Originally posted on July 23, 2009.
Christopher Bowd, the OBcean knocked unconscious around 11pm on July 4th and who has been unconscious or in an induced coma ever since, has awoken. This is great news!
We received emails from close friends who spent time with him Tuesday. The first email (dated July 22nd, 8:30 am) reported:
Hi, I visited Chris last night at around 8:30 with his mother and he seems to be making progress. He had his eyes open for a majority of the hour that I was there. He was alert and aware of his surroundings. He nodded to some questions we asked him (i.e. do you recognize me, are you cold, etc.). He was also trying to talk but every time he attempted, he would cough. He was able to move his left arm around quite a bit. He is still sedated but on a very low dosage. He has been coughing a lot and they will be giving him chest CT scans regularly to monitor his condition.
I think now is a crucial time and frequent visits from those close to him would be very beneficial, specially because he can recognize faces. I will be visiting him again tonight while Mrs. Bowd is there. I informed Mrs. Bowd that we would like to give her some home cooked meals and she was very appreciative of the offer. There is plenty of room in Chris’ refrigerator and I think she would be delighted to have some nice meals to warm up.
Another email reported:
(Chris) was opening his eyes periodically and there were times when he definitely responded when I spoke. My understanding regarding sedation was a little different. The nurse I spoke to said that they had him off “sedation meds” completely (from 5am yesterday [Monday?]) – but that he was on pain killers that had a sedative effect.
{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
So glad he is OK. With any luck he will remember the identities of his assailants and they can be caught and put where they deserve to be.
Good news, will pray for a full recovery.
This is great news! I’m so happy to hear this news! Way to go, buddy! I’ll continue to send healing vibes from Minnesota…
His family and friends must be so happy. We will all keep Dr. Bowd in our thoughts and wish him a quick, full recovery.
That’s awesome news!
Prayers answered.
That is wonderful news, We hope he heals quickly. Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris. I must give a heavy dose of props to Frank Gormlie who has kept on top of this and facilitating the information needed to get Chris`s story out there. Fanatastic work Frank !!!!!! Done in true blue O.B. fashion. D.J. p.s. anyone know which hospital and room # ??
Thank you for the great new as I have already past it on to past friends in SGV.
Keep up the great work.
Jon
This is fantastic! I have known Chris since High School and I have been checking in on the OB Rag since the rest of the Media was lagging!
This really shook me. This is the first time I have directly known someone who was a victim of a violent crime, and I can attest to the fact that it comes with whole range of other emotions.
I look forward to Chris’ full recovery so that he can once again contribute to society with that amazing intellect of his.
I was preparing for the worst and got the best. How often does that happen?
Way to go Chris!
Walter
Absolutly awesome news, hope for a speedy recovery and strength of purpose for he and his family. See you soon…
So glad to hear this great news. Will try and get to the hospital soon. Thanks for staying on to of this story.
This is the best news all week. Chris, I don’t know you but I’m cheering for you. Make a fast and full recovery. We need more people like you doing the important research that benefits everybody.
And props to Frank for picking up Chris’ story and running with it when the mainstream media wouldn’t touch it.
i love you chris! i feel so lucky to have you with us…i thank my lucky stars each and every day!
Thats good no GREAT news…Chris is the man!…old punk rockers
never die!!!…Get well buddy
Awesome news…not out of the woods yet from the sound of it, but any progress is a reason to smile. Best wishes to you and yours Chris, from a family that’s never known yours but has had you in our thoughts regardless. Hope the good news keeps coming, and thanks Frank for being on top of an issue that seems lost to the seal saga by the mainstream news…
Fantastic news! There’s a seat at The Vine waiting for Chris.
Chris and I went to a lot of concerts in the late 90’s, into the new millenium. I hung out in OB with him a few times. We’d drifted out of touch for the last maybe 5 years. Today I was looking something up in the UCSD ophthalmology department and ran across his name, decided to get back in touch. Googled him, to see if I could find an e-mail address. But instead I found this. Imagine my surprise. To echo Walter above, there really is some fast emotional reaction. I think I was lucky in that by the time I read any of this, Chris was already awake, though I didn’t know that for awhile as I was reading through posts. I won’t feel too at ease though until he’s up and wisecracking again. My thanks too, to Frank, for putting up this site, or I still wouldn’t know anything about this.
Way to go Chris! So incredibly happy to have you back on the road to recovery! This is absolutely the best news…
Absolutly wonderful news.
Big big love, Debbie and Rob xx
I’m as happy as a lark. And I’m celebrating at this moment. Thanx to all
I’m so happy to hear this! Hang in there Chris- I can’t wait to tell Tony the good news. Wishing you a speedy recovery!
YAY! way to go Chris!
get better soon, I’ll be out that way the end of October
YES!!! So grateful to hear that Chris is awake and out of the coma. Although I can’t be there, you’re in my thoughts. Many thoughts and wishes for a full and fast recovery.
