Hillary is in good hands today…..literally….Sara’s hands.

(Hillay, Sara, and Justin)

Her wonderful friend and colleague Sara Rottering is pampering Hillary with a manicure today.  I can only imagine the things Sarah is sharing with Hillary as they spend the afternoon together.  Spend a few minutes in a salon and you have plenty of stories to share when you come out. That’s why I know there are many being shared right now at Spa #31, Trauma Center.

I have left Hillary in good hands: First with her sisters as well as Billy and Josh last evening, and now with girlfriends from home.   I needed to see my Mom.  She has been in the hospital for several weeks. Though I wish Mom could have been home by now, it felt pretty wonderful crawling up beside her in that hospital bed and crying on her shoulder while she ran her fingers through my hair.  What is it about us when we see our Moms at the times when life feels like it is falling apart? Why is that when we cry?  When we skin our knees as children, often the tears don’t flow until Mom acknowledges our pain.  And when trauma enters our adult life we try to be strong until our mother opens her arms to us.  I was not strong today with my Momma…or my Dad.

And because I haven’t been at Hillary’s side, my update will be a short one.  Most importantly, Hillary’s white count is back down again. It appears taking the lines, chest tube, etc., out was the right thing to do.  She has been sleeping very deeply and I had to be reminded she is off the ventilator entirely and her body is tired from all she has been through.  Her vitals are great and she is slowly waking up and improving every single day. Consultation with family friends/physicians has made us feel much better about Hillary and her chance for full recovery.  Paul and I celebrated last night together with the best steak you can find in Paducah, KY, besides off his own grill, of course. 

Yesterday, our two angel nurses

(Barber/Stylist Greg and Rock Star Jason)

suggested a child life specialist consult would be appropriate and sent Katherine Bennet, M Ed, CCLS from Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in to see us.  We are thrilled to once again have so many angels looking over our family, our daughter…and her son.. There is no question there is something very special going on in that unit and it starts in the hearts of the caregivers who are staffed there.

Thank you for every prayer for Hillary…and her sweet boy.  

XOXO

–Shawn

Hi Everyone!! This is Brittany! I just wanted to let everyone see something amazing, something that everyone needs a little more of, especially right now. Take the 5 or 6 minutes it takes to watch this and live it, breathe it. Everyone around you right now is looking for a hug. I know my family is right now.

I don’t believe that I have written anything thus far, so here goes.

My beautiful sister, Hillary. It just doesn’t even seem real sometimes.
Seeing her in this place and seeing those eyes open ever so slightly day to day is almost breathtaking. For how severe this accident was, I can’t believe how far this amazing girl has come.

I feel like I am saying this a lot, (in repetition to most people) but when people ask about her it goes something like this… “It’s going to be a VERY long road, she is amazing and really has already come so far. For only two weeks after such a traumatic experience, I can’t believe how much progress she has made. I like the word “amazing” (and Ashley if you are reading this, get ready there are plenty more where that came from ) It truly is going to be a long road. She is awake for now, but that doesn’t mean she is talking or walking around, she is responsive which is HUGE. I was rubbing her hand with my thumb tonight, and with her pointer finger she began to rub my hand back. I don’t know if it is an involuntary action, but it was beautiful none the less.   This will not be an overnight thing. It will take months, maybe even years. And I am prepared to be here every step of the way!

Thank all of you for your love and support everyday! I can’t believe what a big family can do when someone we love is in a situation like this. We have such a huge extended family at the same time. So thanks to all of you for your ongoing prayers and support. We couldn’t do this without you!

Thank you to all of Hillary’s nurses and the Vanderbilt staff for taking such good care of my sister and for all of the support you have given to my family. You guys will always be in my thoughts!

My plan was to give you a very quick update….maybe two sentences with a “stand by for more tomorrow”, but I am too excited to sleep!

Hillary’s eyes are VERY open and though she is not completely “there” yet, she is really trying.  In fact many of her moves are purposeful including a very big thumbs up for Nurse Laura and me.  No question…she gave a purposeful thumbs up on command. (And if you think that is the “Shawn Coltharp exaggeration factor” in play, you can just contact Nurse Laura and she’ll give you a resounding confirmation.) 

On top of that, Judy Jenkins, RN MSN, (and angel of Hillary’s clinical trial), informed Ashley in the infamous Vandy elevators that Hillary’s white count is coming down.  Nurse Laura just brought me the results showing a decline from 28K to 22K. (She needs to be 5K to 10K)  Her temperature is low grade to normal now and we are holding on to all hopes that the pneumonia is retreating under Vanderbilt’s army of brilliant caregivers and, of course, your love and prayers.

