My son, Richard Powulski, was bitten by a mosquito infected with the EEE virus in the last week of August 2019. On August 28, 2019 the second day after the bite, in the morning he got high temperature, severe headaches, and convulsions. He was taken to Middletown Hospital. There, he had an x-ray of the head and remained there for observation. After consulting with doctors, my son was taken to New Haven, to Yale New Hospital. There, at the emergency room they did two days of examination and on Saturday morning he went for the head surgery. All the time he had a high temperature and convulsions, at times we lost contact with him, because he could not speak, and if he was saying something, we could not understand him. After the operation, my son did not wake up, he fell into a coma. The temperature was still high and for four days he was in an "ice” bed to lower the temperature. During this time, he was getting antibiotics and anti-epileptics. Two days after the operation he was connected to the ventilator, because he could not breathe independently. The entire family, his wife: Małgosia, daughter: Amelia (15 years), me – mother, my husband was visiting him, we spoke to him and we prayed. Also, at that time mother of my daughter-in-law who came from Poland, cousins and friends were visiting him and praying along with us. A Mass has been celebrated at a church in New Britain for my son's recovery. Additionally, in Middletown Fr. Ryszard celebrated Mass for the Ryszard’s recovery. We were with him all the time and he slept. Every week there was a consultation of neurologists. After 6 weeks doctors informed about the cause of the illness and informed us that we need to decide next steps, because Rysiek will never wake up. The machine was breathing for him; the food was getting straight into his stomach. Doctors said that this EEE virus has wreaked enormous havoc on the brain and that it will never regenerate. After long considerations, sleepless nights, the entire close family decided to disconnect Ryszard from the ventilator. On October 12, 2019, he was taken to Yale New Middlesex for hospice care. The machines were disconnected; he did not get any drugs, only morphine. All the time the family was with him, and he slept peacefully. His face was so gentle and so slowly he was “going on the other side”. We were at the end of endurance, and that is how I thought, "God why are You taking him away from me at such a young age?" The next day, Fr. Richard came and gave him the last anointing, and so we waited. On Sunday morning, my friend Renta Kwasnik called and told me about the relic of St. John Paul II, and that's when I met you Msgr. Czarnecki and asked you for help. You came to the hospital on October 15th with the relics of St. John Paul II and we prayed for Ryszard’s recovery. For the next 6 days, Rysiek was without a ventilator, an IV, food and drink. On October 21, as usual, we were in the hospital and as always, we spoke to him to give us a sign if he hears us. Then Rysiek's wife, who held him by the hand all the time, felt a slight embrace of his hand. We told the doctor about it, but he said that Rysiek didn't mean it, it was just a reflex. On October 22, 2019 (liturgical remembrance of St. John Paul II - footnote from ed.) we were in the hospital again. I always washed my son's face, and this time I said to him, "open your mouth mom will wash your teeth" and he opened his mouth. He also opened his eyes, had a clear look. I said: "show your tongue" - he did. It was a miracle of God, the hand of God. We were crying out of happiness, thanked God. The doctors came and they could not believe that Rysiek had woken up from a coma. And, before that, they found him brain dead. God’s power pulled my son out of death. Slowly, he began to get food and IV. He was taken to a rehabilitation unit and a few months ago he took his first steps. He walks slowly, but he remembers everything and everyone. He is still in rehabilitation. My daughter-in-law, Małgosia, prepares their home for his return. Maybe a few more weeks and he will be back at home. He is not yet very self-reliant; he needs help getting dressed, still needs rehabilitation. Ryszard may never return to work again, but he is with us and he is alive, and we have no words to express our gratitude to our Almighty God and St. John Paul II for the healing of our son. When the doctors gave no hope. Also, we would like to thank you Msgr. Czarnecki, very much for coming to the hospital and for praying for my son, Małgosia’s husband and Amelia’s (15 years old) father. God's miracles happen; we have an example of this. We thank the Lord God for healing Ryszard. Again, thank you Msgr. Czarnecki very much for coming and bringing up the Relic of St. John Paul II to the hospital and praying with us.
Helena Rawa, Ryszard’s mother
