1/8 - Sam's Journey, Day 27

In fairness, I did start writing this on the 7th, but it is now the 8th. I've had to check the calendar several times, because it's hard to believe that today is day 27. It seems like forever since that Christmas night when we arrived here. Our time at Plano feels like a million years ago. This has been the absolute worst crisis we have ever had to weather as a family. It has been exhausting and has taken us to the darkest of places. Since the 12th of December, the following have happened:

• A policeman at my front door telling me about the accident
• Craniotomy, after which we hear he might not make it through the night
• Clavicle, C-4 (neck) vertebra, nose and occipital fractures
• Pneumonia
• A struggle to maintain a normal temperature
• A struggle to keep ICP's under 20
• A pentobarbital induced coma
• A blood clot scare
• A brain stem death scare
• A tracheostomy, 2 feeding tubes, picc line and art line placements
• Near complete kidney failure
• An emergency move to a different hospital
• Lasix, CVVH and hemodialysis, with CVVH complications
• The compromise of liver, lung, and pancreas function
• Multiple infections
• Cranioplasty and removal of infarcted brain tissue

These have all been horrible to watch and know that my child is enduring the most horrific torture of his life. At the same time, we have been blessed immeasurably by so many people, in so many different ways. Since the 12th of December, the following have happened:

• 142,435 pageviews of this blog by people in 13 countries
• Countless texts, Facebook posts and voicemails expressing offers of support, help and prayers
• A GoFundMe Account set up on our behalf that raised $17,606 in 25 days
• the parent of one of Sam's classmates being at the accident and acting as a first responder, and later on playing an important role in his recovery
• random baskets of food, blankets, socks, sweatpants and other things to help us care for ourselves
• endless piles of get well cards and messages from friends, acquaintances, and classmates
• a basket of gift cards to restaurants from my colleagues
• A prayer blanket from the church of one of Sam's teachers with each knot representing a prayer offered for him
• good friends who talked (chatted?) me through some very difficult times 
• meals, puzzles and visits from friends and coworkers
• many visits from our pastor, and several from pastors of other churches
• a fully cooked turkey for our family to enjoy 
• random housecleaning and a home cooked meal from Nana
• a search and rescue operation for a softball bag, and the procuring of a maroon under armour shirt 
• offers to help transport and house Sarah for the softball tournament this weekend
• a recording and a picture of crazy fruit from Sam's choir buddies and choir director
• a recording for Sam from our school's orchestra
• teachers and principals reaching out to Sarah to help her make a smooth transition back into school this week
• connecting with families of others on their own journey, and being able to celebrate and grieve with and for them
• reconnecting with people from just about every place we have lived or worked
• running into neighbors, students and their parents, and a pizza guy we've never met, expressing their well wishes and continued prayers.
• an email to Sam from John Rutter
• Sam opening his eyes on Christmas day
• a phenomenal medical staff who have worked tirelessly to give this boy the best possible treatment and help prepare him for what lies ahead

I could go on and on, and then on some more. I know I am missing many of you. For that I apologize. Please know that we are deeply humbled, overwhelmed and grateful for every single one of those actions.  It is undeniably clear that the second list far outweighs the first. This has changed us all radically, and we will never be the same as we used to be. I think something from a previous post that came from one of Jim's friends bears repeating: While this may not be a path you would ever choose, once you are on it, the view can be surprising.

Thank you all for your continued support. We'd ask that you would continue to pray for Sam, that he continues to have successful trach trials, that the MRI on Monday comes back as positive as possible, and that Sam continues to improve in all areas as we move closer to the rehab phase. Thank you, #teamsam. You are a blessing to us. If you ever question that, please refer to the list.