Brandon Harris Dies in Emory Sleep Center, Mom Says He Pleaded for Help

Brandon Harris, 25, died during a sleep study at Emory. His family has maintained that he pleaded for help that never came. Harris, a medical assistant, reportedly entered the sleep center on January 22, after attending an Atlanta Hawks basketball game. He was dead by the next morning, his mother Renee "Sunshine" Lewis told the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

According to the AJC, Ms. Lewis states she received a telephone call informing her that her son's oxygen level was falling. When she arrived at the hospital he had already died. It is interesting to note, the mother said her son was healthy and was not sick. She also added that he had Type 2 diabetes for which he was receiving medical treatment and he was overweight. The hospital contends that his medical conditions were the cause of his death, but his family begs to differ.

Harris' uncle, John Lewis, told the AJC that the hospital allowed him to watch video footage taken while his nephew was at the sleep center. Lewis said video footage shows that his nephew waved at least seven times to those working in the sleep center, trying to alert them that he needed help. He said when Harris was finally able to sit up in bed, he attempted to put his feet on the ground before he collapsed. EMS officials came and tried to resuscitate Brandon Harris for 40 minutes before transferring him to the hospital's emergency room where he was pronounced dead.

Photo credit:  Brandon Harris, family photo, AJC