Susan Wagoner
Colton Long was on life support. The 19 year old Strang firefighter was fighting something besides a fire. He was fighting for his life.
On Sunday, Nov. 15, he and Zach Dilldine, another firefighter, were in involved in a crash near Spavinaw. The rainy conditions and wet road contributed to Dilldine losing control of the pickup truck he was driving.
The truck struck a tree on the passenger side. Long’s head struck the tree as well.
Dilldine was treated and released, but Long was suffering from major head trauma. In ICU on a ventilator, Colton’s parents, Steve and Nina Long prepared for the worst.
“Everything we had heard, everything the doctors were saying ... we were preparing for him not to wake up,” dad Steve Long said.
The doctors did a CAT scan; the results were scary.
“He had two major bleeds in his brain and severe swelling,” Long said. The neurosurgeon explained to the family that Colton would need multiple plates in his face to assist in the reconstruction. He’d also lost an enormous amount of blood.
Meanwhile, back home, friends and family prayed for healing. It
didn’t take long before they received an answer.
On the second day, doctors did a more thorough 3D CAT scan on Colton.
“The doctors came in and told us that something was going on,” Long said. “They said the bleeding was stopping and the swelling was going down.”
On the third day they took Colton off life support.
“They said he was fighting the tubes, so they took him off. He was breathing 100 percent on his own,” Long said of his son.
They moved him out of ICU and up to the Neuro Specialties floor.
On the fourth day, Colton woke up. By day five, he was walking and talking to his best friend, Nate, who was visiting.
On Nov. 23, just over one week from the date of the accident, Colton went home.
“The doctors at St. Francis are amazed,” Long said. “They think now that the facial bones will heal on their own.”
Colton still has some fighting to do. He has physical and occupa-tional therapy to assist in his
recovery. He’s suffering from some short term memory, but doctors think he will bounce back.
“As of right now, they think everything should come back,” Long said. “He’s doing much better.”
The Great Physician is still in
the healing business, something that the Long family recognizes
personally.
“He had great doctors and he had plenty of help from above,” Long said.
The family is very thankful this holiday season.
“Please, we want to thank the first responders, and MESTA did an excellent job. They worked so hard on him and wouldn’t give up,” Long said. “We thank the emergency responders, the doctors, everyone who touched him.”
And they’re thankful for the healing touch that defied explanation. It’s given them all a second chance.
“I am a firm believer in prayer,” Long said.
