It's hard to believe it has been one year since Graham's head was run over by an SUV and our little superhero pulled himself out from under a car and began his miraculous recovery. 3 weeks in a coma, had skull reconstruction and brain surgery, a and spent almost three months in four hospitals before finally returning home. If I'm honest with myself, I'll admit there were brief times when I didn't think he would live. When we didn't think he would ever walk, talk, see, or hear again. But with faith, amazing doctors and nurses, prayers and support, Graham has overcome all the odds and made a near-complete recovery. And as we've returned to our busy lives, many have reached out and asked: how is Graham today?
The short answer is, "he's good." The long answer is complicated, and it begins with us moving at the end of June.
Back in November, I began having discussions with my company about taking over an open territory in our hometown - Boise, Idaho. At the end of January that deal became final, so Lindsey and me began preparations to move.
Fast forward to about two weeks ago and we had a conversation with Graham's Neuro Surgeon. We told him we wanted him to see Graham in clinic once more before we move, so that we could discuss Graham's long-term health and prepare to transfer his care to new doctors in Boise. He asked us, almost in passing, if we wanted to do another MRI to check up on things. We decided that would be good, and scheduled both the MRI and our next office visit.
The MRI came and went without incident, and we went to what we thought was a routine office visit with Dr. Braga. What came next knocked is off of our feet. Graham needs another surgery.
The reason is not new - Graham has a crack in the base of his skull (a "clean" environment) that now leads into his sphenoid sinus (a "dirty" environment). For more than six months and with four different groups of surgeons examining him, it was determined that Graham would not need surgery because his cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) was not leaking from his skull to his sinus. But in comparing past MRIs with his most recent one, it became clear to see that fluid was indeed building up in his sinus. That puts him at severe risk for menegitis, and so surgery is absolutely necessary.
At minimum, it will require an endoscopic procedure going in through the nose, up the sinus, and sealing up the crack in the base of his skull from below. But the surgery is complex, and Graham also has fluid building up above his right orbital bone, so a craniotomy might be necessary as well. When the surgery happens is up in the air - it has yet to be scheduled and might delay our move a bit, but we'll sort all that out when we know more.
His long term prognosis did not provide much more by the way of positive news. Based on a review of the MRI, it was determined that he is extremely unlikely to regain vision on his right eye. And the still-visible damage to his brain indicates that his short-term memory is unlikely to improve as well. One of his orbital bones is growing in an odd manner, causing it to droop and likely necessitating reconstructive facial surgery as he reaches his teen years.
When we heard all the news, it was honestly very deflating. PTSD, for lack of a better phrase, set in, and many of the fears and emotions that we felt early on in Graham's recovery came rushing back. We became nervous. Scared. Sorry for our son and all that he will have to endure. Nothing will come easy for this guy. He has much yet to overcome.
But much like at the time of his accident one year ago, hope filled our hearts. Hope became faith, and faith has become resolve. The way we see it now is this: all this news closes the chapter on his accident. We begin now to work for the future, embrace the differences that have set in since his accident, and prepare Graham to live the rest of his life as the sweet boy that he is.
We are so blessed. Against all odds, our son is alive and active. He completed first grade, although with Graham already being young for his grade and having trouble with his short term memory, we are strongly leaning towards a second year of it in Idaho to lay an even stronger foundation for his future.
We have been blessed with amazing family and friends. A loving and caring church, community, and school that wrapped their collective arms around Graham throughout the year. And we have a loving Heavenly Father who know Graham, knows his family, and will surely bless us with a path to happiness.
Graham will have challenges. He will have limitations. But so do we all. When the deck of life was dealt, it simply wasn't in the cards for me to be the Jockey of American Pharaoh or a gymnast in the Olympics. I'm 6'4'' tall. It was never going to happen. And that's ok. We all overcome our limitations, focus on our strengths, and do our best to be happy in life. At the end of the day, happiness is much more a result of good attitude than great aptitude. And nobody - I mean NOBODY, has a better attitude than our Graham.
So Graham is good. Change is coming. He has more to overcome. Life is not simple right now. But we know who holds our future. Thank you all for you continued kindness and prayers, and may God bless you all.
