Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Garett’s Account of the Roll Over
On the night of April 2nd 2010 my wife Rachel and I along with our 4 year old dog named Moody were driving to Utah for Rachel’s brother. I had just gotten home that day from a 3 week underway down off the coast of California where we had been performing carrier quals for the air wing. Along with some reactor plant testing and a large scale weapons offload. I had barely been home for an hour when we packed up Rachel’s parents 4 runner and headed off.
The weather was bad or most of the trip snowy and blustery. We made our first stop in Pendleton OR for gas and food and to switch drivers. Rachel had driven the first leg. We pulled out of Pendleton at about 9p.m. and continued down I-84 toward Idaho. About 30 miles west of Baker City Oregon the snow had cleared up and there were mostly clear skies with a slight dusting of snow along the sides of the road.
Rachel was dosing in the passenger seat and moody in the back, when without warding the back end started to slip and the 4 runner began to slide into the left hand lane. I immediately turned the wheel to the right to try and correct the slip. The 4-runner continued to slid the back end forward pointing the front more and more toward the median. When I realized the slip wasn’t going to be corrected I tried to turn the wheel to the left hoping to continue the spin instead of rolling. I had barely had this though when the front tires hit the rumble strip on the far left side of the road and the 4-runner lurched into a roll onto the passenger side. Everything happened in an instant. The car rolled and rolled. I could see sparks coming from the roof as it made contact with the asphalt. Then as quickly as the roll started we stopped upside down. I was still buckled hanging there like in a movie. My first thoughts were for my wife. I called out for her by name. No response. The wave of terror and panic that rushed into me is completely indescribable. I immediately wrestled with safety belt which gave way with a click dropping me on to my head on the upside down roof of the suv. I easily crawled out the window and rushed to the passenger side. To my horror my dear Rachel was not there. I can only imagine how I would have looked as panic set in and I yelled her name repeatedly as I circled the upturned car. I must have made 3 or 4 laps before it finally cut through my panic that she wasn’t in the car. I looked up and my eyes were immediately drawn to something, about 35 feet away across the road off to the side. I rushed over and found my precious wife on her back with one leg bent at the knee. She could have been sleeping. Her pose lent itself to the immediate notion that she was dead and for a moment I felt like it was like to loose everything. Upon closer investigation she was breathing and she had a weak but steady pulse.
At this time other motorist were beginning to stop. A dear lady brought blankets and another called 911 and found Rachel and I’s phones. Rachel was beginning to come around but all she was saying was “my back hurts” over and over. ‘Paralysis I could deal with just please let her live’ rang though my head as I kept her still and whispered comfort to her and silently prayed to god for my wife’s life. A concerned helped asked if there was anyone else in the car. My mind drew an image of our poor dog, broken or worse on the side of the road. I was almost afraid to ask. Moody means so much to Rachel. She found him a year earlier, 10 lbs lighter and clearly abused at the humane society. He had become inseparable from her as a companion and source of comfort on my deployments with the navy. I mustered the courage and asked about our little dog. To my great relief multiple people mentioned seeing a little dog running away from the scene. Another miracle, so far all three of us were alive.
By now the ambulance was arriving and Don Taggart, a young paramedic was assessing my wifes condition. She was becoming more lucid but was in tremendous pain. As they got her onto a back board and loaded into the ambulance a local police officer gave me the promise that he would find moody and bring him to us at the hospital. What great compassion and kindness. As the ambulance doors closed the scene was gruesome. Flashing lights, blood in the snow, a free way clogged up and a red upturned SUV. But that is not what caught my attention. What I noticed were people walking up and down the road in the freezing cold at 11 o’clock at night collecting our belongings. Total strangers were packing it careful in sacks and boxes and then back into the 4-runner for transport to the police impound where it would await pick up.