I’m afraid I am too excited to sleep (again, thank you Dr. John for your help with that) but I finally got my girl to close her eyes and I’m going to do the same.  Besides we have shopping to do tomorrow: Hightops….the prettiest ones we can find!

Thank you for your important and powerful prayers and messages….every one of them! 

XOXOXO 

–Shawn

Ashley (our first born, organized, list making, clean freak, beautiful, blonde daughter) is not the boss of me!!!!  Not today anyway.  Amy, (Hillary’s new nurse with all the same skills), is now in charge of me.  It’s killing Ashley and fun to watch.  I’m OK with it because when Amy goes into AKO (Ass Kickin’ Organizing) mode she smiles at me EVERY TIME; unlike Ashley who has a bit more “take no prisoners approach”. 

I wish Amy was taking over by way of going nose to nose and eye ball to eye ball with Ashley and staring her down to victory.  That would be really fun to watch!  In truth, the reason Amy must take over is because Hillary’s bacteria infection is very serious in light of her weak immune system.  Ashley and our wonderful son-in-law Billy are expecting their first baby and we are taking no chances that bacteria is passed on to Hillary or Ashley and Baby Vance (Aunt Hillary’s name choice).  Our best estimate is that Amy gets only two days of  “The Boss” status while Hillary fights this infection. So we are going to mind Amy on every level just to frustrate Ashley who says we NEVER mind her. 

So while we wait for the good news we know we will hear soon that the bacteria is retreating, I’d like to share the many good news of today: 

1) Today is today and yesterday is behind us.

2) Hillary’s vitals including BP, heart rate, oxygen levels, breaths per minute are GREAT.

3) Her urine looks GREAT. (Hey, Nurse Eric’s words not mine)

4) Her color and “look” is more like Hillary again. 

5) Hillary’s eyes are open a great deal and while they are not where they were in terms of alignment, etc. they are improving every single minute.  Her pupils are responsive (slow but responsive all the same) and her beautiful green eyes are trying very hard to focus again.

6) She is squeezing my hand with her right hand.  For those of you who have held our girl’s hand since she has been in 10 North Vandy Trauma, you didn’t feel anything like this!  She really strongly squeezed several times and once or twice has pulled me back when I said I was going to let go. It’s Hillary’s squeeze…with love and expectations and demands….all rolled up into the girl we know so well.

7) Hillary has some feeling coming back in her feet.  We have heard high top tennis shoes will help restore positioning of the feet and avoid the foot drops from inactivity.  We hate to cover those pretty cherry red toes but a girl must do what a girl must do for the long haul.

8) Her elbow surgery (and plates) look great and in fact they have removed all bandages to give her the healing air she needs for full recovery

9) Oh my gosh, am I already at nine?!?!?  (Did I say Ashley is NOT the boss of me?) Seriously number nine is the greatest positive of all.  The love and concern of friends (even strangers) across the globe who are lifting Hillary up in prayer is phenomenal.  Hillary’s update site has over 5,000 hits (visitors) per day!  That is 5,000 times a day that each of you are thinking of her, loving her and offering prayer and asking others to do likewise for our Injured Angel. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

XOXOXO

–Shawn

Fall is here.  I know that not because I feel it on my skin and sense it in the air, but because the worried families in the Trauma and ICU waiting room are wearing jackets and long pants.  It doesn’t seem possible that we are now helping the broken hearted families who have just arrived.  They can tell we “know the ropes” and we share the insider tricks such as reminding them in the mornings to jump on the 2nd floor elevator going down and stay on until it can take you back up to the 10th floor.  And just the opposite is true during night time visiting hours when you often must go up to go down.  If you follow this advice you can avoid a ten minute wait as people go on with their “normal” lives heading to work and back home again.

I’m looking at Hillary and having one of those “This can’t be happening” moments.  She has just returned from a procedure for a filter which will ensure clots do not travel into her body.  When they shared their plan with Paul he said “Where do I sign?” having carried that concern inside him for days.  What a relief!  She has just returned and while she tolerated the procedure very well, her breathing is not as they would like.  “Nothing we can’t fix.” they said, so I am breathing better for her right now.  And that is step forward number one.

