9 -30. A week in the life

Monday last - at AdventHealth visiting Walker on the night shift - After several good days, Walker was feeling especially vulnerable that night. He was hoping to get out Monday but docs wanted to keep him to make sure he wasn’t growing any infection before sending him home. 4 different antibiotics, dialysis everyday, high blood pressure’s, and repeated breathing treatments, Walker was shaky and feeling weak. He looked at me and with tears in his eyes tells me “Dad, I’m scared”. I take his head in my arms and we both are crying hard facing the reality how scared we both are. 

Tuesday am - AdventHealth rm 5802 9am - I plug in my laptop and boot it up to log on to the WiFi. We are preparing for our first interview, Walker & I, on live TV, the Tamron Hall Show in NYC. Both a little nervous but ready to give it a go. We both know the importance of sharing Walkers story and how it just may save another kid from getting so sick. We connect to the producers of the show through a web link to practice our audio and visual connections. All works well and we are ready for the show that starts at 10am. The first part of the show introduces a teenage girl that had been vaping for 2 1/2 yrs then ended up in the ICU with ARS (Acute respiratory failure), lucky for her she was out and home in 6 days. Then they introduce Walker and I live from the hospital.

Wednesday - Walkers home now since his Tuesday late afternoon discharge - I wake up at 545 am when Candy calls to me from living room after waking Walker. My duty is to take him to his 6 am dialysis appointment on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday after Candy wakes him and gets things ready for him. I drop him off come home and grab another 45 minutes sleep before taking Laura to school at 715. After dropping off Laura, I head home to my third family chore to start the day, walking our doggies. Candy leaves at 915 to go get Walker and it’s time for a morning shower. I had woke wed with a heavy heart that I couldn’t shake. I think my Monday night with Walker’s fears and tears had shook me up quite a lot. I kinda crashed emotionally with deep groaning tears of the heart that only a parent of a child in tragic peril can know. It colored my entire day.

Thursday - On wed I was contacted by a producer at local channel 6 that found our story from the CBS article. After sharing with her details of our extraordinary story, she had a reporter contact me and we scheduled time for them to come to our house at 4pm Thursday to interview me and speak briefly to Walker. I had a positive early afternoon working with a client in Satellite Beach then headed home to meet the reporter by 4pm. It isn’t everyday the local news comes calling. Nickie, the reporter, and Cameron, the cameraman, arrived shortly after 4 pm to set up our interview. They took plenty of time talking to us and Nickie knew just how to ask the right questions that brought up the emotions of the moment. They ended up speaking to Candy and I Together then talking with Walker after, he was very cute with them showing off his fancy new breathing equipment.

Friday - taking Walker to dialysis- He is in a good mood this morning telling me that yesterday he felt the best he has felt since this started in early March. This was music to a Dads ears. It was wed am going into the dialysis room and seeing all the old patients that really hit me hard to the injustice of the situation and led to my emotional pain but going in Friday was markedly different, after a couple of good days, I could see and hear the smiles and greetings of all the sweet staff, and this lifted my spirits. The wild roller coaster ride of this season in this McKnight Life.

Saturday - Game day 😊 - UCF vs UCONN, a beautiful day to play football. Candy and Walker at home with several of Walkers friends coming over to watch movies and raid the kitchen. Laura, Gail, Erica, and I head to the game following behind Meemaw and Papa to the stadium. An outstanding night for UCF, winning handily. We had a good night and so did Walker and his friends. As Candy said, “it’s just nice for Walker to feel normal even for a few hours”. It was also a long day for him as well.

Sunday - After several good and busy days, it was inevitable that Walker would feel taxed come Sunday. So it was a quite day around the house, everyone napping and chilling for the week ahead. I caught church  on the internet, the rest of the crew taking it very easy. Phew. I’m tired just from writing this.