The ambulance ride to the hospital was agonizing. My mind was in agony unable to communicate except to express her pain. I felt as if in a fog, I remember in detail the events but I was having a hard time voicing answers to the questions. I wasn’t in any pain and the adrenaline would keep me from realizing my injuries for many hours yet. As we reached the hospital my wife was unloaded and wheeled in where we were met by a kind and energetic doctor name Dave Richards. An ER doc name Dave. It was a good sign considering this was not only Rachel’s fathers profession but his name as well. After receiving an assessment from Dr. Richards Rachel was sent for multiple scans, CTs, MRIs and x-rays. I was pulled aside by a secretary and bombarded by paper work. There were forms upon forms. Just as I finished the stacks of hospital admin papers an officer with the highway patrol came in with some questions and surprise, surprise more paperwork. As I was getting finished with that I started heading back to where Rachel was. Something had been nagging at my mind so I pulled the nurse aside and asked if she could get a hold of the local bishop. Her answer was a relief and a blessing. Dr. Dave Richards was a former bishop and was more then willing to help me administer a blessing to Rachel. The blessing was a comfort to me as much as to Rachel.
By now she was fully awake, very shaken, and a little fuzzy because of the pain meds. After the blessing I had a feeling of peace and comfort and I knew everything would be ok. Shortly after the blessing some results came back from Rachel’s exams and Dr. Richards informed me that her lungs had collapsed and she needed chest tubes. The nurses kindly but forcefully led me from the room and sat me down. This was really the first time they had taken a look at me. I looked like something from the movies. The left side of my face was swollen and bloody with scratches all over my head and face. The bottom half of my left ear was hanging by a small strip of skin. My clothes were covered in blood. I finally admitted that I may also need some medical care. I also received the barrage of exams and scans. It was determined that I had a skull fracture and a concussion. I would be fine with very little medical attention. When I got squared away and fairly heavily medicated due to pain I was resting on a bed with Rachel in the bed next to me. She had the chest tubes in and was being closely monitored but she was stable.
A uniformed police officer came in asking for me. My thoughts went to that mound of paperwork I had previously tackled and I wondered what had been missed. After in introduced himself he asked if I was the one missing a little dog and that they had found one on 84. I was overjoyed. This young officer had spent almost two hours tracking down our little boy. He mentioned how moody was very apprehensive and would not come to him. Thinking it was the uniform the officer started taking of his puffy vest, then jacket then hat, then utility belt trying to ease moody enough to get a hold of him. It brought a smile to my face thinking about our little dog and this freezing cold Samaritan of an officer. The good news and blessings continued to mount when Don Taggart, the first EMT on scene, came back to drive us to the airport. We were scheduled to life flight to Boise. He had overheard about the situation with Moody and volunteered to take Moody to his house until we could come and get him. That was such a weight off my shoulders that I didn’t need to worry about our little boy.
After introductions with Tony and Mike, the life flight nurse and medic, We said our good-byes to the wonderful staff at baker city emergency and loaded back into the ambulance. It was a short ride to the air field. Due to loading and passenger regulations I rode as a passenger, backward sitting at the head of Rachel’s stretcher. By this time Rachel was very tired and kept asking if she could go to sleep. As tired as she was she just could not fall asleep.
After what felt like hours in the air, which in reality was roughly 27 min, we landed at the airfield in Boise. I found myself wondering just where we had landed as we taxied past row after row of A-10 Wart hogs. I never asked. We were met again by another crew and an ambulance and once again the methodical process of getting Rachel loaded into the second ambulance. By now the adrenaline in my system was all but gone and I could feel all the bumps and bruises. The left side of my face was extremely swollen and bloody and my whole body was getting used to the feeling of having just been tumble dried. If I had felt like this I couldn’t imagine how Rachel was feeling.
