'Nothing short of miracle' as deputy upgraded to satisfactory condition at Fargo hospital

• Deputy Christopher Dewey

Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Dewey

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FARGO - A Mahnomen County (Minn.) sheriff’s deputy now is listed in satisfactory condition after Fargo doctors upgraded him from guarded condition.

“They think it’s nothing short of a miracle,” said Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney, who was asked by Christopher Dewey’s family to be a spokesman at a news conference this morning.

The family also wanted to pass along their thanks to the community, law enforcement officers and staff at Fargo’s MeritCare Hospital who have supported them and helped Dewey in his recovery, Laney said.

Dewey was gunned down last Wednesday while investigating a call near the end of his overnight shift. He suffered gunshot wounds to his abdomen and head.

Dr. Robert Sticca said Dewey continues to make “some remarkable progress.”

Dewey is awake, talking with family, and standing on his feet with some assistance, Sticca said this morning.

The deputy has limited movement of left arm.

“He’s out of danger at the present time but he has a long road ahead,” Sticca said. The deputy can eat and is “well on his road to recovery,” the doctor said.

Dewey could leave the hospital this week, but faces intensive therapy and most likely some permanent injuries and neurological deficits, Sticca said.

Two men, Thomas Fairbanks and Daniel Vernier, face charges for a confrontation with Dewey.

Initial Post

Mahnomen County Sheriff’s deputy Chris Dewey was transferred Sunday out of MeritCare Hospital’s critical care unit into a surgical unit. He remains in guarded condition.

MeritCare critical care specialist Dr. Frank Sepe says “Chris has made significant improvements in the last 48 hours and is now well enough to move from the critical care unit.”

Surgeon Dr. Robert Sticca says “Chris is now out of immediate danger and has done great so far, but he will undergo more surgery and there’s still a long road ahead for he and his family because of the injury to his brain.”

On Friday, Feb. 22, Chris remained in critical condition. He was no longer in a medically induced coma/was no longer being sedated. Chris was taken off of the ventilator that was being used to help him breathe and was breathing on his own.

On Saturday, Feb. 23, Chris’ condition was upgraded from critical to guarded. He remained hospitalized in MeritCare Hospital’s critical care unit. He was moving his left side (he has been moving his right side all along) and was consistently following commands.

The family would like people to know that they are continuing to update Chris’ Web page on caringbridge.org; Web site name: chrisdewey.

Information on the standard one-word conditions used at MeritCare is available at news.meritcare.com.

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