Prayers For Colton

2009-08-31T07:30:00.000-07:00

Well, we went to Dallas this weekend to see Colton and let me tell you, he is GREAT!! He had to be moved to Children's hospital for another surgery on Friday. Saturday morning they went in and reopened his whole scar and drilled holes in his skull to flush out an infection he had. OUCH! We saw him Saturday afternoon and he was feeling much better. They had his pain down to just a dull throb and he was in rare form. The minut I walked in he flexed his muscles at meto arm wrestle him. Then, he threw his Sponge Bob bean bag at Tripp and hit him dead on. He was smiling and laughing with us the whole time. It was so good to see that smile and hear his voice. They let him cap off his vent when he's awake and he has learned to talk with it really well. Sunday when we went to see him, the nurse had some great news. His culture for bacteria came back negative so hopefully they got all of the infection out. He should be back a BAylor by Wednesday ot Thursday. I can't believe how strong that kid is. After all he's been through, he is still in such great spirits. He is ready to get the rehab over with so he can come home. Keep him in your prayers and please keep Kayla in NY in your prayers too. She is still fighting to recover.

2009-08-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

Hi all. Well Colton has been in Dallas at Baylor Rehab for two weeks now and he is doing GREAT!! He still can't talk because of the trach, but he can sign so fast that no one can keep up! HE learns something new every day if not every hour! He still has some eye problems, but he can see enough to watch tv and see people who come to see him. Papa had him laughing so hard that he was shaking the whole bed. His sense of humor is still strong too. Papa taught him to do the Pee Wee Herman dance and he does it every time he sees him now. He is totally there mentally as far as anyone can tell. He has good short term and long term memory which is so great. He has been doing lots of therapy and yesterday they put him in a harness and stood him up. he even took a few steps. I will try to post more often, it's just been crazy trying to get ready for school and everything else. Keep up the prayers for him, we know thats why he's done as well as he has. Keep praying for little Kayla in NY too. She still needs all of your prayers too.

2009-07-30T20:50:00.001-07:00

Sorry it took so long to update you all. Colton's surgery was moved to Thursday because his Dr. had something else come up. He did great and all went well. Then right after his surgery we left for Denver for the Harley dealer meeting so I didn't have time to post. Anyway, he is doing so well! He can answer yes/no questions with 1 for yes and 2 for no. He answered tons of questions right for the Drs and nurses over the weekend. They gave him a sucker to practice swallowing and he's doing well with that too. He signs I love you and yesterday he scratched his nose with his right hand. This is a big deal because its a reflex action and he used his right hand which means his left brain which was damaged is starting to work again. he's been moving his right side when he's told to, but doing it as a natural reflex is really encouraging. Hopefully he'll leave for Baylor next Monday or Tuesday so he can start to really work at getting back on his feet (literally and physically!) Anyway, keep up the prayers for him and our little friend Kayla in NY. Will post again soon.

2009-07-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

Colton will have ANOTHER surgery on Tuesday morning around 7:30 to rebuild the back of his skull where it was crushed. After that hopefully he will be ready to move to rehab at Baylor. Pray for a quick surgery and for the Dr. to be blessed and that he can help Colton. I will post more tomorrow after I go in to see him.

2009-07-15T19:08:00.000-07:00

I went to see Colton today and I can't believe the difference! He looked so much better without the tube in his mouth. When I got there he looked right at me and the whole time I was talking to him he looked me right in the eyes. The nurse came in to suction his mouth out and when she was doing it he shook his head no at her! So now if you ask him something he can give a very definite no. His head nod for yes is not very clear, I think because it hurts his neck to shake his head up and down with the new trach in. He seemed sleepy so I told him he could close his eyes if he wanted to and he shook his head no at me. They had his tv on Disney channel and when I asked if he liked the show that was on he shook his head no. When I asked if he wanted me to change it to nickelodeon he tried to shake his head yes. He gets frustrated when he can't do it and he tries so hard he ends up coughing. Anyway, he is doing better and better everyday. Thank you all so much for your prayers and keep them coming! They are why he is doing so well.