When we reached St. Alphonsous there was a fleet of doctors, nurses and support staff there. I remember two nurses arguing over who would get to work on me. Possibly students. By now I was in a lot of pain and exhaustion was setting in. A group of doctors set in examining Rachel and ordering more tests and procedures. The room we were in was very colorful with a mural of a wilderness park and a multitude of campers. I remember staring at that mural as my ear was sewn up. It had been partially torn off. After being initially treated in the ER I was admitted and taken to the 4th floor for acute care and Rachel was taken down to ICU.
The next few days were a blur of Morphine and sleep. Very soon that next day, the third, our parents came. Robyn and Dave got tickets out as soon as they could but actually got standby seat and were in Boise by early afternoon. My parents started the drive that day and got out to Boise a little bit later in the afternoon. It was great to see them. I don’t think you ever get too old to be comforted by the presence of your parents. They were such a source of strength to me during the first couple of days in the hospital.
Rachel went almost immediately into surgery where Dr. Little, a tall neurosurgeon whose appearance made us think of a northwestern outdoorsman than a surgeon, performed the operation. When asked who was doing the surgery, everyone said that dr. little was the best and Rach was in very good hands. True to his reputation, Dr. Littles surgery was a tremendous success. Rachel had a very serious brake. “She broke in half” was how dr. little described it. The sheath around the spinal cord had been shredded and destroyed but there was no damage to the spinal cord. When her x-rays were reviewed the comment was made multiple times that it was a miracle she would again. They could not explain how she was not paralyzed. But I know why. God protected her. We have been promised in our patriarchal blessings. Mine talks about choosing a wife that will be able to teach our children.
As Rachel was recuperating after her spinal surgery, downstairs in the ICU I was still trying to get my bearings with the skull fracture and concussion. Every once in a while I got to take a wheel chair ride down to see her. The first couple times down she was in pretty rough shape. She was in lots of pain and very foggy because of the medication. She had an amazing nurse. Britta who was Bright and sunny and it was great to see all of our parents surrounding her. We had the great privilege of placing our hands upon her head and blessing her as her husband, fathers and brother.
Those few days were somewhat of a mystery. Due to the pain meds and frequent naps broken only by the times my father would push me down to see my wife. Rachels brother was truly invaluable with keeping the family and friends informed. I am sure people were grateful for the updates.
I was in contact with my chain of command often. I feel like the military and especially the nay has little regard for its members personal life until something like this happens and I was forced to reevaluate my opinion. My command pulled behind me brainstorming various options for a solution to this situation. Eventually my command settled on convolesent leave for me until I can get my wife home. I think the doctors words of “no driving for 3 weeks, no flying for 6 weeks, due to severe head trauma and collapsed lungs” may have also playing into that ruling.
I was soon discharged from the hospital. As I would very quickly realize I was not completely healed. The following weeks would be filled with constant headaches and a very sore jaw. Now I was able to devote my time and attention to helping Rachel heal. Over the next few days in the ICU the doctors recommended not only foot surgery but a very minor procedure to reset her broken coccyx. Other then the slight disagreement with Robyn both procedures went perfectly. I can’t fault Robyn for being protective and wanting the best for Rachel. In fact I have to be grateful. Maybe in part to Robyn’s questions Dr. Hirose and his team discussed alternatives and went with pins that will degrade in time instead of all metal screws. She did end up with 11 screws and a rod in her right foot. The placement of her tail bone was a great success. Now just to cross our fingers and hope it stays.
Rachel would spend a few more days in the ICU before transferring to the acute care level. Her time in acute care was much the same day to day. Her pain was barely manageable and she couldn’t find a comfortable position for more than a short time. She had amazing care and infinitely patient nurses and CNA’s.
As I am writing this Rach is still in the rehab wing. She has this Torso brace that we strap on her before she can get out of bed. Her PTs determined that a scooter would be better for her than a walker. So she has this red scooter with a low cushion for her to rest her knee of her right leg while she pushed herself around with the left.
It is Tuesday April 20th, Today we got some great news. The doctors say that we can take Rachel home in one week. It is so great to have an end in sight. To know when we get to go home. The only concern is that rach needs to be minimum assist by Thursday which means everything she does need to be 75% her. She is getting much stronger. We will ready next Tuesday.
