Doctors feared Hunter Alexander was developing compartment syndrome — a limb-threatening emergency where pressure builds inside muscle compartments so severely that blood flow is cut off.
🚨 12:40 PM — They Rushed Him Back to the OR
The call came fast. The tone was urgent.
Doctors feared Hunter Alexander was developing compartment syndrome — a limb-threatening emergency where pressure builds inside muscle compartments so severely that blood flow is cut off. When that happens, tissue can die within hours.
There was no time to monitor.
No time to “wait and see.”
They moved immediately.
A fasciotomy was the only option.
A Race Against the Clock
Compartment syndrome is one of the most feared complications following traumatic injury. When swelling increases inside a closed muscle space, circulation collapses. Without intervention, nerves and muscle can suffer irreversible damage. In the worst cases, amputation becomes unavoidable.
Hunter was rushed back into the operating room at 12:40 PM.
Surgeons would not know the full extent of damage until they opened his arms.
Family members waited for updates no one wants to hear — knowing the next report could change everything.
What Surgeons Found Inside
Inside the OR, the surgical team made long incisions through the tight fascia in both arms. The goal: relieve pressure and restore blood flow before tissue loss became catastrophic.
What they found confirmed their fear.
Compartment syndrome had developed in both hands.
Necrotic tissue — tissue that had already died due to oxygen loss — had to be removed. Most of the affected areas were located at the base of his thumb. Some muscle was taken from his hands. A small portion was also removed from his left forearm.
It was aggressive.
It was necessary.
And then came the sentence everyone had been holding their breath for:
No amputations were performed.
In a moment that could have ended in permanent loss, his hands were saved — at least for now.
Why His Wounds Were Left Open
Following a fasciotomy, surgeons often leave wounds open temporarily. In Hunter’s case, both arms were fitted with wound vacs — specialized negative-pressure devices designed to:
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Control swelling
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Remove toxins and excess fluid
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Protect circulation
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Reduce infection risk
This is not the end of surgery.
Another debridement — a procedure to remove additional damaged tissue — is likely within 48 hours. Doctors need time to assess whether circulation continues to hold and whether additional tissue becomes nonviable.
The next two days are critical.
The full picture will not be clear immediately.
Recovery from compartment syndrome does not move in straight lines. It unfolds hour by hour.
One day at a time.
One prayer at a time.
4:30 PM — Back in the Surgical ICU
At 4:30 PM, Hunter returned to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
He remains intubated.
He remains sedated.
But something shifted.
He responded.
He attempted to speak around the breathing tube. He followed commands. His vital signs were stable. Doctors say he is initiating some breaths on his own — an encouraging sign that his body is regaining strength.
When he can sustain that effort consistently, they will remove the breathing tube.
Right now, he is agitated. He wants the tube out. He wants his hands untied.
That frustration is not a setback.
It is a signal.
It means he is fighting.
The Road Ahead
Doctors are clear: survival of the limbs is only the first battle.
The coming weeks may include:
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Additional surgical procedures
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Possible skin grafts
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Continued debridements
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Extensive physical and occupational therapy
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Monitoring for nerve recovery
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Ongoing evaluation of long-term hand function
Compartment syndrome can leave lasting effects even when amputation is avoided. Muscle loss can affect grip strength. Nerve damage can impact sensation and coordination.
Right now, the risk has not disappeared.
It has been managed.
The focus over the next 48 hours will be on ensuring blood flow remains strong, swelling continues to decrease, and no further necrotic tissue develops.
Circulation is everything.
If blood flow holds, healing can begin.
If it falters, new decisions will have to be made.
A Line That Matters Tonight
Despite the uncertainty…
Despite the open wounds and the machines and the long list of procedures still ahead…
Tonight, his hands are still there.
That fact alone carries enormous weight.
For families facing compartment syndrome, the question of amputation looms heavily from the moment swelling begins. Today, that outcome was avoided.
It does not mean the fight is over.
But it means hope remains intact.
What Doctors Are Watching Now
Surgeons are closely monitoring:
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Skin color and temperature in his fingers
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Capillary refill time (a measure of blood flow)
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Swelling progression
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Lab markers indicating muscle breakdown
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Signs of infection
The next debridement will provide further clarity about how much tissue remains viable.
Only then will doctors better understand what long-term recovery might look like.
A Battle Still in Motion
This is not a victory lap.
It is a hard-won step forward in a battle that continues.
From emergency surgery to ICU stabilization, from necrotic tissue removal to preserved limbs — today was a day of critical intervention.
The coming days will determine whether circulation truly holds.
What surgeons saw when they opened his arms…
What they are watching minute by minute tonight…
And what will decide the outcome of surgery #6…
👉 The full update is in the comments below. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.
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