2 days ago
Chillicothe girl with brain injury from flu complications returns home
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (WCMH) — A Chillicothe family is grateful to have their little girl back home, but now they have a long and expensive road ahead of them.
NBC4 first reported on Locklynn Boler at the beginning of March. At just 4 years old, she fell into a coma for weeks due to severe complications from the flu. She has fortunately recovered from it, but will never be the same again due to the brain injury she suffered from the coma.
'You see all these kids dying from this, and somehow she made it,' said Bradley Boler, Locklynn's father.
That's because Locklynn was born a fighter.
'She's been through it since the day she was born,' Boler said. 'She had issues with her kidneys well before all of this.'
Boler said its been a constant battle since Locklynn woke up from her coma. Her brain injury has left her unable to walk, talk or eat on her own. Since then, she's been in and out of Nationwide Children's Hospital.
'She's on like 20 different meds,' Boler said. 'She takes a massive med pass at 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. She has to get vest treatments multiple times a day.'
The bills have been piling up for the Boler family. They're in the process of making their home wheelchair-accessible for Locklynn.
'The plan now is we wound up getting a van finally,' Boler said. 'We want to try to get one with a lift, as well as getting another ramp built on to the back porch.'
Locklynn now needs around-the-clock care. One of the Boler family's biggest struggles was finding a nurse, but their prayers have been answered.
'My sister quit her job to take care of Locklynn,' Boler said. 'We owe her the world.'
Boler said they're grateful for the outpouring of love and support from the community.
Fundraisers for their family have brought in close to $11,000. All of that money is being put toward necessary modifications to make Locklynn as comfortable as possible as she adapts to her new normal. Local organizations like the Mid-Ohio Board for an Independent Living Environment (MOBILE) have also stepped up to provide resources.
'Value your time with your kids,' Boler said. 'I spent a lot of the last year working 70 to 80 hours a week. Spend more time with your kids. You never know. It could happen to anybody.'
While Locklynn will never be the little girl her family once knew, they said they love this new version of her just as much.
'She's amazing,' Boler said. 'That's all I can say. She's the strongest kid I've ever met in my life.'
The Boler family is still raising funds to be able to make the necessary modifications to their home for Locklynn. They're selling #LocklynnStrong t-shirts. You can purchase one here.
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