In Memory of Maya Staples (Multiple Sources Post) 1 year later...

In Memory of Maya Staples - A multiple Sources Post 

The Pages Lane Arctic Circle Gang August 14, 2022 (Pictured: Ken Seely, Ethan Olsen, Sarah, Austin Rodriquez, Cami Clark, Axel Gold, Jordan Jones, Maya Staples, Lexie Jones, Luke Staples, Kristina Anderson, Hayden Voss, Annika Naylor) (Not Pictured: Fran Nielson, Casey Facer, Amy Jolley, Cami Riley)

News and Sources: Caring Bridge - Maya Staples , Maya's Obituary , Nov 16th, 2022 Maya , Tribute to Maya - The Enby Warrior , 

For those asking why I dedicated an entire Page of a blog I created back in high school to one of my old coworkers. If the first site listed is no longer available then I give permission for this page to be used along with the other sited sources. I don't own any of these sources. - Hayden Voss (AutismBleeps Writer/Editor)

https://youtu.be/fZQFZ1m5wJ4?si=CdzCsPFoKCpcpMvO 

Author's Note

(This post will have many and multiple edits. If you would like to contribute to this post, Please email : th3enbywarrior@gmail.com) 

I will be including photos that I have collected that include Maya and not all of these photos will be featured in this post. There may be errors on this post for the sources are not all perfect. I will do my best to edit out any/all errors. In gray text will be from Caring Bridge. 

Caring Bridge Information - Journal Entries from Dani Shelley (Oldest Sibling of Staples Family)

Wednesday, November 9th

We got the phone call every family dreads. Maya had been hit by a car and was in bad shape. That was it - all the detail we received for hours. Maya was taken to the ER at IMC in Murray by ambulance, and later was moved to the Trauma ICU. Maya's parents and siblings gathered at the hospital to wait for news. We received word Maya had been intubated and given chest tubes for her collapsed lungs. To finally be able to see her was a shock and a relief. After hours of waiting, we knew two things: 1. Maya was alive. 2. Nothing else was knowable yet. 
At the end of the night, Maya had a CT to monitor fluid and swelling in the brain. This would prove to be our main concern. Doctors placed a "bolt" in Maya's skull, which would both monitor ICPs (Intracranial Pressure) and drain excess fluid. Doctors told us that while she did have skull fractures, they were in "the right places," meaning no bone was depressed into the brain and causing more pressure. 

Thursday, November 10th

Maya had a big day of testing. She had a CT, which showed more swelling than yesterday's. She had x-rays on her legs and chest (nothing broken, which is amazing). An EEG was hooked up to monitor brain activity long-term. After the CT showed a large amount of swelling and fluid in her brain, Maya was taken to the OR for a craniotomy. Doctors removed a portion of her skull to allow room for swelling and to drain fluid rapidly. The surgery went well and Maya was taken back to her room in the ICU.

Friday, November 11th

Maya had a hard day.  ICPs reached the upper 40s (a normal level is 5, the high side of normal is 20, and at 50-60 there is a serious risk of further damage). Doctors and nurses walked a very fine line all day, controlling her ICP woth medication while also not allowing her blood pressure to drop too low. To do this, they gave her an extremely high dose of sodium to shrink the brain tissue.  Maya's nurse, Adrianne, kept saying "she just wants to be really salty," or "she has a super salty brain." Maya would've laughed at that! Doctors also ordered strict brain rest for Maya, meaning low lights and even lower voices in her room. Maya's temperature kept climbing, which indicated her brain was not performing its normal function of regulating body temperature. Nurses packed her bed with ice packs and used a cooling machine to cool her down, which worked...a little too well. Maya's temperature reached 33 Celsius (91.4 Fahrenheit), and then it was time to warm her back up. Nurses used a "bear hug machine," like a big puffy heated blanket, to get her cozy again. Later in the night, Maya was given a paralytic to help decrease the demand on her brain, as an alternative to placing her in a medical coma. After the sodium and the paralytic, ICPs dropped as low as 19, and we all breathed a tiny bit easier.

