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The Courage of Miles Coulson

By
Mortgage and Lending with On the Outside Lookin' In

19 July 2007

I'm blabbier than normal today, but found something I want to share.  As I searched for "fist pump" pictures for my earlier blog about Home Inspections, I came across this picture and followed the link back to the story.Miles enjoys his life.

The date on the story is September 1, 2004.  Miles Coulson was pictured with a high-tech innovative heart pump in place as he awaited a donor heart.  The pump was experimental and was keeping the 5-month old boy alive.  The Berlin Heart, as it was called, had been used on only 49 children in Europe. The FDA approved its use on an individual basis and only three childen in the US had used it. 

The longest time a baby had survived on the externally operating Berlin Heart was 100 days.  The average donor wait was 90 to 110 days.  Once Miles had the artificial heart, here was no turning back.  The parents decided to risk it.  The Berlin Heart was installed.

Then came the wait for a donor.  If there was no donor, Miles would die. 

This early story of Miles ended here with hope and prayers and new technology, but no resolution.  Remember, this was September 2004.

At this point in I was reluctant to research the story further.  I seem to find these life tales of courage and adversity and so many are touching and inspiring, but too, too many end tragically.  I liked this snapshot of life and innocence and joy and didn't want this frozen moment fast-forwarded to a conclusion.  I wanted to live only this moment for a while, basking in the glow of that perfect smile.

But, I had to know.  I had found this photo researching for my AR blog and had wanted to share it with the community, so I decided if I were to do that, I needed to know the entire story.  I typed "Miles Coulson" into the search engines and gritted my teeth.  The most recent story I found was from Spring 2007 - I half-expected an obituary or an anecdotal tale that had reached a conclusion only Father could understand.

I was happy to be disappointed.

Here he is at nearly three years old (March 2007) - what more could a parent want than a healthy, strong, smiling kid.  Haven't found more recent information, so when it comes to my littlest heroes, no news is always good news.  My gratitude for the followup by Lucille Packard Children's Hospital in Stanford - even if it IS a touch commercial - and for the skilled German and American doctors and scientists.  Pump that fist, Little Brother!

I like a happy ending. 

Art

 

 

Show All Comments Sort:
Sarah Cooper
Real Estate Shows - Hurricane, WV
Aww, I like a happy ending, too!  Look at that smile!!  Beautiful.  Good news is always worth sharing.  Thanks, Art.  (And you ARE blabbier than usual today!)
Jul 19, 2007 11:46 AM
Kelan Robert Stewart
ActiveRain (Intern) - Seattle, WA
Following in the Footsteps of My Father
Us little guys can be pretty resilient. What a touching story. I was 5 weeks premature and shared the NICU (basically baby intensive care) with some kids who were much worse off than myself. Stories of inspiration like this need to be passed on. Thanks Art
Jul 19, 2007 12:38 PM
Art Blanchet
On the Outside Lookin' In - Sebastian, FL
Stranger in a Warm Land

Sarah Cooper, Realtor, Hurricane, WV  Sarah-It won't be too many years until I have a big toothless smile - and little hair.  Thought I'd give everyone a glimpse.  Thanks for the support.

Kelan The Great Kelan - You just might be the cutest baby in the world - mine are 18 now (twins delivered four weeks early), so I think they are ready to relinquish the crown.  Being the cutest is a heavy load, but as a baby, you know all about heavy loads, don't you?

Your parents a total fruitcakes - you lucky little dork!  Make 'em work hard for you.

Your peer in maturity,

Art

 

Jul 19, 2007 01:10 PM
inactive AR account
Dayton, OH
Beautiful. 
Simply beautiful.
Jul 19, 2007 01:48 PM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE
Oh my goodness...such a wonderful story Art...these are the gifts of hope and look at that little boy now. Thank you so much for sharing this...it sure showed the compassion you have as well.
Jul 19, 2007 06:29 PM
Leon Austin
Mobile Notary Services - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Mobile Notary

Art, thank you for sharing that. It took a lot of love, courage, and perseverance for him to pull through. He'll carry those traits with him for the rest of his life.

 

Jul 19, 2007 09:41 PM
Lizette Fitzpatrick
Lizette Realty - Richmond KY - Lexington, KY
Lizette Realty, Lexington KY MLS - Kentucky Homes
Hey this is a great story. Loved the happy ending. Little kids always seem to have so much hope and dreams that they never give up on. Nice to read today...
Jul 20, 2007 01:36 PM
Art Blanchet
On the Outside Lookin' In - Sebastian, FL
Stranger in a Warm Land

http://activerain.com/tlussier   Teri.  Thanks - he sure is.  Inside and out.

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman (RA) Mililani Real Estate  Sally - It is such a neat story.  Even the way I found it - I originally wanted to put it in the previous fist-pump blog, but the story was too open ended.  I really needed the conclusion, because wasn't merely the picture of an anonymous baby, it was now a story about "Miles."  I got drawn in.  Had the ending been less than what it was, I would have saved it for myself.  But because Miles was so triumphant, I wanted to share with the select few I knew would visit.  Thanks.

Leon Austin  Leon.  Good point.  He can draw on this forever - hard to believe what he WON"T accomplish, if he wants it.  A combination of love and courage and faith and science gives Miles his shot at life.  Thanks.

Lizette Fitzpatrick,Central Kentucky Realtor  Lizette.  Yup, nice to read.  I find myself going back and looking at the brilliant colors in the photos, as full of life and vibrancy as the subject.  I am intrigued by how many of the same hues and bright tones are in both photos.  I don't know if it means anything, but it adds just a little bit of wonderment, too.  Hey, maybe those are the colors of hope and courage - and triumph - who knows?  They're definitely Miles' colors!

Thanks.

Jul 20, 2007 03:38 PM
Anonymous
Susie

Nobody has mentioned Nichole Nordeman's song "Miles" that tells about this story and shows how no matter what happens in our lives, God is there all the time, leading us through it.  It's such a beautiful song!

Oct 30, 2010 04:26 AM
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