2009-07-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

Not much new to report. We're kind of in the Hurry up and wait time now. Colton has had some swelling around his left eye, but he did that when they took the flap out too so they aren't worried. He has had a fever, but they found out he has a bladder or UT infection so they're treating that. He is trying to look at people when they talk to him, but it's hard since his eye is swollen almost shut. I will let you all know when there is progress. For now please pray that he keeps making progress every day. Keep praying for Kayla too, she's starting to eat pureed food which is great. Hopefully Colton will be there soon!

2009-07-11T07:36:00.000-07:00

Hi all. Colton's surgery went very well. They put in the feeding button and trach with no problem. They had to clean up the edges of the bone flap a little to make it smooth but it went back in great. He has a little fever but they said to expect that. He already opened his eyes yeasterday and when they said "Hey your supposed to be asleep" he closed them again. That's Colton, always minding so well!LOL. Anyway next week they'll go in and put in the plate(or whatever they call it) where his bone was crushed. Then it will be off to rehab. Right now they're just waiting for his left lobe of his brain to start working with the flap back in. Keep praying for him, it's doing the job. Keep up the prayers for Kayla in NY, they're working for her too!

2009-07-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

Well, Colton is scheduled for surgery at 11 today. They are going to put the skull flap back in . They are also going to do a trach and a feeding button at the same time so he won't have to be put under 2 seprate times. His Dr. told them yesterday that after the bone is back in his left hemisphere of his brain should start working again and he should be alot more alert.The trach is a good thing because the tube down his throat keeps gagging him and making him cough. Then in the next week or so they will go back in one more time and put something in the back of his head where he had the fracture. They have to build it first. Hopefully that will be the last major surgery and then he'll go to Baylor for rehab. He is doing well even with all this stuff going on. He has a new trick too. If you tell him to stick out his tounge he will! It's too funny. He did it for several different people on command which is really good. That means he's doing it on purpose and not as a reflex. They also told Derek and Kelly that he isn't spastic which is good news too. His muscle are rigid instead of having random spasms. I will update later today after the surgery. Please pray for Colton to come through this latest surgery stronger and please pray for the Drs. to do a great job. Keep up the prayers for Kayla in New York.

2009-07-06T17:38:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. Well, Thursday they are going to operate and put Colton's skull flap back in, and yhen they think he will start to be more alert. He has his eyes open most of the time now and he usually squeezes your hand when you talk to him, but he isn't really awake. Dad says the lights are on and Colton's in there but he's asleep in the recliner in front of the T.V.! LOL. Hey, at this point in the game, every little laugh helps. They are also going to do the trach and the feeding button at the same time. That will be good because the vent tube keeps gagging him and making him cough. It's awful, his whole body moves but no sound comes out when he coughs. It alsmost looks like a seizure but its just a soundless cough. Anyway, pray that all goes well on Thursday. Keep praying for Kayla in NY too. Will post with any news.

2009-06-30T19:37:00.000-07:00

Hi all. Sorry I didn't post last week. We were in the mountains and I didn't have internet. Well, Colton's vent is set at the lowest setting and he's breathing on his own most of the time which is great. The Dr. told Derek and Kelly yesterday that he needs to do 3 more surgeries on Colton before he goes to Baylor. He needs a trachand feeding "button", they're going to put in a shunt to drain the fluids, and a seperate surgery to put the skull back together. But he did say he thinks there is only minimal brain damage and he was optimistic that Colton will recover with time. Then, to top off a great day, Alex busted his head open on the side of the pool out at dad and Lynda's. He had to have 10 staples, but he was in good spirits today. He didn't want to quit swimming to go to the ER!! Pray for Colton's continued recovery, Alex's speedy healing, and Derek's sanity (just kidding) Also, please pray for our friend Kayla in New York. She is also making progress but still needs our prayers.

