Mother thankful for every day with terminal son
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
Kristi Trimbath leans in to kiss her 15-year-old son, Turner. Turner has mitochondrial disease, a terminal, neurological disorder that blocks the body’s ability to convert food into energy.
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
Drawers are marked with the various medical supplies needed for Turner Trimbath’s care.
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
Photos and momentos line the shelves of Turner Trimbath’s bedroom at his Ohiopyle home.
The 15-year-old has mitochondrial disease, a terminal, neurological disorder that blocks the body’s ability to convert food into energy. When he entered adolescence, he developed cluster seizures, prompting the need for a service dog that would alert his family of oncoming seizures.
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
Fifteen-year-old Turner Trimbath relaxes while in his pediatric safety bed as his mother, Kristi, explains his need for a seizure dog.
Turner has mitochondrial disease, a terminal, neurological disorder that blocks the body’s ability to convert food into energy. When he entered adolescence, he developed cluster seizures.
Kristi Trimbath is thankful every morning she sees her son open his eyes.
“How’d I get so lucky, to get the best little boy in the world?” Trimbath asked her 15-year-old son, Turner, as she zipped him into a pediatric safety bed in their Ohiopyle home.
Turner has mitochondrial disease, a terminal, neurological disorder that blocks the body’s ability to convert food into energy. When he entered adolescence, he developed cluster seizures.
She said she often wakes up in the night to check on him, worried he had a seizure without anyone knowing.
“What’s most rewarding is when he wakes up,” she said. “The moment I see him open his eyes and I say ‘Thank you God for another day with Turner.'”
Her fears will be alleviated in January when they are finally able to pick up his seizure response dog. The dog, who the family has not yet met, is trained to alert 30 minutes before Turner has a seizure. It can smell a difference in chemicals before a seizure occurs.
Last year, the family raised $14,000 to start the dog’s training, which began at its birth in October 2014. Trimbath has been mailing articles of Turner’s clothing so that the dog becomes familiar with its new owner’s scent.
“It’s going to be the perfect dog for Turner,” she said.
The dog will also be trained to calm Turner before he has a behavioral outburst, and to help him balance. He can move with a walker, but often uses a wheelchair.
Trimbath and fundraising coordinator Marian McCann are organizing a fundraiser Dec. 18 to pay for the trip to pick up the dog at 4 Paws for Ability in Xenia, Ohio. The funds will go to 4 Paws for Turner’s Cause.
“This is not the first fundraiser, but we’re hoping it will be the last,” McCann said.
Funds raised will go toward the two-week trip and family training, travel expenses, medical care during the trip and ongoing care for the dog.
“This dog is his first car. It’s his first girlfriend, his wedding,” Trimbath said.
She, Turner and the rest of the family are very excited about the new addition to their family. They have already purchased a dog crate.
Turner’s 4-year-old brother, Tre, has an understanding of what the dog will mean to Turner.
“I just want him to be happy, and help him be safe,” he said.
Trimbath said she and her husband, Patrick, and children have learned much from Turner.
She said her 12-year-old daughter, Matti, reflects Turner’s calm, collected nature.
When Turner is suffering from a medical crisis, Trimbath said she and her family have learned how to react.
“They just stand still, like I do, and say ‘OK, God’s got him,’ she said. “What else can you do, right?”
Turner was not diagnosed with mitochondrial disease until he was 2-years-old, but Trimbath knew there was something wrong from the beginning. She went through 59 hours of induced labor to deliver Turner, her first child.
He was quickly rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit.
“I slept about two hours after not sleeping for three days,” she said. “I woke up and said ‘Where’s my baby?'”
He had cerebral palsy and fluid in his lungs. Trimbath called in a priest to baptize and pray for her baby.
“By the sixth day, he wanted to go to heaven,” she said. “That’s when I lost him 15 times in 12 hours. I told God I’d take care of him. I’d never leave him.”
Turner’s health stabilized. When she received the diagnosis two years later, she knew her life would be different from that moment onward. He was not expected to live past age 5.
“I knew I’d bury my son,” she said.
Trimbath almost lost Turner again when he became a teenager. He had a 90-minute seizure that left him in a coma. It was then that the need for a seizure response dog became apparent.
The dog will bring peace to the family, but also add a component of normalcy to Turner’s life. Trimbath said she does everything she can to help him live as normal a life as possible.
Turner loves riding his adaptive bike, or being on the back of his dad’s motorcycle. He loves to be around people. He is non-verbal, but goes to school three days a week at Uniontown Area Senior High School. He enjoys swimming and baseball and playing with his truck. But his favorite place to be is outside.
“Outside is his favorite place, no matter what,” Trimbath said as Turner stood by a half-open door, letting the breeze hit his face. Then he lobbed his truck through the opening – “accidentally” – where it would have to be retrieved from the outside. He beamed proudly as his mother laughed at his antics.
“He just makes me laugh and smile, and it just warms my heart,” she said.
Trimbath said some people ask her if she ever wonders why this happened to her child. But she thinks about it differently.
“I think, yes, why did God trust me with such an awesome and wonderful gift?” she said. “I’ve just learned to keep my faith strong. God keeps you really close to him when you have a terminal child.”
Trimbath said the fundraising event represents the family coming full circle, and arriving at the place where they can finally bring Turner’s dog home.
“It’s fundraising, but it’s also a celebration,” she said.
McCann said her first encounter with Trimbath seemed “meant to be.” She heard Turner’s story at a doctor’s office when her own son was temporarily in a wheelchair from an injury. With a background in charity events, McCann couldn’t say no.
“He’s a local boy. He’s in a wheelchair. He needs a dog. And it’s near Christmas,” she said. “So we need everyone’s help.”
The event will be for all ages 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Dec. 18 at Titlow Tavern in Uniontown. No ticket is required.
A percentage of proceeds from dinner and drinks will go to Turner’s Cause.
Entertainment will include acoustic duo Elyse and Michael Cordaro, bartender magician Chuck Ryle and The Crawfords from More Bad News.
Donations can also be mailed to Kristi Trimbath, P.O. 110, Chalk Hill, PA 15421.
“Time is precious,” Trimbath said. “I’m just grateful for what we’ve got.”