|
|
Generous amounts of words and deeds that have been offered to her family by the Woodward community have brought her this feeling since her life was turned on end just weeks ago.
It all started with a headache Tuesday, June 6.
"An aneurysm was the furthest thing from my mind," said Teresa.
Bill Wilkinson was a typical little boy celebrating the summer before sixth grade, doing all his normal activities and racing with his sister at the pool.
He'd complained of a headache the day before, but Teresa said she chalked it up to the seasonal allergies the whole family had.
Cousin Amanda, who was staying during the summer with the family to help out, was with Bill and his siblings at the pool that day.
She has migraines, too, she said, so when Bill threw up at the pool, she figured Bill's headaches might have advanced as well.
She sat him up but soon realized Bill was unconscious. She called Chuck Wilkinson, Bill's father, and he told her to take him to the Dallas County Hospital in nearby Perry.
Luckily, Teresa caught up with them on their way out of town.
"I've seen seizures before," she said, "and he was seizing. We called 911."
Six volunteers with the Woodward Fire and Rescue responded to the call.
Teresa said that there is no doubt that their quick response saved her little boy's life.
"The paramedics and E.M.T.s who responded did a fantastic job of assessment and preserving Bill's vitals so the surgeons and hospital staff could work on him," she said.
The boy was sent by ambulance to Blank Hospital in Des Moines, where doctors drained fluid from his brain with a shunt, and Life Flighted him to the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City.
The damage that was done hit the motor areas hardest, said Teresa.
"He is taking baby steps at coming out of his coma," she said.
Teresa compares the experience to a roller coaster ride. Her son's health issues have careened wildly from the original aneurysm and ruptured vessel, to a couple of strokes, surgeries, emergency room trips and ICU stays.
There was even a period of time the young man had compromised kidney functions and went on dialysis.
On his recent birthday, Bill was moved from the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City to the Ankeny rehabilitation facility called On With Life (O.W.L).
Although he can't communicate, Bill is sometimes alert and will track people with his eyes, she said.
He has adjusted, said Teresa, but still can't stay awake for long periods at a time, which is actually good news.
One reason he is sleeping so much is because his brain has to heal, she said.
This isn't the typical behavior of the little boy Woodward knew.
One of the family's most emotional times, said Teresa, was when doctors wanted to remove Bill from the ventilator.
Nearly 20 family members were in the room that day, praying that Bill's brain stem could support his breathing.
Before the moment of truth, both Teresa and Chuck spoke their heart to the boy.
"I think you can hear in a coma," said Teresa, who said they wanted to give him comfort before the tube was removed.
Doctors told the family they thought Bill could breathe on his own once they removed the tube, but just in case, they had morphine ready so he wouldn't feel any pain, she said.
"We told him, if you want to go to heaven, it's okay," she said.
The time arrived and the life-supporting tube was removed.
"And he sucked air," said his mother. He didn't even need suctioning, which nurses and doctors told her was highly unusual.
"He keeps coming back," she said.
And so do his parents, as they take turns commuting from their business and family to Iowa City, until just recently when his condition stabilized so that he could be moved to Ankeny for rehabilitation.
This resiliency is more than matched by the spirit of the people in Woodward, said Teresa.
"The community support has been amazing," she said.
One of the main community organizers is Jane Yanders.
Yanders has been contacted by people from the community as well as the Wilkinsons' Perry church, Crossroads, and gives assignments, she said.
For instance, people brought food for two months this summer, thus providing meals while Teresa and Chuck took turns staying with Bill in Iowa City.
During one week alone, assistance was garnered from no less than six separate families or individuals who contributed to meals, house cleaning and just playtime with the kids.
People pitched in, Teresa said, and are still doing so in special, thoughtful ways for Bill's brothers and sisters, as well as his parents.
It is important to alleviate the pain and suffering, stress and grief that the Wilkinson kids, especially the youngest, are experiencing, she said.
Teresa and Chuck know this first hand more than most - they run the Family Advocacy Resources on Main Street in Woodward.
By trade, Teresa is a family therapist who can do any kind of therapy with kids or families, she said, but focuses on play and family therapy.
Husband Chuck, she said, runs the waiver component of the business and works with mentally ill and, ironically, brain-injured patients.
As Woodward business people they employ approximately 20 part-time employees who work with Chuck and two part-time therapists who work with Teresa.
They've been open for business for five years.
The word "blessing" comes up frequently in Teresa's vocabulary because help keeps coming in right when the family needs it, she said.
Teresa said she is aware of several efforts throughout the community to help her family. Then there are others that just come out of the blue, she said.
The Derry family is one those stories, said Teresa.
The Derrys have an annual birthday bash every September to celebrate their children's birthdays.
This year the children resisted asking for gifts for themselves, she said. Instead, they gave money and gas cards to Bill and his family.
Since the Wilkinsons are acutely aware they will need to find funds for future large expenses like making the front porch and bathroom handicapped-accessible, she just can't help but marvel at the widespread support they've received without even asking.
Last week, for instance, Leigh Schissel and Julia Evans and their moms Laurie and Amy presented nearly $1,000 to Bill and his family from a raffle they'd organized.
"The money is going to help with the costs for Bill's ramp," said Teresa. "We're going to widen the bathroom door, too, but not do much else for the bathroom until we know more about we'll need."
This amount joins $150 raised from a dunk tank held during the city's recent Friends' 'n Neighbors' Day. Someone has also taken it upon themselves to put out cans at Casey's and the restaurant in town and collect money from them, she said.
There are no small volunteers in this army, as exemplified by Gabe Smeltzer.
His Bouton family has known its own share of illnesses, said Teresa.
Nonetheless, young Smeltzer stepped up to the plate for his good friend Bill and raised over $100 going door to door selling "Bears for Bill."
Donations have totaled close to $2,000, thus far.
"Woodward is a great place to live. I'm overwhelmed," Teresa said. "I can't possibly tell you all the good that has been done for us."
In fact, the Wilkinsons have been providing help to others by the one other bright spot - the direct communication afforded by an online service called CarePages.
CarePages are free, user-friendly Web pages that help family and friends post messages back and forth to communicate when a loved one is hospitalized or receiving care.
The pages provide a virtual meeting place on the Web, room for text and photos and a message board.
The support she has gotten from people through the CarePages has helped immensely.
"The Website has really been a huge blessing," said Teresa. "It's a wonderful way to journal and go through the process - and you know people are supporting you."
More importantly, such interaction lets the caregiver feel heard and understood.
The value of such tremendous support, both local and international, cannot be underestimated, she said, acknowledging that her grief and loss are helping more than just her and her family pull together from this experience.
Bill would have been in sixth grade this year. His future, is uncertain.
But his family waits and watches and worries and wonders - while the kindnesses keep coming.
"Every step of the way there have been people using their skills," said Teresa on her CarePage June 11, "whether that be prayer or emergency management or medical or loving support on the home front. I stand amazed all the more that people are good at what they do and they care to do their best for others. Thank you."
Moreover, Teresa knows that these flurries of love are really a tribute to Bill and his own brand of wonderful.
"Bill is a joker, a really nice, nice kid, and he's smart." said his adoring mother. "He's just a loveable kid. These strengths will pull him through."
Volunteers should contact Jean Yanders at 515-676-2430 or 515-975-2256 (cell) or email her at jeanyanders@iglide.net.
Regular updates on Bill's condition are available online thanks to CarePages at www.carepages.com.
Log on, create an own account and use the password/page name "Billupdate".
