Update for September 10th and 11th

September 10th and 11th

Update from Jodie (Mom)

So before Kollin’s accident I never had the time or the desire to Blog.  I’ve enjoyed reading from a few blogs over the years, but time is a valuable commodity in my life, and I don’t ever seem to have much time to spare.  This hospital experience has been interesting as far as Time is concerned.  Gary and I often find ourselves looking at the clock and saying, “How did it get to be midnight already?”   The days seem to fly by at times and yet often, one day here and there, the day feels like it lasted 10 years.  So it is with the 10^th and 11^th of September.  I wonder, “Do I blog about the days I’d rather forget about?”  Then the voice in my head replies, “Yes, because you’ll want to remember how far Kollin has come.  And You should always try to paint a realistic  view of your journey.  Not only for yourself, but for your readers and followers.”  Just keep that in mind as I relate my thoughts and feelings about these two days. 

It’s crazy to me that this journey began with our biggest worry being—Will he ever walk again??  Our focus quickly became—He needs immediate help breathing, and why is this breathing tube not helping? Once we were able to figure that problem out by advancing the tube and another surgery to remove the blood clot that was compressing his airway, he caught a virus.  Tuesday and Wednesday of this week was spent coughing up a lung, and suctioning Lots and Lots of junk.  The fan in his room was turned on more than off in an effort to cool him down and reduce the fever he was fighting.  I watched as my tiny boy sunk deeper and deeper into himself.  He kept his eyes shut most of the time, as he tried to shut the world around him out.  My new found worries were, “Will my joyful child ever SMILE again.”  To me we were miles and miles away from those initial worries about him walking.  Each day, as the day began, he would ask hopefully, “Is this tube coming out today?”  And each day as the answer was given, “No pal, you are still not strong enough to breathe on your own.” His eyes would shut and stay shut for a very long time.  It was not fun to witness his spirits plummeting to great depths.  Of course the medical team was well aware of  his worsening moods.  All stops were pulled—we brought in Music therapy, and a young man named Nick sat at his bedside and played his guitar for 30 minutes straight.  Gary and I felt his playing did more for us than for Kollin, but who knows, maybe he was smiling on the inside and we just didn’t know it.  When his eyes were open, they were glazed over and had a very distant look in them, that caused my heart to hurt for him.  I found myself wanting to shut my OWN eyes.  In the morning on Wednesday as he sat in the chair, his friend Diva stopped by to see him.  Because of Kollin’s virus, Diva had to stay outside his room, but we opened his door wide and he was able to throw doggie treats to her.  He did crack his eyelids a bit to do that.  Then the Physical Therapist, Lisa,  made him play catch with her, using a big cheerful orange ball.  All of this was done in between Coughing fits, and suction.  He was anxious to get back in his bed.  The afternoon brought more cough assist and another 2 hours sitting in the chair, listening to jokes told by his nurse.  He gave her the thumbs up a few times.  Mood improvement??????  Slightly.   The biggest break in the case came, when my inspired cousin, Markie, came and dropped off some magic medicine.  He firmly believes that “Duck Dynasty”, can cure all that ails you.  He brought 3 season’s worth and we were desperate.  When I returned to Kollin’s room I told him what Mark had brought for him, and reminded him that Mark is my cousin that cut my piggy tail off with scissors when we were just little kids (He is very familiar with that story).  I told KPG that I was going to start watching Duck Dynasty, and if he wanted to he could open his eyes and check it out.  He signaled that he wanted to write something.  So I handed him the pen and he wrote, “Wait till I’m awake.”  Ok that’s a good sign.  I told him to open his eyes and signal me when he was ready.  About an hour later we were 5 minutes into the first episode.  Willie, his dad, uncle and brother were in a boat out on the byou, in croc infested waters when a snake hanging from a branch of a tree dropped into their boat right on top of Wille.  He jumped out of the boat and into the water scared to death.  For the first time in over a week, Kollin was laughing!!!!!!!!!  Not a sound was coming out, but his eyes were smiling and he was truly laughing!!!!!  Who knew all we needed was a little Redneck Humor or Redneck Therapy as we have come to call it.  Finally something worth opening his eyes for.  Finally something he was interested in.  Thanks for the giggles Mark….. You the man!!!!!  BTW we are ALL addicted.