Number two is her continued ability to open her eyes and try to focus just a bit more each time.  While her eyes rarely open for any reason other than a reaction to something the nurses are doing (or her need to cough), they do still open and more often every few hours.

Number three is what her caregivers see in her right hand movement.  Hillary opens her hand and moves fingers somewhat naturally instead of curled inward and closed as in many head traumas and strokes.  They have reminded me this is a wonderful sign and something we should be celebrating.

Her fourth step forward came when I was exercising her broken (now steel plated) arm.  As I bent her arm, bringing her hand to her chest area for her exercise, she pushed her elbow and upper arm down…really pushed.  I don’t know how to describe what this feels like.  It is almost like watching a small puppy just being born and you see what you think is a sign of life the moment they arrive.  You wonder if you saw what you think you did.  And then they do it again!  And you know they are going to be OK.  I bent Hillary’s arm again and there it was!  She did it again and then every time there after.  I knew she had a broken clavicle on that side and obvious discomfort in the elbow but I rejoiced and so did Barry and Robin right along with me!

And as expected, there is one step backwards. Hillary’s feet are beginning to “drop” and she has very little if any feeling in them right now.  We hope much of that is due to the long time in her bed. We will continue to exercise her legs and feet until we can turn that into tomorrow’s step forward…..or maybe the next day’s

Thank you for EVERY prayer!

XOXOXO

–Shawn

I laid awake this morning after the 8 hours of rest my entire family forced on me (as well the meds prescribed by Dr John Cecil—we love him) and tried to stay on task by finding four steps forward.  And I found them!  First, at 11 PM last evening with GREAT respiratory readings and Ashley by her side, Hillary was taken off the ventilator.  WHAT a step forward and one we never thought would come this soon.  Secondly, she did have a very successful surgery on her elbow.  Third, she became “more responsive” with movement of fingers to commands, though the response is delayed.  The movements are so slow and minimal it is often difficult to determine whether reflex or response.  However, the more time you spend with Hillary the more you begin to decipher the two. 

While our men may not “get it” when they read the fourth step forward, the women most certainly will.  Thanks to the loving care of Erica, Hillary had an evening at the spa with Bath and Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossoms topped off with a final coat of cherry red on her toes.  It was WONDERFUL!  Erica brought all of this to Hillary from her own girly collection at home.  What an ANGEL!  We love you Erica and all the Coltharp women can’t wait to have champagne and pedicures with you soon. And we will let you and Hillary pick the day.

The spa in Trauma Center room #31 may be the reason we are all better able to handle the step backwards of extremely high blood pressure and fever….most of which is caused by “brain storms” which are the result of her trauma from the accident. After shots and repeated meds to reduce her BP crises, Caregiver/DJ Drew finally came in and said, ”Hillary….I don’t like to lose…and you are beating me!  I am not going home until we get the BP down.” And Drew brought in that rolling trauma tracking system/music sound and production system and went to war.  Part of his combat included more R&B all the while taking readings and fine tuning her delivery of meds and care.  No changes.  Finally he moved her into a place very appropriate to Nashville by way of Rascal Flatts “What Hurts the Most” and she began to settle down.  Within minutes her blood pressure started to hit near normal readings.  Drew said, “Hillary why didn’t you tell me you wanted Country tonight?  Wow….she is a girl who really likes to mix it up, isn’t she?!?!?”   Thank you Drew and Erica and Sarah and Darla (who has the cutest hair do EVER and one we have goaled for Hillary soon)  And you too, Anthony!  (Hillary’s Angels in Vandy posted to blog pics)

As Paul shared, the clinical trial to fight Hillary’s pneumonia appears to be successful and we thank God and Judy Jenkins, RN MSN, for the blessing.  Judy was so cute when she came in yesterday morning to check on how things were going:  She said she had been to her stylist the evening before and he had wanted to make a slight change in her style.  Judy said the first thing she thought was “What would Hillary do?”  We had such a happy laugh and connection with her and those moments just continue every day.

But so do the ones where I look at my baby girl and wish I had every chance back when she was little and wanted to hang on me constantly for hugs no matter what I was doing or where we were. If only she could hang on me now…I would never say, “Honey thank you for that hug and now Mommy has to go do this right now.”  I’d say hang on for dear life my sweet daughter and I will never let go. I KNOW she isn’t going to let go of all of us and you either….NEVER!

Thank you for every prayer!  We feel you connected to us and it is important beyond any way we can describe. We wish we could speak to everyone of you and always respond back by email, but it is impossible right now.  We whisper your names and give her every kiss you send.