It is difficult to document from day to day. Most of her days are filled with PT visits followed by occupational therapy. She is also seeing a speech therapist due to losing consciousness at the scene.
It is a blessing she doesn’t remember. I am haunted by images of the accident, mostly when I try to sleep. I find great comfort in prayer and meditating on our great blessings.
The weather was bad or most of the trip snowy and blustery. We made our first stop in Pendleton OR for gas and food and to switch drivers. Rachel had driven the first leg. We pulled out of Pendleton at about 9p.m. and continued down I-84 toward Idaho. About 30 miles west of Baker City Oregon the snow had cleared up and there were mostly clear skies with a slight dusting of snow along the sides of the road.
Rachel was dosing in the passenger seat and moody in the back, when without warding the back end started to slip and the 4 runner began to slide into the left hand lane. I immediately turned the wheel to the right to try and correct the slip. The 4-runner continued to slid the back end forward pointing the front more and more toward the median. When I realized the slip wasn’t going to be corrected I tried to turn the wheel to the left hoping to continue the spin instead of rolling. I had barely had this though when the front tires hit the rumble strip on the far left side of the road and the 4-runner lurched into a roll onto the passenger side. Everything happened in an instant. The car rolled and rolled. I could see sparks coming from the roof as it made contact with the asphalt. Then as quickly as the roll started we stopped upside down. I was still buckled hanging there like in a movie. My first thoughts were for my wife. I called out for her by name. No response. The wave of terror and panic that rushed into me is completely indescribable. I immediately wrestled with safety belt which gave way with a click dropping me on to my head on the upside down roof of the suv. I easily crawled out the window and rushed to the passenger side. To my horror my dear Rachel was not there. I can only imagine how I would have looked as panic set in and I yelled her name repeatedly as I circled the upturned car. I must have made 3 or 4 laps before it finally cut through my panic that she wasn’t in the car. I looked up and my eyes were immediately drawn to something, about 35 feet away across the road off to the side. I rushed over and found my precious wife on her back with one leg bent at the knee. She could have been sleeping. Her pose lent itself to the immediate notion that she was dead and for a moment I felt like it was like to loose everything. Upon closer investigation she was breathing and she had a weak but steady pulse.
At this time other motorist were beginning to stop. A dear lady brought blankets and another called 911 and found Rachel and I’s phones. Rachel was beginning to come around but all she was saying was “my back hurts” over and over. ‘Paralysis I could deal with just please let her live’ rang though my head as I kept her still and whispered comfort to her and silently prayed to god for my wife’s life. A concerned helped asked if there was anyone else in the car. My mind drew an image of our poor dog, broken or worse on the side of the road. I was almost afraid to ask. Moody means so much to Rachel. She found him a year earlier, 10 lbs lighter and clearly abused at the humane society. He had become inseparable from her as a companion and source of comfort on my deployments with the navy. I mustered the courage and asked about our little dog. To my great relief multiple people mentioned seeing a little dog running away from the scene. Another miracle, so far all three of us were alive.
By now the ambulance was arriving and Don Taggart, a young paramedic was assessing my wifes condition. She was becoming more lucid but was in tremendous pain. As they got her onto a back board and loaded into the ambulance a local police officer gave me the promise that he would find moody and bring him to us at the hospital. What great compassion and kindness. As the ambulance doors closed the scene was gruesome. Flashing lights, blood in the snow, a free way clogged up and a red upturned SUV. But that is not what caught my attention. What I noticed were people walking up and down the road in the freezing cold at 11 o’clock at night collecting our belongings. Total strangers were packing it careful in sacks and boxes and then back into the 4-runner for transport to the police impound where it would await pick up.