Brett and I saw Chris yesterday. Thank you Mrs. Bowd for your graciousness. I wish we could spend more time with him. We were very happy to be able to interact with him.
When the nurse asked Chris if he knew us, he looked at us and frowned, nodding his head (like what the hell? Of course I know them) Seriously we could just see the attitude in his eyes, and he did want to speak to us, but he will need time to recover. All I know, HE is there, and he recognizes the names of all his friends and we discussed recent emails we had exchanged in June. He nodded in recognition and nodded at personal comments about some of our past adventures.
Brett and I felt a little bit of heaviness lifted yesterday. (smile!)
Get better Chris. We love you.
.
GREAT NEWS! :-)
I am very pleased to read the latest update on Chris’s condition
Chris is going to get better and better…
So, so happy to hear this news. I’ve been so worried ever since I found out that one of our own was viciously attacked in our own happy hometown. =(
Does anyone know what hospital he is in? Myself and some of the crew from Ocean Beach Comedy would like to try to go visit, or at least send some flowers or something. Thanks for any info you can provide!
Keeping him in my prayers still though….
if i ever get in a coma i hope i would have just a fraction of the outpouring of support and care that chris bowd has had – wow!
I’d like to give Frank Gormlie props for staying on top of Chris’ story. While I didn’t know Chris before his ordeal I feel like I do now. It’s also wonderful to see how he has been embraced by everyone here in Ocean Beach and beyond.
His close friends that are standing by him in his time of need are a testament of just how good of a friend he must be, and everyones prayers are proof that the power of love and positive thoughts can accomplish great things.
Chris I am so glad to hear you have come out of the coma. I will continue to pray for a full recovery. God bless
I am so happy to hear this. A great step in the right direction. There are a lot of us that care about you Chris! We know you will pull through.
If there is anything friends can do to help out please let us know!
Darren
Keep strong Chris, you’ll be back on your feet before you know it!
God speed your recovery and return to your vocation at UCSD.
Wishing you the best Chris, hoping you can make a full recovery…
I was at the Hospital to see Chris last night. He is looking much better than day 2 when I 1st saw him. Swelling in his face and eye pretty much gone. He opens his eyes able to recognize people he only opens them for short periods of time. He is able to move both arms and legs when he is told takes him a little time. Still not able to speak because a tracheal tube still in place and a line for feeding. Is going to be a long process one day at a time to see progress. Please continue to pray and keep the messages coming keep the faith. We are reporting a little at a time because is a slow process it could be weeks or months before we know full status. I know Chris will be happy to see the support of his community and friends. Keep posting your comments and concern keep the word in the community.
Hey Chris happy to hear your doing better! Im sending some positive vibes out there for you to get better so maybe we can hook up and jam some old songs, take care
RickPiranha thank you for the news.
Every day I expect to hear he has progressed a little bit more. That’s all we can hope for. His healing. I know you’ll keep us up to date.
One day at a time for our dear friend.
One day at a time to get that healing done.
Chris, we missed you and your noodling on guitar at Mark’s on Saturday.
We played Iron Age in your honor–way too fast, of course (just the way it should be).
It makes me so happy to hear about the continued progress with Chris. Having never met him, I feel like I already know him through the great heartfelt posts left by his friends and family. I’ve been sending out good vibes and thinking about him every day since we caught word of his story. May he continue to make a full recovery and always be grateful to those who have stuck by his side through this ordeal. What a lucky guy to have so much love in his life. Everybody remember to give your family, friends and neighbors a little extra love this week. OB rocks.
Hey RickPiranha, it might be nice if you could print out all the wonderful comments from old friends, and new ones, and take them to the hospital next time you go. It might be great for him to hear all the kind words and well wishes he has received here!
Chris is breathing on his own and will be released for rehabilitation on monday or tuesday. He is very aware of his surroundings and can move all limbs. He has been nodding and has even smiled. He is not able to speak yet but should be able to very soon once the endotracheal tube is removed.
A happy Friday indeed.
Thanks for the updates – keeping you in our prayers, Chris!
Awesome news. Keep Truckin Chris !!
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Thank you
!!!!
I’ve known Chris since our West Covina days and have had the chance to see him a bit over the years since I moved to San Diego (Carlsbad). I was was so shocked to hear what happened, and to hear the news from a friend in LA no less. Shame on the SD mainstream media and Kudos to Frank/OB Rag for bringing the story to light. It’s such great news to hear that Chris is improving, thank you for your updates and please keep them coming. Wishing you a steady and full recovery Chris.
Wow….I have been looking for Chris on FB for a year now and am shocked to hear that this happened! I loooove Chris so much! If somebody…anybody could tell Chris Holly and Cody love him and give him a hug for us, I would really appreciate it! Also if someone could keep me updated on his condition on FB I would really appreciate that as well…..@ Holly Michelle Sawyer!!!! My huge prayers are w/ you my old buddy Chris!!! Love You Chris!!!!!!!!