Jack Coulter
TrachKid Profile
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Jack Harrison Coulter
D.O.B. 5/12/2000
Jack was born at 42 weeks, 9lbs. 3 oz., 22 ½ inches. He was delivered via emergency C-section secondary to fetal bradycardia. He was intubated and compressions were performed for Apgar score of zero at one minute. Apgars were zero at five, two at ten. Two hours later, he was transferred to St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Exam upon admission reported very weak grasp and no gag or suck. He had intermittent rhythmic blinking and facial twitching. Pupils were sluggish, generalized hypotonia and hyperreflexia. He had clonic movements of all extremities and sustained ankle clonus.
Jack had received a severe insult to his basal ganglia. He had contracted Group-B strep, which caused his distress and, subsequently his brain injury.
During his 6-week stay in the NICU, Jack had a G-tube and J-tube placement, Nissen fundoplication, and pyloromyotomy. The J-tube was eventually taken out. He also had his tracheostomy tube placed 5 weeks into his stay.
Four Years Later…
Jack has surpassed all expectations. Don’t get me wrong, those first two years were hell, and I mean HELL!!! If you would’ve told me how Jack is today then, I would’ve never believed it! He started to smile the week of his first birthday. His seizures were finally under control a week before his first birthday. He turns four May 12, 2000. He smiles, laughs, cries, pouts, you name it! He does not talk, but his facial expressions alone say everything. He is waiting for his Vanguard communication device to come in. It will enable him to communicate with a tiny sticker on his forehead that selects icons via infared. Thank God for modern technology, because this child has the capability to tell us a lot!!!
He started preschool 2 weeks ago. He goes 4 afternoons a week. That first day of school was one of the most joyful days since Jack came into my life. The look of happiness, belonging, excitement, contentment, and trying to figure out what was going on – all in one – was the day I had been waiting for for Jack. He loves getting out and being with other kids and being out of the house. Therapy isn’t therapy anymore, it’s “going to preschool.”
Medically, he has had a hard time with frequent pneumonias. He receives Tobi treatments when he gets a respiratory infection. We will not be sending him to school in the winter, but he will be going full-time in the summer.
He walks with assistance in his Mullholland walker, which provides full trunk and head support, but he loves to do it! He watches his favorite television programs – and he will let you know when he doesn’t approve! He could have you read books to him all day if you would. He enjoys going out to the mall, families houses, parks, etc. He goes everywhere we do.
He has mastered working switches with his head. He makes choices when offered them. He adores his mom and dad and siblings and gets upset when a new nurse comes.
Jack’s swallow reflex has improved, but we are no where near getting rid of the trach. We are thankful he has not required use of a ventilator since he was 2 days old. His muscle tone has been one of his biggest problems. He requires lots of splinting, oral baclophen, stretching, and possibly may need a baclophen pump placement in the near future.
Despite all of his challenges, he is an extremely happy child who is an inspiration to everyone that knows him. We love him so much and treat him with the respect he deserves. We don’t wallow in “what could’ve been” because he is just so wonderful how he is!
Jack’s diagnoses: Hypoxic eschemic encephalopathy, seizure disorder (infantile spasms first year of life), g-button, NPO, trach tube secondary to chronic aspiration of secretions, spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.
Shannon Coulter
shannoncoulter2000@yahoo.com
History
- Blog
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- Member for
- 3 years 35 weeks
Location
- Country
- United States