The ambulance ride to the hospital was agonizing. My mind was in agony unable to communicate except to express her pain. I felt as if in a fog, I remember in detail the events but I was having a hard time voicing answers to the questions. I wasn’t in any pain and the adrenaline would keep me from realizing my injuries for many hours yet. As we reached the hospital my wife was unloaded and wheeled in where we were met by a kind and energetic doctor name Dave Richards. An ER doc name Dave. It was a good sign considering this was not only Rachel’s fathers profession but his name as well. After receiving an assessment from Dr. Richards Rachel was sent for multiple scans, CTs, MRIs and x-rays. I was pulled aside by a secretary and bombarded by paper work. There were forms upon forms. Just as I finished the stacks of hospital admin papers an officer with the highway patrol came in with some questions and surprise, surprise more paperwork. As I was getting finished with that I started heading back to where Rachel was. Something had been nagging at my mind so I pulled the nurse aside and asked if she could get a hold of the local bishop. Her answer was a relief and a blessing. Dr. Dave Richards was a former bishop and was more then willing to help me administer a blessing to Rachel. The blessing was a comfort to me as much as to Rachel.
By now she was fully awake, very shaken, and a little fuzzy because of the pain meds. After the blessing I had a feeling of peace and comfort and I knew everything would be ok. Shortly after the blessing some results came back from Rachel’s exams and Dr. Richards informed me that her lungs had collapsed and she needed chest tubes. The nurses kindly but forcefully led me from the room and sat me down. This was really the first time they had taken a look at me. I looked like something from the movies. The left side of my face was swollen and bloody with scratches all over my head and face. The bottom half of my left ear was hanging by a small strip of skin. My clothes were covered in blood. I finally admitted that I may also need some medical care. I also received the barrage of exams and scans. It was determined that I had a skull fracture and a concussion. I would be fine with very little medical attention. When I got squared away and fairly heavily medicated due to pain I was resting on a bed with Rachel in the bed next to me. She had the chest tubes in and was being closely monitored but she was stable.
A uniformed police officer came in asking for me. My thoughts went to that mound of paperwork I had previously tackled and I wondered what had been missed. After in introduced himself he asked if I was the one missing a little dog and that they had found one on 84. I was overjoyed. This young officer had spent almost two hours tracking down our little boy. He mentioned how moody was very apprehensive and would not come to him. Thinking it was the uniform the officer started taking of his puffy vest, then jacket then hat, then utility belt trying to ease moody enough to get a hold of him. It brought a smile to my face thinking about our little dog and this freezing cold Samaritan of an officer. The good news and blessings continued to mount when Don Taggart, the first EMT on scene, came back to drive us to the airport. We were scheduled to life flight to Boise. He had overheard about the situation with Moody and volunteered to take Moody to his house until we could come and get him. That was such a weight off my shoulders that I didn’t need to worry about our little boy.
After introductions with Tony and Mike, the life flight nurse and medic, We said our good-byes to the wonderful staff at baker city emergency and loaded back into the ambulance. It was a short ride to the air field. Due to loading and passenger regulations I rode as a passenger, backward sitting at the head of Rachel’s stretcher. By this time Rachel was very tired and kept asking if she could go to sleep. As tired as she was she just could not fall asleep.
After what felt like hours in the air, which in reality was roughly 27 min, we landed at the airfield in Boise. I found myself wondering just where we had landed as we taxied past row after row of A-10 Wart hogs. I never asked. We were met again by another crew and an ambulance and once again the methodical process of getting Rachel loaded into the second ambulance. By now the adrenaline in my system was all but gone and I could feel all the bumps and bruises. The left side of my face was extremely swollen and bloody and my whole body was getting used to the feeling of having just been tumble dried. If I had felt like this I couldn’t imagine how Rachel was feeling.
