Doctors pleased with Dewey’s status

Christopher Dewey, the Mahnomen County deputy with who grew up in Isanti County, is doing better than his doctors expected he would after being shot in the abdomen and head on Feb. 18 while on duty.
Dr. Robert Sticca, the general surgeon at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, N.D. who performed the abdomen surgery, noted on Thursday that Dewey is in critical but very stable condition.
“He has begun to show some signs of being aware of his surroundings,” Sticca stated during a press conference Thursday. “He’s recognized his family. He’s squeezed their hands. He’s actually doing quite well.”
Sticca added, “We’re all cautiously optimistic at this point.”
Neurosurgeon Dr. Chad Justesen would not speculate on the extent of Dewey’s brain injuries. He is currently in a medically-induced comma so that doctors can monitor brain swelling.
Justesen expects to begin lessening the sedation on Friday, but cautioned that it will be awhile before Dewey is completely awake. It will be several days after that before doctors will know how the bullet damaged the brain.
Dewey was shot on the right side of his head. Inside the skull, the bullet split into several fragments; one continued out through the right frontal lobe. During a four-hour-long surgery on Wednesday, Dr. Justesen cleaned up the brain fragments that had shattered, some of the damaged brain under the bone, and the contaminated wound.
He expects Dewey to need at least one more brain surgery. The skull defects will need to be repaired, as will the lining of the brain. Depending on how much the injury swells, another surgery may be required, although Dr. Justesen thinks that is unlikely.
Dewey will also need to undergo several months of rehabilitation.
While Dewey has not yet opened his eyes and looked around, when asked to make a thumbsup sign, he has done so. He has also squeezed hands upon request.
“He’s doing very well considering his injuries,” noted Justesen.
Family is cautious, but optimistic
“We’ve had some good, encouraging early signs,” said Dewey’s father-in-law, Ross Boulden of Princeton, speaking on behalf of the family.
“But we’re still cautious.”
He added, “We have such a strong faith, we know we will get through this.”
Boulden’s daughter, Emily, has been married to Dewey for three years. The two were high-school sweethearts who met eight years ago while attending Cambridge-Isanti High School.
Boulden expressed the family’s “heartfelt” thanks to law enforcement, MeritCare and the Red Cross.
“We thank all the family and friends for keeping us in their prayers,” he said.
The Red Cross has been assisting the family in bringing Dewey’s two brothers who serve in the Armed Forces home. One is currently stationed overseas.
Speaking on behalf of his daughter, Emily, Boulden said, “Christopher is the most wonderful man. … He is an avid family person.” He noted that he has a passion for the outdoors and enjoys fishing and hunting.
Emily agreed with another person’s description of her husband as a “big teddy bear.”
As a testament to his personality, Boulden noted that a man Chris had arrested contacted the family Wednesday to send his best. “Chris has touched many hearts,” noted Boulden.
He noted that his son-in-law also dreamt of being a law enforcement officer.
Boulden asked that people continue to keep Dewey in their prayers.
Law enforcement has rallied around family
The law enforcement community has rallied around Dewey and his family.
According to Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney, when an officer is injured, “it cuts through law enforcement like a hot torch.”
Those in the field consider each other family, and when one goes down the rest are there to lend a hand.
He noted that in such cases the family of the officer is instantly traumatized.
“We’re doing everything we can to care for them,” Laney said.
They have arranged for housing for Dewey’s family members, both immediate and for the next few months. A vehicle has also been lined up.
“Our goal is that they have nothing to worry about except taking care of Chris and Emily,” said Laney.
Fund set up, updates available at Caring Bridge site
A fund has been set up to benefit the Christopher Dewey family.
Donations may be sent to:
Deputy Chris Dewey Fund, PO Box 378, 103 N. Main St., Mahnomen, MN 56557. Or, call (218) 935-5251.
The family has also set up a CaringBridge site to provide updates on Dewey’s condition. The site can be viewed by visiting caringbridge.org, site name chrisdewey.