–Shawn

Its Sunday just before noon. As I write this they are getting ready to take Hillary down to have her fractured elbow repaired by screwing a plate on to her bone right at the the elbow.  Of course this is the 4th day they have planned this and someone always seems to need the team more than Hillary…which is the way it should be.  While waiting, Hillary is spending time with her Aunt Martha who is trying to be the one who is with her when she wakes up ).  Hillary’s Aunt Denise spent yesterday afternoon with her ALSO trying to be the one with her when she awakes. (more coming from Denise today). The good news this morning is that she is doing well with her clinical trial drugs for her pneumonia and they are currently getting very little or no fluids extracted from her lungs.  Hillary IS RESPONDING to some commands such as squeezing a hand and can be stimulated to move her lips.  Little baby steps I know, but progress is being made and that is always encouraging.  Since typing is not my forte and this one paragraph is taking far too long…we’ll have to offer another update on Hillary after the pending surgery.  As always, thank you for your thoughts and prayers…and if ever in doubt about such things, let me assure you they ARE being heard and are being answered!!!!!!

Paul 

Nothing could have said it any better than the words of my friends Kathy Cox and Karen Thompson with the Wal-Mart Foundation:  “We are praying for four steps forward so the steps backwards are not so challenging”.  She has definitely taken four steps forward.  First of all, Hillary moved from yesterday’s “less critical” wing in the trauma unit to her very own private room.  A definite sign of improved health and GREAT for us because two can stay in her room 24 hours around the clock.  Second step forward –swelling in her head is coming down substantially. She looks more like our beautiful Hillary….sans hair.  Third step forward– she is moving even more to pain and seems to be reacting appropriately.  Once we saw her make a fist when they ran the tube down her throat.  Additionally (and fourth), she seems to be responding well to the clinical trial for her pneumonia. God bless Johnson and Johnson/ Ortho-McNeil!!!  For our brilliant medical friends here is a link to the trial

  http://www.ortho-mcneil.com/ortho-mcneil/060607_press_release.html

And the step backwards really DID seem less significant during the two BP Crisis as they called it which came in the night.  They have postponed the surgery again to put the plates in her elbow…but once again….we are delighted about that.

My friend Brenda Davis spoke of the surreal experience this is, having gone through a very similar experience with her sister when we were all teens.  Another friend stated how serendipitous some moments are.  Yesterday was the perfect example of serendipity.  We reconnected with our wonderful friends Bob and Martha Nemer who have been at our sides “taking pieces of this for us” as Bob requested.  And Patricia Williams (my idol of domestic goddessness and nurturing) arrived as well as Kerry Dallam, the one who says constantly “its just as easy for me to bring it to you…I’m on my way!”  We sat outside in the great outdoors and told old stories, shared dreams and literally laughed two hours away.  (Later that afternoon we snuck away with Bob and Martha and had much needed cocktails at a sports bar and once again discovered, no time has passed between us whenever we get together.)

Finally, with visiting hours over, Hillary and I went to bed to the best caregiver/DJ in the world, Drew.  Her wonderful guardian nurse rolled in his computer monitor which guides him and others to the best possible navigation system for her optimum health. And after hearing of Hillary’s great love for all types of music…..especially R&B and Country….Drew fired up some PERFECT R&B on that sophisticated monitoring system and he guided us to sleep with that and his watchful eye on her monitors.  He will be back tonight and we can hardly wait!!!!!

Thank you, thank you for every one of your prayers

Shawn

Many of you have asked “where can we send donations?”  Good news….our cousins, Lauren and Brian went to Hillary’s bank and set up a fund in her name.  Hillary sadly enough did not have healthcare insurance.  We are trying to fight for her to stay in Vanderbilt as long as possible.  At this point we are just hoping that God works his miracles and makes it possible for her to stay as long as needed in the Vanderbilt “system” for her recovery. 

So far the fund set up for Hillary is listed on the iList in Paducah.  We are also in the works for a benefit for Hillary in Paducah (likely to happen November 23rd).  We will keep you all posted on details for that.  Again thank you, THANK YOU for all you have done and continue to do for this sweet baby girl.  If you are interested in making a donation for Hillary please send to 

First Southern Bank of Kevil

PO Box 220

Kevil, KY 42053

Please make checks payable to:

Shawn & Paul Coltharp for the benefit of Hillary Coltharp