M.A.S. Special Hugs - Nov 17

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Permalink Reply by Brenda Sue on July 12, 2009 at 5:36pm

Here is our first contact!!! I PM'd the mom and she said that she did not feel like he would be comfortable having his name and address posted - so send me the cards and I'll forward them to her!! The Airman's name is Colton.

I need some prayers and I know that you all will help. My stepson who in the Air Force, went in for routine laproscopic gall bladder surgery on Thursday at Travis AFB Hospital. The surgeon knicked the aorta with the camera, right above where the aorta splits to go into the legs. When she repaired the aorta, there was still something wrong with the aortic valve and blood supply was cut off to his legs. Travis didn't have the right specialists or facilities for this type of injury, but they waited 10 hours before communicating that to his wife and transferring him to Univ CA Davis Hospital in Sacramento. Once he arrived by helicopter there, they immediately took him back to surgery to repair all the damage done, but unfortunately it was too late for his legs. They took his right leg in the middle of the night on Thursday and took his left leg Friday night. He has fluid in his lungs and there is some concern about all the infection getting to his kidneys, although once they removed the left leg and then took another 4 inches of the right leg, the kidney function started returning. This is a 20 year old, young Airman, serving his country. Please pray for him, his wife and all of his family. Pray for peace for all of us. Pray for healing. My husband (his father), is there with him, and the whole family has flown out there now, and I am going to be joining them on Tuesday. Please pass this prayer request to anyone who will listen. this is a horrific tragedy, but we also know that he is still alive and with us, and we are very grateful for that.

Don't forget to keep them in your prayers also!!

Airman Colton
c/o Brenda Bourque
2319 Avenue F
Nederland, TX 77627

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Permalink Reply by cindy delisi on July 12, 2009 at 8:41pm

I am so very sorry for this airman..and his family! This is one of the circumstances in which one wonders what God's plan is.... and even if he is paying attention. I cannot even imagine what Colton and his loved ones are going through at present. I will say prayers and beg for blessings tonight for them all. As a nurse, I wish that I could do so much more.

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Permalink Reply by Brenda Sue on July 13, 2009 at 5:46am

Here is an update on Airman Colton. Cards headed either address will get to him!!

Brenda Sue,

Please forward the cards and letters to me at:

Airman Colton
c/o Irene Read
908 Gwinnett Circle
Arlington, TX 76017

Steve and I will get them to Colton. His wife is already talking about moving out of her house, maybe to the base, and so we think it would just be easiest if you sent them here and we forwarded them. And, I don't even care if you post my name and address if you would like to do that.

Thanks again.

Irene

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Permalink Reply by Brenda Sue on July 16, 2009 at 8:44pm

I received TWO cards today for Colton!! I'll be forwarding them to his step-mom in a couple of days to see if I get more. Dummy me - I sent mine off separately yesterday!! I should have just put it in the big envelope with the others - duh!!!

Here is an update from his step-mom!

Comment by Irene (Paul's Mom): I just wanted to give you an update on my stepson, Colton. Both of his legs have been amputated. Right now, we are still concerned about the right leg, as more may have to be removed. It is looking better, but is still not out of the woods yet. The biggest problem right now, is that if you take too much, you can't wear a prosthetic leg. The doctors here at UC Davis are wonderful and are doing everything they can to save as much as they can, so we don't have to go down that road. He is still in ICU, will probably be there another 2 weeks. His kidneys are better, and they removed the tube from his throat today. The fluid on his lungs should start to go away now that the tube is gone. We have had about 6 surgeries in the last week, and still have at least 2 more to go, maybe more.

My husband and I were standing in the hall watching him last night, trying not to wake him up and he got the hiccups. Steve began to pray "Please God, just take the hiccups away." Then, he went in the room to calm him down. I picked up where he left off and said, "Please God, oh come on, we have prayed and prayed and you have not answered any of those prayers the way we want them answered, the least you could do is take the stupid hiccups away." The hiccups then went away. So, it's a step in the right direction. Baby steps.

Please continue to pray and thank you all so much for your prayers and support.

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Permalink Reply by Brenda Sue on July 12, 2009 at 5:42pm

Here is another one:
I am not going to contact her because of the situation, but a Navy Mom on this website, Maxine Gilson, lost her Sailor about two weeks ago. It was an accident that happened in the states - but she would still probably appreciate cards. They buried him just last Sunday.

Just send them to: (and I'll forward them to her).

Maxine Gilson
c/o Brenda Bourque
2319 Avenue F
Nederland, TX
77627

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Permalink Reply by Susan mom to Niko on July 12, 2009 at 6:31pm

You may have heard about the sailor in Washington State that had a motorcycle accident two weeks ago... he has had two surgeries to repair damage to his 14th vertabrae and is now a paraplegic. He was transferred to the VA hospital in Seattle for long term healing and physical therapy last Thursday... He will be there a couple of months. It has been my honor to be able to go and visit him a couple of times a week.

I originally offered my address for people to send cards as we knew he would be moved from the first hospital... He has received several cards and even a pillowcase from Sue! The family is so amazed that there are moms out there that have never met the family or the sailor and still reach out with amazing navy mom love! They had never heard of Navy 4 moms and now talk about it all the time!

So please do include him... he is going to need the love and support for some time to come... His dad has ok'd us sharing his info... here is the link to his site and his mailing address

Ross Ries
VA Puget Sound Health Care
1660 S. Columbian Way
Seattle, WA 98108-1597

caringbridge.org/visit/rossries

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Permalink Reply by DC - G'mother of My Fav Sailor on July 12, 2009 at 9:03pm

Check out his CaringBridge site. Ross and his family are amazing, I think!

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Permalink Reply by Brenda Sue on July 13, 2009 at 5:49am

Wouldn't it be nice if when someone came to visit Ross, he could hand them two $5 Starbuck's cards (I am pretty sure they have them everywhere - it is Seattle!!) and he could tell his visitor, "Thanks, for coming to see me - want to go get us something to drink?" I am going to put one in my first card for sure.

Mainly, we want cards and messages sent to these people - but this one has a long road of rehabilitation.

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Permalink Reply by marlo on July 12, 2009 at 6:39pm

Count me in!!! So from the looks of it I need to send 2 get well cards and a sympathy card. I will get those in the mail ASAP.

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Permalink Reply by Brenda Sue on July 12, 2009 at 6:52pm

Hey Marlo!! THANKS!!!!!!!
I'm going to go to my mail center (He sells all cards for fifty cents each ~) AND STOCK UP!!!

When I read the heartbreak of each of these stories, a card can seem so minimal - but the "love" the receiver knows that is behind it is priceless!!

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Permalink Reply by LynnDear on July 12, 2009 at 7:06pm

Brenda, there is such a need to organise military families in pain. I remember a couple of times last year that moms swooped down and helped lift up other moms in need. NFM has become so large it is easy to get lost. Wonderful idea to directed them here. Also, there is another group, called Sailors Rescue List, which list moms willing to help a sailor locally from each state who may be stranded or in trouble. They have NFM moms that will visit in the hospital until the biological mom or dad can get there. Just need to decide who does what. So many recent accidents and deaths and illness, that this is good to have this is place. THanks Brenda

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Permalink Reply by Molly mom of 2 + 330,701 sailors on July 12, 2009 at 7:18pm

What about "MAAS Special Hugs" for the name ? Or like a package = "MAAS handle with care" I like the MAAS --sounds like Ma's

Ok Im in for the airman !!
I follow Ross threw the caringbridge, Sent a card last week, but will send another. ---and have a special something headed to Maxine.

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