When we reached St. Alphonsous there was a fleet of doctors, nurses and support staff there. I remember two nurses arguing over who would get to work on me. Possibly students. By now I was in a lot of pain and exhaustion was setting in. A group of doctors set in examining Rachel and ordering more tests and procedures. The room we were in was very colorful with a mural of a wilderness park and a multitude of campers. I remember staring at that mural as my ear was sewn up. It had been partially torn off. After being initially treated in the ER I was admitted and taken to the 4th floor for acute care and Rachel was taken down to ICU.
The next few days were a blur of Morphine and sleep. Very soon that next day, the third, our parents came. Robyn and Dave got tickets out as soon as they could but actually got standby seat and were in Boise by early afternoon. My parents started the drive that day and got out to Boise a little bit later in the afternoon. It was great to see them. I don’t think you ever get too old to be comforted by the presence of your parents. They were such a source of strength to me during the first couple of days in the hospital.
Rachel went almost immediately into surgery where Dr. Little, a tall neurosurgeon whose appearance made us think of a northwestern outdoorsman than a surgeon, performed the operation. When asked who was doing the surgery, everyone said that dr. little was the best and Rach was in very good hands. True to his reputation, Dr. Littles surgery was a tremendous success. Rachel had a very serious brake. “She broke in half” was how dr. little described it. The sheath around the spinal cord had been shredded and destroyed but there was no damage to the spinal cord. When her x-rays were reviewed the comment was made multiple times that it was a miracle she would again. They could not explain how she was not paralyzed. But I know why. God protected her. We have been promised in our patriarchal blessings. Mine talks about choosing a wife that will be able to teach our children.
As Rachel was recuperating after her spinal surgery, downstairs in the ICU I was still trying to get my bearings with the skull fracture and concussion. Every once in a while I got to take a wheel chair ride down to see her. The first couple times down she was in pretty rough shape. She was in lots of pain and very foggy because of the medication. She had an amazing nurse. Britta who was Bright and sunny and it was great to see all of our parents surrounding her. We had the great privilege of placing our hands upon her head and blessing her as her husband, fathers and brother.
Those few days were somewhat of a mystery. Due to the pain meds and frequent naps broken only by the times my father would push me down to see my wife. Rachels brother was truly invaluable with keeping the family and friends informed. I am sure people were grateful for the updates.
I was in contact with my chain of command often. I feel like the military and especially the nay has little regard for its members personal life until something like this happens and I was forced to reevaluate my opinion. My command pulled behind me brainstorming various options for a solution to this situation. Eventually my command settled on convolesent leave for me until I can get my wife home. I think the doctors words of “no driving for 3 weeks, no flying for 6 weeks, due to severe head trauma and collapsed lungs” may have also playing into that ruling.
I was soon discharged from the hospital. As I would very quickly realize I was not completely healed. The following weeks would be filled with constant headaches and a very sore jaw. Now I was able to devote my time and attention to helping Rachel heal. Over the next few days in the ICU the doctors recommended not only foot surgery but a very minor procedure to reset her broken coccyx. Other then the slight disagreement with Robyn both procedures went perfectly. I can’t fault Robyn for being protective and wanting the best for Rachel. In fact I have to be grateful. Maybe in part to Robyn’s questions Dr. Hirose and his team discussed alternatives and went with pins that will degrade in time instead of all metal screws. She did end up with 11 screws and a rod in her right foot. The placement of her tail bone was a great success. Now just to cross our fingers and hope it stays.
Rachel would spend a few more days in the ICU before transferring to the acute care level. Her time in acute care was much the same day to day. Her pain was barely manageable and she couldn’t find a comfortable position for more than a short time. She had amazing care and infinitely patient nurses and CNA’s.
As I am writing this Rach is still in the rehab wing. She has this Torso brace that we strap on her before she can get out of bed. Her PTs determined that a scooter would be better for her than a walker. So she has this red scooter with a low cushion for her to rest her knee of her right leg while she pushed herself around with the left.
It is Tuesday April 20th, Today we got some great news. The doctors say that we can take Rachel home in one week. It is so great to have an end in sight. To know when we get to go home. The only concern is that rach needs to be minimum assist by Thursday which means everything she does need to be 75% her. She is getting much stronger. We will ready next Tuesday.
