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Show - y s3 W Page IB Lakeside Review Wednesday, May 22, 1985 our hundred days later to celebrate his ninth birthday ; i i 4 k V to? s t , ,- ''FF ma . ' V i .4 ' Life-Flig- -- :. L r-- Kfe? ' , V'V-- '"FM fl Fvf H4 f.'rsi r vVKWU Ml r k l , lf , fx 1 . i - v ..; i ' - x - 'I - - I f S. .. 8 J: f ' $. : vj , ' It; i u - i v -- J Ihu ' V--- ;.;f , ; - M;. , v - , wt i S4 rH 1 V' ? ii . i f A,' f l iY f - -- v V ' ,u f ' A 2 $ x '' A,v V ' vs.. 'i.' ff ' ? tU A t;- S f 5 x - ? -- 2 - A.Jf i!S for just a day, gets a kick out of curly-toe- d who dropped by his ninth birthday party. Clown of Balloon LYNN OLSEN, home shoes ',H.'ii,HMipi.iMWi.W!' i"' r. 1 ,! ! i 4;,', 0 ' 1 ini ! f ' ' uy -- ht Lynn's survival prevents him from vocalizing words. We've become great lip readers, said his nurse Michelle Dearden. Lynn has school every day and is a hard worker, Ms. Dearden said. He is able to communicate and learn with a special computer, which he operates by blowing through a straw. And he can travel independently in his wheelchair using a mouth stick. Meredith Orton, Lynn's teacher, sat Lynn's old playmates down on the living room floor and gave them a lesson in understanding Lynn's condition. She mouthed words and asked them to tell her what she said. Then she made them guess a few words mouthed by Lynn. It is hard for Lynn to understand why his friends are more aloof than they were before his accident, and his teacher thought educating them might help. She explained to them how Lynns vocal cords were turned off" and played games with them to prove Lynn was as bright as ever and could understand them. They needed a lesson in lip reading to be able to understand him. Lane Gleave and Bill Jensen, paramedics who worked to save Lynns life, attended the party afreligious thing. The party, postponed for a ter they escorted his ambulance to the Olsens Layton home. The week because of medical complitwo drop by the center to visit cations in Lynns condition is Lynn almost every month. May actually birthday Lynns 14 was an answer to Lynn's . My emotions get in the way, said said. Jensen. But between the Olsen Mrs. prayers, two of us, we try to stay in touch That little boy has prayed every day that he would be able to with Lynn. Both men have small children come home for just one day, she of their own and found the ordeal said. Lynn lives at the South Davis difficult. Very few (with the same injuCommunity Care Center in Bountiful. He will remain in inry as Lynn) make it. We were tensive care 24 hours a day for glad that he made it, but we felt bad hed be in that condition. the rest of his life. Center employees planned the Jensen feels Lynn survived beparty and made arrangements to cause, he is a tough little kid." J. Clyde Olsen, Lynns father lift Lynn and his wheelchair, resa retired school teacher, said and other and pirator equipment into an ambulance to the experience in the last year has be transported 20 miles to his been a blessing. 'A ' ' iV5i " gift-beari- " f t .vry , J. 'W!itViry : i ' 'M nf M.,'" i f home in Layton. At home for the first time in a year, Lynn was welcomed by a barrage of photographers, nurses, parents, aunts, uncles, paramedics, and his neighborhood buddies. Lynn basked in the attention, somewhat bewildered at times. The respirator so crucial to On April 17, Lynn Olsen was riding his bicycle to school with friends when he was hit by a Toyota truck. Paramedics answering the call worked desperately to save his life. Tubes were inserted in the boys throat and he was flown to helithe hospital by back board. a to strapped' copter For three days he lay in a coma at Primary Childrens Hospital with two broken legs, two pelvis fractures, a broken back and a broken neck. one But Lynn's worst injury no one has ever survived for any was a complete length of time severing of his spinal cord at the base of his skull. Doctors dared not predict he would live for even a day. His mother said, Its up to God. On May 18, 1985, eight or so shy little boys, their eyes reflecting curiosity, straggled into the Olsen's living room, walked over to Lynn and presented him birthday gifts. His gifts were put on the floor at his feet. Lynn is in a wheelchair; he is paralyzed; he must breath with a respirator. But he is alive. His mother Joyce Olsen still says it's in God's hands. They don't know why he's alive. Hes defied medical knowledge. When doctors make dire predictions I don't get upset any more, she said. Lynn believes hes on a mission of sorts, she said and she and Mr. Olsen think of it as a LAYTON 1984, .!; 'r.L I' C..;-'- 'A r 1 ' : i ?.. jr - : A, UMl ; $& J. CLYDE OLSEN spends a quiet moment with his son. has grown closer to Lynn since the accident. ? iw' 5r':-- ; f j jp cf4 V-5 ',:;i'. jf. T " V . ? ' HV ; t i i 'i.:- - U I U 4.-- y- : ' 4 ' vX--- It 'V' ' ' t A t v u F M J I- - ' 't.f ? ': t ii,. ' v I v ' V - ; - 'V :' "U , U- 'h4s!v 'ill l. v :.'' t Ms:; " U V , - MV' '' AfA$- KM!,::::. - i J '" TJ" "'" fy ZA-Ap'jf- i says he He li4 '' A ' I r CZ-- SvJS3 Mt-- v --A "V .,u S : - ;. ' r " ,,.. ?. Do I have to? to an offer for a kiss from Davis nurses who presnted him with a cake; Center Care Community LYNN GRIMACES, DAVID, Lynns big brother often keeps Lynn laughing, this time by sliding on an oversized pair of sunglasses. i Story by Cheryl Archibald 4 i Photos by Robert Regan i 4 It completely turned our world upside down. But we think of it as a challenge not a thing of despair. It's the first time in your life that making a living is not the most important thing in your life. Keeping Lynn alive is the most important thing. He can't even turn his head by himself and weve been there to do whatever is needed. Asked if he has ever thought for just a moment that Lynn may have been better off to have died. Olsen hesitated and thought for a couple of seconds. wouldn't have been better off because I love him too much. That may be kind of selfish, but I only have two children and each one of them is half my family. They're too precious. brothyear-ol- d Lynn has an er, David, who keeps Lynn laughing and is very good with him, Mrs. Olsen said. He sees Lynn about once a week because of his busy schedule at school and his soccer games. The group of nurses, teachers, recreational therapists and other hospital staff have become Lynn's second group of friends, but he misses his neighborhood friends, and he talks of them often, Ms. Dearden said. Mrs. Olsen is eager to tell others what she has learned from the a great compassion experience and love for others and humility. South Davis is wonderful. You talk about people going 100 1 1 miles - they go 1000, she said. As they helped Lynn into the ambulance for the ride today they were all in white and were so full of compassion. It's what heaven must be like, she said. She brags about Lynns achievement in the Cub Scouts. He is in his same pack, and by using a handicapped Scout book, he has earned most of his awards including the Service to God award. As Lynn beamed at the attention around him, Ms. Dearden joked with him and asked him if he wanted to go back home to the care center in Bountiful. No, no, no," Lynn mouthed I want to stay the words. hcre...forever. . |