Family Tragedy

Sunday night my dad called to tell me that my cousin's 15 month old son drowned. This cousin of mine was on his way back to Iraq where he has been serving since December. He'd come home for leave and was literally on his way back when he got the call. The baby had fallen in a pool and his older brother had found him. It had taken the medics at least eight minutes to get a heart beat. [I've also heard eighteen which is a huge difference] The baby is at a children's hospital on life support. He is breathing on his own but in a coma. The doctors don't expect him to pull through and are giving him another 24-48 hours before they have to decide to take him off life support or not.
James is actually my second cousin (his mother and my mother are cousins and our grandmothers are sisters) but when we were in high school we took a road trip together and spend every moment we could together that summer. Even though I hadn't seen him much with all my moving, we've always been close. I was worried about him going to Iraq not only because of the risk on his life but to him as a person. I can't imagine what he's seen and how it has changed him. He had to wait 30 hours or more to see his son after he heard what had happened. Not surprising he's pissed at everyone. I haven't seen him in almost a year and my heart is breaking for him. He's applying for early leave and I really hope they approve him for it. No matter what happens with the baby he needs to be here.