Care for Colin: Note from the heart

About this Blog - About Colin

This blog was built to update everyone with Colin's medical progress and to have a place where people can share information. When I first started the blog, the donations were thought to be for all of the medical expenses. Then Colin had an extended hospital stay (a lot of which was ICU and surgery). Now, with this tremendous loss, the funds donated are to help Kelly maintain the everyday family expenses/bills. Any additional funds will be directed to the children's funds through the donation function on this page. We will continue to maintain this page as different events are scheduled. Please continue to check back. I just wanted to let everyone know how very grateful the family is and how the prayers and support help so much during these very dark days. A little information about Colin. He is a father. He is a husband. He is a brother. He is a musician. He is a friend to many in the New Orleans area and beyond. He works in the service industry. Through his many years as a bartender/manager, he has touched so many lives by just being Colin. He loves his family and he loves his city! Pre-Katrina, he ran Nick’s Bar and was in a local band. Although Nick’s bar and the band did not survive Katrina, he believed in New Orleans and was one of the first residents back in the city. He helped many people transition back to the city that he loves and calls home. He has always been a friend to everyone. If you needed anything, he would be there for you. If you would like to contribute, please do so using the donation option on this blog. You can also post the blog link on your facebook account. Kelly's spirits have been lifted all of the posts and pictures. Blog and pictures below:

Friday, March 4, 2011

Note from the heart

Good morning-

I am Colin’s sister in law. I have been maintaining the blog and the facebook site, CareFor Colin. This morning so many emotions/thoughts were rattling around my head and I just felt the need to share. Maybe it was the good day Colin had yesterday or the totality of out pouring of love and support that I have seen bestowed upon my family these last two weeks. I was thinking back to when Katrina hit… I had thoughts about why Kelly and Colin would return to New Orleans as they had no “family” there. First off, let me say, “I was wrong.” And secondly, let me say,”I was really WRONG!” Family is not measured by how much common blood you have running through your body. Colin would probably attest to that right now as he has had two transfusions this week. Someone out there was selfless enough to donate their blood so that someone like Colin could live. I have given blood many times and it truly is something everyone should continue to do throughout their lifetime if possible. Back to my thoughts though, after Katrina and Kelly and Colin were evacuated to Atlanta, I tried to support in any way possible. I saw Kelly and Colin devastated. Many of you may not know this, but at the time my sister worked for a radio station in Atlanta and we were able to get Colin on air telling his story and directing people to assist the people of New Orleans so that they could return to the city that that love and call home. Even then, I had no sense of why? During the time since they returned to New Orleans, the reasons have become apparent. First and foremost, New Orleans is home to some of the MOST precious people in my life. Although, I am not blood related, they are my family. And now through this medical crisis, I am getting to know their New Orleans family. I have truly become a believer in the sense of community that I have seen and the outpouring of love and support you all have shown. Although yesterday was a good day, Colin has a long road of recovery ahead. It is comforting to know that they indeed have family in New Orleans and for ALL of you I am truly grateful. Please keep up everything that you are all doing and know that you are now bonded (not through blood) but through something much greater!