Reflections ► by Dolores Halbin , contributing writer
Social Media can be a double-edged sword . We share our joys , kids , grandkids , dogs , kitties , chickens , and then , some days when we least expect it , we share a collective grief and loss we simply didn ’ t see coming . This was the case toward the end of September when I logged into a post from a treasured friend , Cannabis Warrior Mom , founder of American Medical Refugees ( AMR ), Amy Dawn Bourlon-Hildebrand .
“ Austin had a seizure that threw him into cardiac arrest . I gave him CPR for 15 minutes , waiting on the ambulance . The EMTs asked if I wanted them to try to save my son , ‘ under the circumstances .’ He is being medevaced to Children ’ s in Colorado Springs .”
It was what every parent of every child with Epilepsy dreads — the catastrophic seizure . The physicians tried . We prayed . Tests were done . Austin showed no brain activity .
For the next several days , we followed the agonizing journey of Amy , her husband Justin , sons Nathaniel , age 12 , and Freeman , 10 , the other two of their Three Musketeers , as they prepared to say goodbye to the firstborn Musketeer , Austin ( photo on right ), who would have been 22 this month .
The Next Step
“ We always knew Austin would be an organ donor when the time came . Our whole family will be donors ,” Amy said tearfully as she spoke to me outside of her son ’ s ICU room at Children ’ s . “ Back in 2014 , this was an event we were always prepared for . Austin had been on and off the vent and was having as many as 100 seizures a day . We left Oklahoma after the 2014 medical initiative failed , not knowing if he would make it or not . But he did . He thrived here on cannabis . We quit expecting this . I ’ m not ready .” Who possibly could be ?
“ Now we aren ’ t just letting go of our son , but we were becoming a part of so many other lives ,” explained Amy , “ knowing there are parents of other sick kids who have been called in by the donor network — ‘ we might have a heart , or kidney , or lung , depending on what condition he is in ,’ and they won ’ t know that until ... It adds a whole other layer ... a lot of other layers .”
Helping Others
Helping others has been the legacy of this family . After getting settled and seeing the dramatic turnaround in their son , the following year , 2015 , Amy and her husband formed the AMR , American Medical Refugees .
“ We advertised a Town Hall Meeting in our little community center in Florence , population 3,900 , about an hour from Colorado Springs . That first meeting was attended by 150 refugee family members from all over Colorado . We had no idea . Now we knew we weren ’ t alone ,” remembered Amy . “ AMR started as more of a support group , then something pretty miraculous happened . Three of our kids ended up here at the same time , three cannabis moms in the ICU at once ! We did not waste the opportunity .”
It was Amy who provided me with comfort on this day . She reminded me here , now , in this hospital , Austin had won the battle . There is one safe place for kids , one hospital that is Doing No Harm .
“ When we arrived at Children ’ s this time , ten years later , there was absolutely no bureaucracy , no issues whatsoever with our cannabis use . And that is directly because of the work we did here . Because of Austin and all the kids who have come through these doors and the parents who will never stop fighting for them ,” said Amy . “ The only medicine in his system that will not affect organ transplants is cannabis . They ’ re waiting for the pharmaceuticals to clear , hoping his heart holds out on the vent , which gives me a few more days with my son .”
44 November 2023