Brother Hurt

I know this is not a cancer related issue but you guys are my family and I need to share this. Some of you know my brother Chuck... he attended Colonpalooza with me. When we returned from Texas his live in girlfriend (Nicole) had left him. She was not so happy about him going. It just so happens she is his next door neighbor as well. She has a home next door to my bro with her 17 year old son. Yesterday they got into an arguement on his porch...not physical...only yelling...and she stormed off back to her house. Evidently her son had heard them argueing and when she got back home he told her he was sick of it and was putting an end to it. He went next door to confront my bro. It was at that time she called me and told me what was up and she needed help cause she could not control her son. While she was talking to me her son came back home and when he walked in the door she screamed "Oh my God...what have you done" She said her son was standing there.... with a bloody baseball bat and had just beat my bro with it. I said I was calling the cops and hung up. Me and my husband rushed across town to my bro's. When we got there Nicole and the son had left their house. I guess cause they thought I had called the cops. I had not yet at this time did that. I went to my bro's door and it was locked...I beat on the door...no answer...I called his phone and could hear it ringing inside but he was not answering...his shoes were outside on the porch... I knew he was in there.. I then called the cops for help. Also, when we arrived at his house we noticed there was gasoline all over his porch and all over his house. Could not figure that out at the time. Police came and bust down the door and we found my bro unconscious inside. He had been badly beaten with that bat. Blood was everywhere. Oh my God... my heart sank... I thought he was dead. Ambulance took him to the hospital and he woke on the way...very out of it but told the story of how the son bust thru his door and beat him with that bat for argueing with his Mom. Chuck said he just put his arms up to block blows and then passed out when the bat hit him in the head. I have been at hospital with him since 10pm last nite. After all testing was done they said both his arms are broke. His left elbow is so crushed from that bat that he has to have surgery on it and they don't know if he will ever be able to use it again. Several bones in the other arm are cracked but on both sides of his wrist are 2 big breaks which renders that arm useless. His CT scan showed no brain/skull damaged. just a few stitches there and a lot of lumps. Doc said he must have some hard head. Both his knee caps are swollen. The right worse than the left but xrays are not reliable at this time because of the swelling. However, he can not walk at all. Cannot put any pressure on his legs. We have to wait for swelling to go down in many areas so xrays can be retaken. He has swelling in his back where you can actually see shoe marks. Verdict is out on that right now too. The police did find and arrest the guy last night. He is being held without bail on 4 felony counts. Agg Battery... Home invasion (which is a felony in Illinois)...attempted murder....and...the gas we smelled??? The kid admitted to police that he thought he had killed chuck and was going to burn him and the evidence up.... so 4th charge was attempted Arson. He is being tried as an adult. What a nightmare this has been. Have to get back to the hospital. Thank you for letting me vent. I have cried during this whole conversation with you and I really needed that. Love you guys!

Jennie