Sweet Kora

BIG long surgery day tomorrow for Miss Kora Anne!! Starting at 7:30am Plastic surgery will begin a “free flap” procedure estimated for 8-12 hour microscopic surgery! They will surgically remove the flap from her right hip as it will have an artery attached to it that can be reattached to her arm artery to create blood flow. She will be placed in the ICU for constant ultrasound monitoring of the flap for a few days. As long as there are no clots the flap should take and no other surgeries are needed! Her doctors tell me this procedure will cause a few steps backwards as she will have a foley and a nasal gastric tube placed! However if all goes well she is looking at her last surgery for a while and let the healing begin! I want to thank everyone for their continued support and ask for more prayers than ever!

Surgery #4 starts tomorrow at 2:00pm for sweet little Kora! Her left arm is running out of IV sites so the surgeon has requested a PICC line be placed. While I know this is a scary thought I realize it will help her in the long run. She will also undergo a nerve graft in her right arm with synthetic nerves. If the grafts take they will give her sensations and feeling to her fingers. The burn team will take off her dressings on her legs and clean them up again with new dressings. Plastic surgeon will perfect her plan for Thursday’s big free flap graft procedure! I fear she will have more pain with these next two surgeries. I am asking for prayers for her Pain team to find the magic potion to control her pain. Thank you everyone for your continued support and prayers!

Kora is out of her 3rd surgery.
Looking good Skin graft went well and hand tissue healthy clean and healing
Kora made it out of surgery # 3 with her favorite colored cast! She only has to keep it on for 10 days as it’s purpose is to keep her skin graf from moving. Plastics and Ortho cleaned and assessed her right arm for upcoming free flap surgery scheduled for Thursday! I’m not going to lie when I say her spirits are always up because she has had a few downs! It breaks my heart when she asks me, “Mom, why can’t I just go home to my old life?” I have found it very difficult to come up with a good answer for that question!! Nonetheless I remind her that she is so strong and will continue to heal and we will be home before we know it. We did get an estimate of at least 6 weeks being down here total, but I can’t bring myself to tell her that yet. I really appreciate everyone who has reached out and is praying for her! Keep them coming!🥰

Update from this morning

Kora is scheduled to have surgery #3 Today! It will be her first skin graph procedure on her right lower leg. The Burn Team will take skin from the back of her calf and place it on the front and give her a PINK cast like she requested. Orthopedic and Plastic Teams will work on her right arm and continue to clean it to prepare for her free flap procedure next Thursday(The Big One)! Kora spirits are up for the most part, the ballon’s and gifts are definitely helping! She made a rule that every Person that comes in her room to help her has to leave with a snack! It is her peace offering for when she gets crabby and they have to deal with her😂 keep the prayers coming…..it’s working❤️

Update from this morning
Sweet Kora UPDATE: before and after surgery photos! I have to give a huge shout out to the hospital staff! Everyone from the housekeepers, security guards, volunteers, nurses, clinical assistants, Doctors, PA’s, anesthesiologist, counselors…….just to name a few, have been so compassionate to Kora and us! They gave her a sponge bath and washed and braided her hair post surgery! We had great news from burn team that she is only going to need one skin graph on her lower right leg!!! They were unable to place a wound vaccination on her hand and wrist due to suction. Plastic surgery took a look and are making a game plan! She will return to the OR on Saturday and Tuesday for more dressing changes and start skin graphs!
She cried what she called “Happy Tears” when I told her about how much the town of Lander is rooting for her and love her! Thank You Everyone 😍

Written by mom Jessica Hedges
Kora sweet Kora……..that is how everyone who knows her describes her. I am finally able to sit down and write an update about Kora from my perspective. Kora has a long road ahead of her as far as healing and pain management. She will loose the use of her right hand and need to learn to be left handed. There is no doubt in my mind that she can do it! “I did it, I did it!” Were her words today when she was able to get to her feet for a few brief seconds. As she goes into surgery #2 today I am asking for prayers for her! I know and understand the power of a prayer! Her only request today was to have more balloons as she wants to be able to tie them to her stuffed animals so they can fly around her room! Bless her sweet little heart! I am empowered by unbelievable support from our little Lander community, friends and family! Thank you EVERYONE for the support!!!!

Sweet Kora Send a message to learn more

Hello everyone. I have created this page with the permission of her mother to be able to keep everyone updated on our sweet Kora's road to recovery.
If you don't know her story Kora was tragically hit riding her bike to school and he morning of Tuesday from a complete accident. Thanks to the quick thinking of a nurse that by gods grace was there as it happened Kora received some life saving treatment from her.
Kora was then life flighted to Denver Childrens Hospital in Aurora. She has some pretty extensive damage to her right arm which at this time the surgeons are still unsure if she will ever regain use or feeling in that arm but they are going to give it all they have to try. She did have to have a skin graft to her right leg which wasn't as bad as they first anticipated. Kora has already had two surgeries with many more to come.
She is an amazingly strong little girl that has kept her spirit up this entire time and has won the hearts of all of her care team. Kora loves her balloons and stuffed animals and she especially loves getting cards and being told of all the love she is receiving from our amazing little town of Lander that has once again banned together to help out.
There will be a benefit dinner coming in the future as well as other raffle items to raise money for them. I will post updates as I get them. Please feel free to share this page.

Kora Strong Send a message to learn more