Family raising money for Vancouver man in mysterious coma
VANCOUVER, Wash. – Luke Ashe stopped drinking, hired a personal trainer and lost more than 120 pounds last year.
But just when he turned his life around with a healthier lifestyle, the 27-year-old Vancouver man slipped into a mysterious coma. His grandmother found him unresponsive in his bedroom last month.
Doctors said several strokes damaged his brain, but they can’t figure out what caused them.
“The doctors are perplexed and they don’t know,” said Myrna Ashe, Luke's grandmother. “They tell us he had a major stroke that affected both parts of his brain, that his heart stopped at one point and they don’t know for how long.”
Insurance is covering part of Luke’s medical costs, but his family has no way of knowing how long he’ll be in a coma or how much care he’ll need if he wakes up.
“In the very beginning they said Luke will wake up, so we cling to that,” Myrna Ashe said.
His family said he’s shown signs of improvement, but they’ve been inconsistent.
“It’s the little things that he does. Someone might say squeeze my hand, and maybe he might squeeze their hand, but then tomorrow he wouldn’t have that recognition,” said Ashe.
His mother is at his bedside every day waiting for him to wake up.
“I know so many prayers have been said on his behalf,” said Ashe. “And I know that will be what will bring him around. Of course, the hardest part is wanting it to happen now.”
Sunday, Luke’s family is hosting a silent auction to help pay for his medical care. It will be at the Buffalo Wild Wings, located at 7704 NE 5th Avenue in Hazel Dell, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Sounds eerily similar to Vanessa Ogden's story. What is going on in the west?Â
Ok, I feel for the family, it is hard to watch something like that, but the best thing would to let him go naturally. The Odds of him having an independent life are pretty small.Â
i agree with correct...big time.  the worse part is half of the sob stories are hoaxs
I come here to read the news, not to be solicited for money. Geez. KATU's news has devolved into a congregation of panhandlers.
@correct  Don't like it, don't read it.
There's always Faux News.
@Mikey and the Washington Compost
@Mikey and MSLSD
I'm sorry he is in a coma, but there are a lot of people who have medical issues. Those don't come to popular attention. Perhaps I should remember Emily Sinovic at KATU News if I ever have a medical problem! Come on people, things happen and they aren't always news. Try social media for this type or problem?
@jpk A relatively healthy 27 year old falling into a coma isn't a run-of-the-mill occurrence, and that's what makes it newsworthy. And if you ever experience a dire medical situation and your family needs to raise funds to help cover your care, they should avail themselves of any and all media outlets to spread the word - just as Luke's family is doing now.Â
Best wishes to them for a huge turnout tomorrow.
Very best hopes and  wishes to Mr Ashe and to his family and friends... I hope we will soon read that he is continuing to recover..! Â
This sounds similar to the lady here in Tigard that just passed away. Any connection? Is this some sort of virus going around that is new and hasn't been officially diagnosed yet?Â
@Justanother1Â ~ Â Oh, you mean Vanessa Ogden..? Â Yeah, I thought that, too... Re viruses, I guess anything's possible; there's probably lots of them that they haven't discovered yet...and probably new ones coming on board all the time...
@margay1 @Justanother1 I think this dude, in my expert opinion, had a total electrical block of the lower heart chamber.  not unusual for someone who had been obese, possibly had sleep apnea too which increases the odds. the damage had been done.
@margay1 @Justanother1 Yeah, I wasn't sure if it was Tigard or Clackamas or where exactly. But, yes, I did mean Vanessa Ogden. It just seems so odd to have these sudden comas with strokes etc., come on and leave people like this unexpectedly. I feel so sad for them and their families!  I hope he is able to recover.