I can give you my experience. I do not have a medical background, though.

I was medically induced for a massive infection (perforated colon from undiagnosed diverticulitis led to sepsis and septic shock). I was in a coma for 5 days, and was for this reason (let the machines do the work to allow the body to heal itself). They brought me out once on about day 3 to see if I had cognitive function. The drugs used to induce the coma are extremely powerful, and they can cause damage, as can the massive infection I had.

It is certainly a different situation, as my lungs, kidneys, and liver were shutting down. I also am not an in-shape professional athlete.

That said, as it was explained to me, putting someone in a coma and on a ventilator is sort of a risk in itself. The ventilator tube can easily breed bacteria that leads to lung infections, and the drugs used can do damage as well. It's better than the alternative, but it's also not necessarily a sign of improvement. It's more a sign of 'stable at the moment, we'll assess the damage later.'

While I was under, they did some tests and scans and diagnostics, but I don't know to what extent they did any CT or MRI or advanced scans (if any). I would think being on the ventilator limits where and how they can move the patient.

I believe they will assess the lungs' ability to work on their own by dialing back the machine a little at a time. They will also do some cognitive and brain testing if they have not done so. But they will do more after he is brought out.

It sounds like he received immediate lifesaving care, which is great. But there is just too much unknown at the moment, and some things that are known for now may change later. My take is that we should offer up whatever support we can and let the process happen. He's a young, strong, fit, athletic guy and that gives him a big head start on a recovery.

But however you spread good juju in the world, whether it be prayers or thoughts or incense or incantations or whatever, the Hamlin family can use all the support they can get right now.