Family: Comatose Giants Fan Bryan Stow Could Wake Up Soon

LOS ANGELES -- Family members of critically injured San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow say they are hopeful he will awaken from his medically induced coma soon.

Stow's cousin told AOL News that doctors started weaning him off all sedatives Wednesday night, anticipating that he could awaken soon. The 42-year-old paramedic and father of two young children has not been conscious since he suffered massive head injuries during a beating at the Dodgers' opener March 31.

"It's just a matter of time when Bryan will wake up and he'll start therapy," John Stow, 39, told AOL News. "We are not giving up. He is going nowhere. There are prayer vigils at all the churches; the whole community is really pulling for Bryan."

Stow has suffered repeated seizures and shows sign of brain damage due to being punched and kicked repeatedly in the head. A side portion of his skull was removed to allow his brain to swell. His parents and two sisters have kept a constant bedside vigil.

Now the skull has been reattached, and family members have been told to not touch or talk to him so his brain can rest.

"It's hard not to go in and hold his hand and touch him in some way. You just sit there and stare at him," mother Ann Stow told Los Angeles radio station KFI 640. "It's more comforting if I come in and touch him, hold his hand and read hundreds of cards that have come in."

She said at first she believed that a miracle would happen and that he would respond. But as the reality of the situation settles in, the endless hours by her son's bedside have been extremely difficult.

"It's hard waiting to see if he's coming back to us," Ann Stow said, starting to sob.

Meanwhile, one of Stow's friends who attended the fateful game also talked to KFI 640 and recounted the horrifying details. Stow and three friends paid $90 a ticket and drove down from their homes in Northern California to Dodger Stadium to see the two historic rivals play.

The men wore Giants jerseys and were heckled by many members of the crowd, some of whom threw food and empty cups at them during the game while security guards stood idly by.

"We were keeping our mouths shut and trying to enjoy the game," Corey Macial said. "It was something we brushed off."

However, certain Dodgers fans were increasingly hostile and cursed at Stow and his friends repeatedly. As the men left, they were heartened by several friendly fans who shook their hands, but they were in the minority. An ugly undercurrent was developing, thanks to many others who were drunk, he said.

"We tried to get out of there with our heads down and our tails between our legs," Macial said.

As they walked across a parking lot, a man stepped out from behind a car and cursed at Stow, then shoved him into Macial. Then another friend walking behind them was punched in the face with a blow that was intended for Stow, Macial said.

No security guards were present.

The men ignored the attacks and walked faster in an attempt to get to their car, slightly separated from each other. Five minutes later, their attacker and another man reappeared and punched one friend in the face, knocking out his teeth. Stow was punched in the side of the head, rendering him unconscious. He fell to the pavement, his head striking the ground, Macial said.

"I did my best to run toward Bryan, and the other attacker threw punches at me," Macial recalled. "There were three big kicks at Bryan's head, and they connected each time. I jumped on top of Bryan to cover him up, and they were still trying to get at him. Some fans grabbed these guys and took them off."

Media reports have said as many as 100 people witnessed the attack, but still no security guards were in sight.

The attackers sped off in a car driven by a woman with a small child inside. Police have released composite sketches of the suspects, and tips have been flooding in after a $150,000 reward for information leading to an arrest was publicized.

A Dodgers spokesman refused to comment on the lack of security to AOL News last week and defended an upcoming promotion to sell half-price beer. The following day, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck blasted the Dodgers' security measures and vowed to assign patrol officers to the stadium during games, with the cost paid by Dodgers owner Frank McCourt.

Retired LAPD Chief William Bratton told the media that he had been hired to review security measures at the park and promised to work with the current chief to ensure a safe environment. Then the beer promotion was scrapped.

LAPD has made this case a top priority, assigning 17 detectives to work 19-hour days following up on more than 200 tips that have come in from the public, Capt. Bill Murphy told AOL News.

"They work 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.," Murphy said. "I can tell you right now that we are certainly not at the point of arresting anyone and we're still asking for the public's help. We're confident that someone will come forward who knows something."

Murphy said the leads are prioritized with those that sound the most promising getting immediate attention. Detectives have been canvassing the area, talking to witnesses who claim to possibly know the suspects or have heard them talking about committing the crime.

"The challenge with this case is that there is no connection to the suspects and the victim other than the victim is a Giants fan," Murphy said, adding that the case has "taken on a life of its own, morphing into an issue on security in stadiums."

To that end, LAPD will now be assigning uniformed officers to work the inside of Dodger stadium, something that was not done in the past, Murphy said.

The attack has struck a chord across the nation because "no matter where you live, there is a stadium and most people have been to it," Murphy said.

Stow's path to recovery will be expensive and to that end, dozens of fundraisers have been held across the state, netting more than $200,000. On Monday, the Dodgers played at Giants Stadium, and both teams held a vigil at the start of the game. Eighty employees from Stow's employer, AMR ambulance company, were on hand to accept donations.

"When the last out is made, that rivalry ends on the field," Giants pitcher Jeremy Affeldt told the crowd. "So please respect that. And in your excitement and in your frustration, don't take it out on another fan when you don't agree who they cheer for."

For further information on Stow or to donate funds, visit Support4byanstow.com.