2009-06-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

Well, today we went to see Colton and when I went in and started talking to him he opened his eyes about half way! He also set off his vent alarm because he was taking breaths of his own in between the vent breaths. When my dad, Uncle Jason and Tripp came in he tried to open his eyes for them but he only got them to open a slit. Still, its so encouraging to see him make baby steps everyday. When Lynda(nana) went up to see him he squeezed her hand. The Dr.s turned off his drain to see how his ICP(brain pressure) does and if it stays low, then they'll take the bolt out which would be great. If it goes up I think their putting the shunt inside his head and then taking the bolt out. Today his pressure was 5 which is good. I'll be out of town this next week and I'm not sure if I'll be able to post from our cabin, but if I can I will. Pray that Coltons pressure stays low and they don't have to put in a shunt.

2009-06-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

Not alot to tell today, but then you know what they say. No news is good news. Colton's fever is way down and his lungs are almost clear so yeah! Bye bye Pneumonia. Also, when De and Alex went to see him today he squeezed their hands. The Dr. who is taking care of him while his regular Dr. is out says he dosen't think he'll need a trach which would be awesome. So, for now pray that he keeps getting a little better everyday and pray for no trach.

2009-06-20T07:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry I didn't update last night, just didn't have time. Yesterday was pretty quite with not much new to report, except for a cute story. The nurse was in changing Colton and when she was cleaning him he reached down and covered himself up! Kind of like he was thinking hey lady watch it down there. Anyway he is moving his left side quite a bit, but not his right, which is not unusual they said because the injury was to his left brain. They said he will start using it more and more and they know he can move it because he has moved both feet. Thats the important thing is that he can move it, he just isn't much yet. Keep up the prayers, it has been so nice for the family knowing that so many have our Colton in their hearts and prayers.

2009-06-18T19:51:00.000-07:00

Talked to Derek and he said they took the staples out of Coltons head. When they were doing it he cried, which is so sad but also encouraging because it means he is "there" enough to know he feels pain. Pray that tomorrow is another good day.

2009-06-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

Hi guys. Well GREAT news today. Colton opened his eyes ! By the time Derek got up there he was asleep again and he tried to wake up for Derek but he was too sleepy. We'll see later tonight if he'll wake up for Derek. Kelly and Donye were in with him and a nurse was working on him when he opened his eyes and looked at her. He's also been coughing on his own and moved his legs today. Yesterday when Alex called and Kelly said "Hi Bubba" he took 5 or 6 breaths on his own against the vent so it's all good news today! Keep praying for him and for Kayla in New York. She opened her eyes a few times today too but they both have a way to go.

2009-06-16T19:34:00.000-07:00

Hi all. Just a quick update on Colton. He had a really good day today. They are starting to wean him off the heavy sedation so they can asses him and see how his brain is healing before they put the skull flap back in. That way if he needs more surgery they won't have to remove it again. His mom was putting lotion on his chest and stomach today and he coughed and took some breaths of his own against the vent. Thats a good sign that he's trying to breath on his own and waking up. Also, through the blog I met a lady from New York state whose niece was hit by a car last week and has almost the same head injury as Colton. Her name is Kayla and she also suffered two broken legs and a broken arm. Anyway her aunt put Colton on their prayer list and I wanted to ask everyone to say a prayer for her when your praying for Colton. Thanks all. I'll let you know when theres any new info.

2009-06-15T20:16:00.000-07:00

My nephew Colton was hurt in a car accident on Sunday, June 7th. He is currently in Pedi Icu and under heavy sedation with a severe head trauma. He has had 2 surgiers so far but will need several more before he is well. Luckily he had no other injuries besides his head. He will have to go to Baylor in Dallas for rehab in a few weeks when he is stable, but we have faith he will be good as new in the end.