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Steven Utash, the driver who was badly beaten by a mob April 2, keeps saying: "I don't want to die I'm sorry" and "please don't let me forget you."
The update was posted Friday afternoon by daughter Mandi Marie Emerick on the family's fund drive page, where 4,000 people have donated more than $160,000 since last Friday. The 54-year-old patient been reported in a coma at St. John Hospital until now.
She also writes
"He also keeps flashing back to the assault screaming for 'HELP' and 'PLEASE GET THEM OFF ME.' He didn't seem to know what happened to him or why he was in the hospital, but again it is way to early to tell."
She writes that he is off the ventilator and breathing on his own.
"He is in and out of it with his memories. Sometimes he can look at me and remember who I am and other times he can't. Today when I asked him how old he is he said "I'm two years old" but he did know his name.
"He didn't seem to know what happened to him or why he was in the hospital, but again it is way to early to tell. He is also on MANY pain medications which are causing him to be delirious.
"These are baby steps. He is able to wiggle is toes on command and answer yes or no questions. It's to soon to tell if he's going to have any memory loss or long term damage. The frontal lobe is what was affected the most and that is where his memories and personality are and this is a long road ahead but the end of the road will be worth it. It is so hard to see him like this. I will post if any other changes happen. Please continue to keep my father in your prayers and thoughts."
