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It has been over nine months since I have written and update. I guess it took a scare this time to make me come back and write again. Although in my mind this website has always chronicled a miracle the feelings I always had writing these updates were fear and anxiety. Don't get me wrong I always expected a miracle and I believe we have seen one to have Cole home today and doing so well. At the same time I was always on the edge of my seat watching every sign for hope and always fueled by adrenaline. Tonight reminded me of that feeling and here I am writing again.
Cole has done very well for the last 9 months. As most of you know he took 6Th grade over again and he attended regular classes. He did this with the assistance of an amazing helper Diana Carrodeguas. She was a special friend for Cole and our family and she spent every day at school with him. I can't credit her enough for how well Cole has adjusted going back to school. Cole was on the AB Honor Roll for the year.
At the end of the school year Cole's Doctors felt he should have the palate surgery I think I have talked about in earlier update. This is a 2 step surgery that required that his tonsil and adenoids be removed first. Then after healing for 3 months they would do another procedure to his palate to help him control the air escaping through his nasal cavity and help him to make certain sounds better. At the same time as the tonsil surgery Doctor Ray removed several pieces of glass that were still lodged in his cheek from the accident. Doctor Gitzslag worked on his tear ducts. His right eye he was able to total dilate and make sure it was unobstructed. His left eye tear duct was completely blocked a will require plastic surgeon to open a passageway through the bone in his nose and into the sinus passage. Friday we went back to see Doctor Ray to discuss his next surgery and Cole's speech had improved so much we decided to wait another 6 months to decide if he needs it.
Griffin, Cole, and Katie all were given the chance to attend camp at Geneva Glen in Colorado this summer. We are so grateful to all who made this happen. Their Grammy Holly had retired and was working at the camp this summer so we had a little extra security having Cole so far away. I had the opportunity to take the kids to Colorado a week before the camp started allowing us to have a wonderful much needed vacation before I dropped them off. We had a great time in the Rocky Mountains and a truly awesome time visiting family.
Although the last nine months have had its trials for us Cole has continued to be our hero. He has always striven so hard in his efforts to get back what he has lost. We as a family have worked hard to settle into the new normal that so many told us we would find. We have all come a long way.
Tonight in an instance those feelings washed over us again and here I am back writing to you. Katie, Cole and I went to see the movie inception tonight. Driving home the kids wanted Krystal's burger so I stopped. Katie was sitting in the front with me and Cole was in the back seat behind her. Somehow he took to big of a bite and part of the sandwich went into his sinuses and he started to choke. I don't know how Katie noticed he was having trouble but I heard her ask him if he was choking. I heard the fear in her voice and turned around. In the dark I couldn't tell what was going on but Cole couldn't answer. I slammed the car to the side of the road and threw the door out into the lane of traffic. leaving it there I ran around the car to Cole's door. With Katie standing beside me crying uncontrollably I leaned him out the door and slammed on his back. The first time knocked the hamburger free from his throat.
Relieved we headed home. We talked about what happened and all we could tell was that Cole had taken too big of a bite and got in trouble. I don't know how Katie became aware of what was happening to Cole. He made a small sound and she turned around. In the dark back seat she saw him holding his throat and had the presents of mind to know what that meant. The fear in Katie's voice brought back the adrenaline of a year ago. I didn't even realize it until a few minute later when I stopped for milk and found myself feeling wobbly walking through the store.
Thirty years ago I tried to save a driver choking in a truck stop. I followed him to the bathroom to find him choking and out on the floor. Screaming for help I picked him up and tried to do the Heimlich maneuver on him. He had choked on a piece of meat and we couldn't get it out until the ambulance got there and had a tool to pull it out of his throat. I don't believe he survived. A few days later my nephew Justin choked on a peppermint and I was the first to get to him. As I reached around his little body the terror struck me. "What if I can't save him either." One squeeze and the candy flew across the room. Running around the car tonight those thoughts came back and I thank God I don't have to answer that question.
I am sorry if I have been over dramatic with this update tonight but it brought a lot of fears back. I know a lot of people choke but I can't help but feel that Cole's injury has made him more susceptible to this. The trouble he has controlling his airway for speech along with the great effort he has to use to speak anyway just seem natural to me that it could make it hard to control his food. It's just another example of the fear we live with and the grace that allows us to live.
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