Young cancer survivor fighting another tough battle
SEATTLE -- It was five years ago that cancer survivor Colton Wilson captured people's hearts with his selflessness and heart.
While still fighting for his life against bone cancer, the Make-A-Wish Foundation asked Wilson what he wanted most in the world. Instead of making a request for himself, Wilson turned it around and asked for his high school ballfield to be fixed up so his buddies could have a place to play.
Wilson beat the cancer and went on with his life, but now he's in the middle of a new battle and he needs help.
Wilson was riding his longboard in Lynnwood three months ago when he hit a rut and was thrown to the ground. He wasn't wearing a helmet at the time, and he suffered a traumatic brain injury.
"I still feel like it's not true. I feel like sometimes this is not even happening," said his mother, Lana.
The swelling in Wilson's brain was such that two large portions of his skull had to be removed and he was in a coma.
"What the doctors told me at the beginning is that he will not talk, he would not breathe on his own, he would not see, he would not walk," Lana said.
But after a week and a half, Wilson came out of the coma. The pieces of his skull have been put back in place, and he's now breathing on his own and going through daily therapy.
On Thursday he ate some yogurt for the first time, and twice he's actually spoken.
"The aids were moving him in his bed and he said, 'I don't like those,'" Lana said.
The only way he can communicate right now is with his eyes, but those eyes say a lot. Lana still believes her son can't be stopped.
"We're never going to give up," she said. "It's his words. We are never going to give up, and I tell him, I walk in and say, 'I am never going to give up on you. We love you, and we're going to be here for you. Always.'"
Her dream is that one day Wilson will be able to speak to young people about his life, his struggles and about wearing helmets.
"No, he didn't use the helmets and he's been knocked by a car before and I'm like, 'Please wear your helmet," Lana said. "He didn't use them, and it would have saved him if he'd wore a helmet.."
Learn how you can help Wilson on coltoncan.com.
While still fighting for his life against bone cancer, the Make-A-Wish Foundation asked Wilson what he wanted most in the world. Instead of making a request for himself, Wilson turned it around and asked for his high school ballfield to be fixed up so his buddies could have a place to play.
Wilson beat the cancer and went on with his life, but now he's in the middle of a new battle and he needs help.
Wilson was riding his longboard in Lynnwood three months ago when he hit a rut and was thrown to the ground. He wasn't wearing a helmet at the time, and he suffered a traumatic brain injury.
"I still feel like it's not true. I feel like sometimes this is not even happening," said his mother, Lana.
The swelling in Wilson's brain was such that two large portions of his skull had to be removed and he was in a coma.
"What the doctors told me at the beginning is that he will not talk, he would not breathe on his own, he would not see, he would not walk," Lana said.
But after a week and a half, Wilson came out of the coma. The pieces of his skull have been put back in place, and he's now breathing on his own and going through daily therapy.
On Thursday he ate some yogurt for the first time, and twice he's actually spoken.
"The aids were moving him in his bed and he said, 'I don't like those,'" Lana said.
The only way he can communicate right now is with his eyes, but those eyes say a lot. Lana still believes her son can't be stopped.
"We're never going to give up," she said. "It's his words. We are never going to give up, and I tell him, I walk in and say, 'I am never going to give up on you. We love you, and we're going to be here for you. Always.'"
Her dream is that one day Wilson will be able to speak to young people about his life, his struggles and about wearing helmets.
"No, he didn't use the helmets and he's been knocked by a car before and I'm like, 'Please wear your helmet," Lana said. "He didn't use them, and it would have saved him if he'd wore a helmet.."
Learn how you can help Wilson on coltoncan.com.
Absolutely heart wrenching!!!!! That poor mother needs a day at the spa.
My aunt was hit and killed by a suspected drunk driver nearly 14 years ago and the person responsible still to this day hasn't been caught.  It was the one and only time she decided not to wear a helmet while riding her bicycle home, and she was unresponsive from the time she was hit.  She died 3 days later at Harborview in Seattle, and the family incurred huge expenses because she had no medical insurance when she passed.  They sent an ambulance for her which took her from where she was hit in Mount Vernon to Skagit Valley Hospital to stabilize her.  Then they life flighted her from Skagit Valley Hospital to the Helipad near Harborview, and then she took another ambulance from the Helipad near Harborview to Harborview itself.  While at Harborview she spent 3 days in ICU.  Total cost was nearly $100,000, which my mom was able to get some of it forgiven, and the state paid for some of it also, since my mom was appointed the administrator of her estate by my grandmother (their mother).  That's heart ache you never get over.  I used to frequently go without my helmet while riding my bicycle before I lost my aunt this way, but I don't do it anymore because it's  not worth putting my family through that kind of heart ache again.  The rule in our house is no helmet, no bicycle, no excuses!
hang tight, little guy...
Colton is lucky to have that mom!
Another longboarding accident with a rider who was not wearing a helmet. Sigh. Life as you know it can change in a split second.Â
 There was a 17 yo from Normandy Park who was thrown from his longboard in April and suffered a near-fatal traumatic brain injury. He was in a medically-induced coma for nearly 2 weeks - life was precariously on the edge. Miraculously, he has survived, but not without life-long challenges. Â
Here's the article about him ---
http://b-townblog.com/2012/08/20/pray-for-seth-helps-local-young-man-seth-barronian-recover-from-accident/
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.Through power of prayer, all things can be possible. It won't be easy. I pray for strength for the family to help colton on his journey to recovery.
Thank you for taking the time to run this story on Colton and his journey back.  If you are planning on attending the fund raiser Eric mentioned featuring Kris Allen there are a limited amount of tickets.  You can purchase on the non profit web page http://coltoncan.com/
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Like many people that are friends with Colton and his family I was not familiar with TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) prior to the accident.  We have been raising awareness through multiple fund raisers and by  telling Coltons story to mostly young adults we run across not wearing helmets.  It's heartbreaking to see the impact a preventable accident like this can have on family and friends.
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It is also amazing how many people-some complete strangers continue to be touched by this story, pray daily and want to help. Â Colton once had a wish that he could have used for about anything and he chose to share it with others. Â My wish is that Colton recovers.
I hope this story is lesson that helmets are important. My wishes for a full reovery.
I know I'm out of touch with kid-type things these days, but what's a longboard? The only time I've heard that term is for a surfboard many years ago, but where would someone surf in Lynnwood & how woudl they hit a rut doing it?
Good luck to you Colton.
 @katiemcc A longboard is just a longer skateboard.
@Dawn Cozzolino @katiemcc a longer skateboard that gives the rider more of a "surfing" feel. Â
What a great Mom! I hope Colton appreciates you. Keep your spirits up and my wife and I will keep you in our prayers.
Don't give up! You'll turn that corner soon!
Thank you for taking the time to air this story! As a community we can support Colton and the whole family through this!