This was the road my family took two years ago. It's taken me along time to be able to talk about this experience little alone write or scrap book about it but watching Nolan wrap up his high school years has made me reflect on how far he's come. I thought I would share with you his journey. Although I am going to condense it because I am sure the whole story would take too many pages.
He got sick the day of my moms funeral so we had to leave American Fork early and come home. He went to bed with burning eyes and a fever. He woke up the next morning and had blisters starting on his lips. I just thought it was strep because that had been going around and I wanted to wait until the Dr. Office opened but Adam insisted on taking him to the emergency room. We got there and they ran a strep test but it was negative. The Doctor was a little bit suspicious of all his symptoms and went over to his office and got on the Internet. He diagnosed Nolan with Steven's Johnson's Syndrome and they admitted him into the hospital. (people can say all they want about small town doctors but I love them.)
The second picture is of Nolan right after we arrived at the hospital and Adam hadn't got there yet. They wiped Nolan's face with a piece of gauze and his whole face just fell away, he was in so much pain. They shaved his head and wiped all the skin from his scalp. When Adam arrived the Dr. pulled Adam and I aside and told us that they had graded him with a more severe case of Stevens Johnson's called TENS which stand for a big long something I can't spell. He said that Nolan had a 40 - 60 percent chance of dying and about 60 - 80 percent chance of blindness. Talk about your knees coming out from under you. I just couldn't believe this was all happening to my baby. The doctor predicted at least 3 surgeries for Nolan and a possible stay in the hospital of 2-3 months.
The next few pictures are of Nolan after his first surgery. They went in and scraped the skin off of about 90 percent of his body and covered his whole body with a skin called bio-brain. They can't put it on your face so it looked bad but his whole body looked like his face under the fake skin. He lost all his toenails and fingernails. He was in a drug induced coma for about a week and was on life support to make him breath.
I'm going to try and condense this down so it doesn't go on for ever. After lots of fasting and praying Nolan did better than ever could be expected. He only ended up having one surgery and started to improve immensely. He was in the hospital for about 3 weeks and everyone there was so shocked at his speedy recovery. He had being young and in great shape on his side but in just three short weeks he lost 25 pounds and to this day we have a hard time getting weight on the kid. It was hard to see the same kid who just one month earlier had been running up and down the basketball court to a kid who didn't have enough strength to get out of bed. He worked hard and had an amazing recovery, shocking everyone at the hospital. The last two pictures are of Nolan working really hard to get strong so we could take him home. 
We learned so much during this hard time in our life. I will never be able to put it into words the love I have for my Savior and his comforting arms that we felt during this whole thing. We have been so blessed to have Nolan with us still and I will never take for granted mine or my childrens health. Every day is a gift and I love my family so much that it almost makes me tear up as I write this. So seeing Nolan as the young man that he has turned into now from where I know he has been is really an amazing legacy.
I will post some new pictures of Nolan that I just had taken for his Senior year. They show what an amazingly handsome man he had turned into being. 
9 comments:
Penny, as I sit hear crying I can't help but let you know that you and Adam are amazing parent's. What a journey that thankfully had such a great ending. Nolan is one terrific kid with so much ahead of him. Love, Barb
wow, I knew he had been sick but never thought of the extent of it. He is such a great guy, I had such a good time taking his senior pictures. Feel free to take any off the blog, or you can go ahead and use the images from the email I sent. Wow again. super amazing!
I forgot how bad it really was. I still remember getting the text from Morgan. I was in shock. So glad he is much better. We absolutely adore him.
I am so grateful that we still have Nolan here with us! And I'm glad you posted this to remind me to always be grateful! Sometimes you forget how bad or scary it was. I love you mom! You are amazing.
Hey Penny! This is Chelo. I honestly cannot imagine how hard this was...I am at lack of words what to say, but as I read this post with tears in my eyes, I could feel what a strong family you have!! What a blessing! And Nolan is sure one tough kid!
Thanks for looking me up through Morgan! It was so good to hear from you. I am doing well, still cannot believe all that the past 5 years has brought into my life. It is all so unfair...but then, who said that life was fair??? Anyways! I did not know about Nolan. I'm so thankful that you have a happy ending to his story! It does make you appreciate your children, and the health that you all share. I cannot believe that Nolan graduates this year! Wow! Walking through all of his lasts with you, brings back many memories of my own! Enjoy them! Love to you and your family!
Wow, seeing those pictures just make me realize what a miracle Nolan is. I have always liked Nolan, he just seems special. I am so glad he had a full recovery! That must have been such a testimony building experience for your family. Oh, and his latest pics look great!
I dont know how you did it! These pictures are hard to look at. I cant imagine what you went through! I didnt know it was even that bad!? Kris needs to be better with informing me of things going on...
Wow, I haven't seen those picts before. What a growing experience. We think Nolan is great, too! What a blessing that he is doing awesome after all of that! Definitely a testimony builder!
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