Prospect Hts. father who rescued daughter from fire is out of coma

Mark Jedd, the 40-year-old dad who nearly lost his life trying to rescue his children from a June 12 fire in his Prospect Heights home, is out of his coma, according to his fiancee, Brittany Meyer.

Jedd remains hospitalized in the Loyola University Hospital Burn Center, where his condition is still critical but slowly improving, Meyer said.

Jedd still needs a ventilator to breathe, has a tracheotomy and medically-induced paralysis, Meyer said. However, he's been able to open his eyes, react to things people say by blinking or twitching his nose, and his kidneys are starting to function better, she said.

"It looks like he's going to pull through," Meyer said late Wednesday. "He took a turn for the better ... but he has a really long road to recovery."

Jedd rescued his 11-month-old daughter, Rhianna, from a middle-of-the-night fire in their home, which investigators ruled accidental. Despite his efforts, Jedd was unable to find his 3-year-old son, Alex Jedd, whom firefighters later found hiding in a bathroom, dead of smoke inhalation.

Rhianna was released from the hospital within two weeks and is expected to make a full recovery, her family said.

Meyer said they haven't yet told Jedd about Alex, because they fear his condition is too fragile and the news will devastate him.

"The only thing I said to him is that there was a fire, and there's been an accident at the house, and you're a hero," Meyer said.

A fund has been set up to help Mark and Rhianna Jedd. Checks can be made payable to the Jedd Family Fund, and mailed to Chase Bank, 2801 Dundee Road, Northbrook, IL 60062-2501.

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<li><a href="/story/?id=390134">Prospect Hts. dad, clinging to life, braved fire for kids <span class="date">[06/25/10]</span></a></li>

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