Saturday, November 12th

Today we had a family meeting with mom, dad, all 4 of Maya's siblings, both of her siblings-in-law, and her care team. This includes doctors from the trauma, neurocritical care, and neurosurgery teams. We were able to ask all our questions and get everyone on the same page. Maya's doctors told us she has severe, global brain damage. CTs have been showing swelling and fluid in the brain, but also damage to the lower parts of the brain that control basic functions (breathing, swallowing). However, there is no way for doctors to tell at this point how that damage would translate into daily functioning for Maya in the future, and no way to tell the severity of any impairments she might have. When it comes to finding answers, we're all doing a lot of hoping and waiting. Her care team told us that the best case scenario we can hope for at this point is for Maya to recover, with some impairments due to the brain damage. I'm sure it goes without saying that whoever or however Maya is after this, we just really want to keep her with us.

Also on Saturday, Maya began to regulate her temperature on her own (good job, girlfriend!) BUT ICPs reached the low 60s. Maya went back to the OR for another bolt placement, this time to monitor and drain more fluid. After her surgery, ICPs began to drop and hovered around 35 for the evening. Overnight, they went as low as 15. Hope. 

November 13th

Maya had a slower day today, with no major procedures or surgeries. The bolt is doing its job to drain fluid from her brain and ICPs have stayed under 35, with one notable exception.

Today around 2:30, Maya's ICPs shot up into the 60s. Her nurses checked her pupil response (a very regular occurrence), and her pupils did not respond to light. This is obviously extremely scary, and her care team was unusually alarmed. Doctors administered another very high dose of sodium, which brought her ICPs back down. After a few minutes, her pupils responded again, constricting slightly. Still not quite as designed, but the immediate emergency had passed.

Maya's care team tells us that days 5 -7 are typically "big swelling days." Just like with a broken finger or twisted ankle, Maya's body is  responding to an injury by swelling, and it'll be at its worst during the next few days (today is day 5). 

The biggest risk during this time is what almost occurred during the episode with Maya's pupils - a herniation. This is when pressure in the brain becomes too high for it to tolerate, and the brain stem collapses into the upper spine. A herniation means immediate brain death. How  we loathe that term. 

Right now, friends, ICPs are very low, around 13. We like low, and we are staying hopeful. Maya's care team is amazing and we feel cared for and loved by her nurses. Maya would love them and be friends with them IRL.

November 14th Day

Maya had a rough night. Twice her ICP spiked to 61. Her care team gave her a big dose of sodium (we love a salty brain) and a paralytic drug. The second time, they also gave her a unit of blood.

The drain is still doing its work...in one part of Maya's brain. Other parts are still freaking out in response to being injured. Eventually, ICP was brought back under control for the night, and as of this writing, has stayed below 25. 

We hope to get to a time where the brain isn't still in full-on self defense mode. Then we can start thinking longer term. For now, the goal is to make it through these next few critical days.

November 14th Night - November 15th 

Yesterday, November 14th - Maya's ICP became harder and harder to control, while her pupils became less and less responsive. Her care team performed a CT, then came in her room to lovingly tell us what they suspected but had yet to confirm: Maya was experiencing brain death. We gathered our family at the hospital, cried together, and sat by her bed as long as we could.

Today, Maya's care team performed a test to measure the blood flow to and from her brain. Later in the evening, they were able to give us the test results, and confirmed Maya's brain death has already occurred. 

We are devastated and we miss our cool, vibrant, passionate daughter, sister and friend. We have had a sad but peaceful day, remembering Maya and talking about her together. 

We felt such palpable feelings of warmth and love when Maya's friends and family gathered in the waiting room to say goodbye to her. We got to spend time with so many amazing kids! To all of Maya's sweet friends, thank you so much for being here with us today. You remind us of our girl with your unique, youthful energy. We love you! 

The next few days will still be spent at the hospital as we await further testing from Maya's care team to start the organ donation process. We know this is what Maya would want to do, and would love for her to be able to spare another family from tragedy. 

To our family, neighbors, friends and community, we love you. Thank you for allowing Maya's story into your lives and hearts. Thank you for mourning with us, praying for us, and loving our Maya. 

November 18th

Friends and Family,

Early this morning, Maya was finally able to go into surgery for her organ donation. The donation team found recipients for her heart, liver, pancreas, and right kidney. In conjunction with her surgery, she was officially removed from life support. 

We feel relieved that she is free from her tubes and machines, and we feel grateful she was able to help so many others with her strong, healthy body through organ donation. And of course, we feel so, so very sad. 

Maya’s obituary and service information can be found here:

https://www.lindquistmortuary.com/obituaries/maya-staples

We have felt so loved and supported by you all throughout the course of Maya’s journey. We would love to have you come and celebrate her colorful, impactful life with us. Thank you for loving her, and for taking care of us. We love you.

Love, The Staples Family