Kolton's story 

The first day of summer vacation from school is one of the most exciting days of the year for most children.  For Kolton, it was the day that changed his life forever. 

On June 12, 2008, Kolton was spending the night at a friend’s house when they decided to go for a ride on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).  Unfortunately, they also decided not to wear helmets for their ride. 

“Within a second or two, I knew it was one of those phone calls,” remembers Kolton’s dad, Mark.  My older son answered the phone and said, “Dad, Kolton has been hurt in a four-wheeler accident.”

Mark and his wife, Pam, drove 30 minutes to get as close to the accident site as possible, then ran on foot through a remote field, following the lights of emergency vehicles already on the scene.

Pam begged the emergency crew to allow her into the ambulance where paramedics were treating Kolton, just so she could finally see her son. 

The 11-year-old was unconscious, with a tube in his throat to help him breathe.  While the ambulance crew did everything they could, they knew his injuries were severe enough that he should be taken by Life Flight® to the nearest hospital. 

“A Life Flight crew member called us from the helicopter to tell us that Kolton was being rerouted to Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville,” says Mark.   “They knew the staff could handle his extensive injuries there.” 

Mark and Pam drove the 75 miles to meet their son at the Geisinger’s Janet Weis Children’s Hospital –  “the longest drive of our lives,” Pam remembers. 

Kolton immediately was admitted into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).  Besides having a head trauma, Kolton was in a coma and had a serious lung infection from fluid in his lungs.

According to Pediatric Surgeon Ronald Scorpio, MD, “For Kolton’s case, we activated the entire trauma team.” 

Doctors in the PICU had to use a device called an Intercranial Pressure Monitor, which allowed them to keep track of the pressure in Kolton’s head. 

“Placing the Intercranial Pressure Monitor allowed the intensivists to adjust their therapy to bring the pressure down to prevent further damage to the brain,” Dr. Scorpio explained.   

While it was a scary thing to know her son would have a monitor placed inside his head, Pam remembers the doctors telling her:  “This is okay, we do this every day.”

“The first day he was in the intensive care unit, I just held his hand, kissed his hand, kissed his head, I never let go of him,” Pam remembers.  “The people there were wonderful.” 

His parents stayed at Kolton’s side throughout the ordeal. The staff at Janet Weis Children’s Hospital eventually encouraged them to stay at the Ronald McDonald House of Danville on the Geisinger Medical Center campus.  There, they could sleep, shower, and eat each day and still be nearby while they waited – day after day – for Kolton to wake up. 

Kolton did, indeed, slowly begin to wake up after about a week in the PICU. 

“Whatever happened after that I don’t know,” Pam says.  “We just knew that we had him.”

With the help of Janet Weis Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Rehabilitation staff – a program largely funded through Children’s Miracle Network at Geisinger – Kolton began the long, slow process of relearning how to eat, feed himself, walk, and talk. 

And as an animal lover, Kolton found tremendous help from the pet therapy dogs arranged through the Child Life department, another program funded by Children’s Miracle Network dollars.  He would reach out to touch the dogs when they were brought into his room each week.  

After 12 days, Kolton was able to be discharged to continue physical therapy closer to his home and to be in the comfort of his own house.  Kolton is currently working his way up to being able to attend school for the entire day.  Even though his activities are somewhat limited, Kolton still enjoys his favorite things like drawing, playing video games, and his computer.  He also achieved a great milestone in March-he celebrated his 12th birthday. 

Kolton’s family is looking at a bright future for Kolton.  But Pam has fond memories of the staff at the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital, “They are amazing people.  They include the families in every meeting they have….You really put your trust in people that you have never seen before in your life.”