GavinTraum Fighting For His Life
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August 24th, 2018, a nightmare began for our 10 year old special needs son, Gavin, and our family, that would unknowingly change our lives forever. It was a beautiful sunfilled Friday morning, routine in everyway. Cartoons played on the tv, Gavin talking up a storm as he always did so happily as he went potty, dad right there with him to help with anything he would need. Mom with baby brother in tow making breakfast. Gavin is given his first carton of formula into the gtube port that has sustained his life since birth. That's when his first whimpers of pain begin. And they don't stop. Gavin is now in the bathroom sitting on the toilet and the waves of pain begin passing through his abdomen every 1-2 minutes. Hes beginning to moan louder with each passing wave. 20 minutes have gone by now and Gavins moans have turned into full on whaling with crying and you can physically see whatever is going on has already begun taxing his little body as he's having trouble holding his head up, and is wanting to pass out from the excruciating pain he is feeling with every abdominal wave at this point. Gavin is also gagging occasionaly now with occasional dry heave. Mom and Dad have become concerned now. Gavin is unable to walk off from the toilet, as he continues to weaken, dad carries him to the couch. He is now whaling with a look of fear in his little eyes no parent ever wants to see. He now is yelling desperately for dad to help him as he struggles through a few more waves of what mom and dad can only assume is excruciating agonizing, unbearable pain. Gavin whole body goes limp, his eyes rolling into his head. Dad calls 911. Dad is trying now to keep Gavin awake as his eyes keep rolling into the back of his head and Gavin is saying he's just tired, until the next wave of pain tears through him bringing more whales, sobs and full body flexing, it passes and he's limp again, eyes receding. Finally the ambulance arrives. Paramedics and firefighters do little to nothing but keep asking questions. Finally leaving to ER, dad carries Gavin out to a stretcher waiting in the middle of the front yard continually reassuring him. Approx an hour has passed now since Gavins first moans began. His look is diminishing at a fast rate, he has a bluish gray look that is worsening, and he seems to be losing weight right in front of my eyes!! I am well above concerned now,a huge sickening feeling washes over me and I just know, he's dying, parents intuition. Fearing A twisted bowel, the ohsu Panda team is called out to Hillsboro to guarantee and ensure the proper safe journey of Gavin to Doernbecher
Upon arrival to Doernbecher, Gavin is Immediately rushed into emergency surgery. His precious life is now at risk, They cut into Gavin and open him up, It is a twisted bowel. They immediately REMOVE HIS ENTIRE LARGE INTESTINE leaving just a small portion of his rectum intact and attached,then they REMOVE 75% OF HIS SMALL INTESTINE, BOTH because of dead tissue and necrosis. His life is minute by minute now. Surgeons finish doing everything they can. They inform us he will probably die before the next sunrise. They had a plan but it was filled with, IF's. IF Gavin makes it through the night this is what we're going to do. IF!! Gavin is listed in critical life threatening condition. In a matter of just a few hours we are told that our precious Gavin is most likely going to die, and there is nothing we can do about it but wait, it's up to Gavin now to be strong and fight for his life.
You think you are prepared for the worst, but when it happens, you suddenly realize that you're not, emotionally, physically, financially, everything comes at you all at once. And you can't duck, can't get out of the way. This is our life now, forever. I can barely see, and I feel like I'm drowning. All I can hear in my head is noise and confusion. I can't speak a word without collapsing and sobbing. Gavin is still listed in critical condition. He has a very very long difficult journey in front of him now, this condition and what's happened could still take his life. This is on top of Gavin losing his disability income 2 months ago because which means it's possible he could lose his health insurance. Mom and myself will do whatever it takes to ensure Gavin gets everything he needs medically to be comfortable and cared for. Our bills have just begun to pile up, trips back and forth from Hillsboro to Portland are long and taxing and eat gas, childcare for little brother is a must, and of course all of the things that we can't imagine are going to happen with everything in between. We are putting up this page because we know Gavin is a bright beautiful soul, who in his own young life has touched the hearts of countless people, and has spread just as many courageous, warm, loving smiles to everyone he has ever met. He has a will, and a drive, and a fire inside him that is truly amazing. He just needs all the support and good energy he can get right now so that we all don't lose this miraculous everstrong yet vulnerable little boy. On behalf of Gavin, we thank everybody, EVERYBODY from the bottom of our hearts for help in anyway as we begin this next unknown chapter in our lives. And we very humbly ask that if Gavin has ever touched your life In some way, or if you have a pictureof him you'd like to share, or if he has ever just put a smile on your face, please donate $1, and share your personal Gavin experience, we would love to hear all of them from ALL of you! and we WILL SHARE ALL of themwith Gavin! It is our hope, that sharing his story by this venue will help him to continue to touch peoples lives and spread his pure beautiful smile
ALL OVER THE WORLD!!! Our. Deepest, sincerest, most heartfelt thank yous go out to everybody that he has met, talked to, or has helped in some way. We just can't say it enough. Thank you thank you thank you ALL sooooooo much. Mom and I can not express enough the gratitude we have and feel for everyone Gavin has in his life!! Please pray for Gavin and help if you can. Sincerely, Gavin Traum and Family
Organizer
Brandon Traum
Organizer
Hillsboro, OR
