixed emotions.. Just absolutly unbelievable... Please keep praying we are obviously so so over whelmed after hearing we lost our boy. They've apologised... Noted that they've made a major error which will be investigated.... But our boy is here... He's breathing fully on his own which was told to be impossible... ❤️ ABSOLUTE MIRACLE. VIDEO ATTACHED Everyone's constant messages, posts etc are so so appreciated and so over whelming it's just insane
Posted by Jade Roberts on Thursday, March 18, 2021
The device then showed a brown line - as she cried out: "Have a break, clever boy."
Another person off-camera then added through tears: "He's just twitched."
Later in the clip - after a few unsuccessful attempts to get him to breathe on his own - Jade said: "One, two, three, and a big breath."
The machine again turned brown, as the sister added: "I'm telling you Lew, you're amazing, you are amazing."
He's reportedly getting stronger every day following the "miracle" that has left his family more hopeful than ever.
Along with the video, his sister wrote: "He was officially certified as dead yesterday, and his death was even reported to the coroner.
3
"We were waiting for a brown line to show for many days, to show he had taken a breath for himself but we had nothing.
"Midnight, when I said 1 2 3 breath Lewis, a brown line showed. The middle line of the video shows the brown line which is Lewis taking a breath for himself.
"We were told no, it must be an error, impossible.
"Got back home to a phone call... 'Lewis is breathing now.'
"His eyes are dilating, which before we had nothing."
A fund-raising appeal has been set up for a teenager, with £1,800 already donated.
Appeal organiser Chloe Roberts said: "On March 13, Lewis suffered catastrophic head injuries when he was struck by a van in his hometown of Leek and was flown to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.
"Four days later, the doctors broke the news to our family that nothing more could be done as he had unfortunately suffered a 'brain stem death' and sadly passed away.
"After saying our goodbyes to Lewis, close family bravely agreed for his organs to be donated to help the lives of seven other people.
SECOND LIFE
"This bought Lewis extra time before his life support machine was turned off. Just hours before Lewis' surgery, he began to breathe again on his own.
"A miracle any family could wish for after being told he had zero chance of pulling through.
"After this Lewis has carried on progressing. He has started to react to pain tests, moving his limbs on his own, and also moving his head from side to side, blinking and also moving his mouth.
"Every day, this boy is getting stronger.
"Many people have asked to send money for a pint for Lewis. Any money that is sent will be for Lewis when he is home and back on his feet.
"We would just like to say, as a family, thank you so much and we are very grateful for everyone's prayers and best wishes for Lewis."
Following the launch of the fund-raising appeal, sister Jade Roberts, aged 28, told StokeonTrent Live: "Thank you so, so much to every single one of you who has donated. Lewis will be chuffed to bits.
Most read in Health News
"We cannot wait for him to wake up and see it."
Read More on The US Sun
Staffordshire Police are continuing to investigate the collision.
You can donate to the fundraiser here.
