I just read this entire post and my eyes filled with tears. What you guys did was awesome. I also cried thinking about my son and my fear that he might not ever hunt. I grew up hunting, fishing and playing ball. I always dreamed of having a son and sharing everything with him, from his first deer to his first homerun. I was a little older when we had Coleman in 2005. I was 35 at the time and the day we were told he was a boy was bitter sweet. I was so excited and then a few minutes later, we were told there was a problem with his heart. My wife was 5 months pregnant at the time and we were referred to a fetal specialist. He confirmed a problem and sent us to a pediatric cardiologist. It took her only a few minutes to diagnose him in utero with HLHS, hypoplastic left heart syndrome. One side of his heart was underdeveloped and not compatible with life without several surgeries, all high risk. We delivered here in MS and he was sent to CHOP in Philly, PA on a medical jet when he was 3 days old. He had his 1st surgery when he was only 5 days old. His heart was about the size of a walnut. He had the 2nd surgery back at CHOP when he was 5 months old and a 3rd when he was 30 months old. He also had five heart cath angioplasties done during this time period. During the 4th one, there were complications and he suffered a stroke. It was later determined that he had a clotting disorder that we never knew about. He has since almost fully recovered with only a slight hiccup in his step when he runs. We felt blessed that he was doing so good, considering what he had endured in only the first 3 years of his life. He was behind in everything, including crawling, sitting up and walking. All his doctors said this was to be expected and he would catch up. Our biggest fear was his lack of any type of talking or verbal communication. No way lightning can strike twice, but he was diagnosed with Autism when he was three. He is now 7 and still totally nonverbal. One year ago this month, he was diagnosed with Celiac and had to start a gluten free diet. Being nonverbal and only eating very few foods, it was hard on him. He loved pizza and most types of bread, but we had to take it away from him. It's been rough, but he's a trooper. Luckily, Dominoes came out with a gluten free pizza a few months ago. I have to buy one or two almost daily. He has been through more in 7 years than most people deal with in a lifetime. Like I said earlier, I used to live to hunt and fish. I had to sell my boat when he was born and I haven't been fishing since. That was also my last year to afford the luxury of a hunting lease. I still go turkey hunting, my real passion, on some private and public land close to the house. My wife had a major back surgery done in September, a spinal fusion to correct severe Scoliosi, so I haven't been able to deer hunt any this year. She is having a difficult time and has trouble taking care of him when he is not in school, so I had to give up one of my passions of life for now. I wanted to share my story for one reason, spend every second you can with your child in the woods and on the water. Make it a point to never miss his/her ball game or even awards day at school. Never take life for granted and count your blessings. GOD bless.