It is difficult to document from day to day. Most of her days are filled with PT visits followed by occupational therapy. She is also seeing a speech therapist due to losing consciousness at the scene.
It is a blessing she doesn’t remember. I am haunted by images of the accident, mostly when I try to sleep. I find great comfort in prayer and meditating on our great blessings.
My Story
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So I’m alive..we rolled a 4-runner and I was ejected out of a vehicle, found 30 ft away from the car broken in half with crushed vertebras, a pulverized sacrum, a shattered ankle, a slight concussion and collapsed lungs and I m alive, I am gonna be able to walk again someday and I feel like I need to share my story.
So here it goes….
On April 2nd Garett and I and our little dog Moody packed up the car and headed on the road to Utah Baker City Oregon
Still blurry eyed and confused, I wasn’t sure what was happening. I remember seeing a glimpse of the road and feeling like we were sliding. All of a sudden I felt like I was dreaming that I was flying through the air, but now I know this was no dream. I remember feeling like I was flying through the air, only I couldn’t return to the ground. It was as if gravity didn’t work on me. It didn’t feel like slow motion , it felt like I was being held up there for a reason. This may not seem important but the truth of the matter is that the trajectory of my course should have thrown me under our rolling SUV or into traffic….but I wasn’t. I was thrown 30 feet away from the car on the side of the road out of harms way. I don’t remember impact or the pain that came along with it. That in itself is a huge blessing.
(Now you will have to excuse me because my memory of the accident and the hospital is very limited and blurred. So you can read my husbands account further down or at…. http://rachelandgarett.blogspot.com or my blog is http://racheldabelljacobson.blogspot.com/ it is much more detailed and has the full account of the amazing Samaritans that helped us along our way)
So we had hit some black ice and rolled the vehicle.. On about the 2nd or 3rd roll, Moody our dog and I were thrown from the vehicle. The remarkable thing…our 30 pound dog was thrown from the same vehicle and suffered NO injuries. Amazing!! Right? Now I wish I could say that I was as fortunate but all things considering I am as fortunate. No doubt my injuries are extensive and painful, but the reality is I should have brain damage, be a quadriplegic, or be dead. I landed on my butt and back when I was thrown from the car but could have easily rotated another 20 degrees and landed on my head. And as crazy as it sounds I feel like I was thrown from the vehicle for protection. When the car rolled it lurched onto (my) the passenger side of the car and with each roll the roof of the car was pounded further and further into the interior of the car (which would have been my head). After seeing the car I realized the roof of the car would be crushing me all the while Garett’s side somehow remained relatively erect. Another unforeseen blessing.
We were transported to an Oregon Oregon
Our means of transportation to the second hospital was a Jet. A Jet could have flown us to Harborview (right by home) in less than 90min but instead took me to the hospital with one of the top foot and ankle specialist AND neurologist in the states. Remarkably the two areas that I would later need extensive surgery in.
My neurologist said that I broke in half…. but fell back together in the exact right place. The doctors were shocked that I could feel my legs and wiggle my toes. When they began the spinal surgery to clear out the debris and insert the rods the doctor said that “there is no reason she shouldn’t be paralyzed right now.” He said the dura (the tissue lining use to protect the spinal cord) was completely shredded. He said it looked as if some one had come in and stripped an electrical cord of its plastic sheath. It’s a blessing that my spinal cord wasn’t damaged. My neurologist even had the insight to fuse only 3 of my vertebrae instead of 5 but still managed to provide temporary support by using rods to sustain the other vertebrae above and below the fusion. What a blessing that I will have little to no ramifications in mobility because of that insight.
My foot and ankle surgeon was just as insightful (due to a little persuasion from my mom). Instead of putting metal screws into the talur dome of my foot (which is very problematic and causes a lot of pain in recovery) he was able to use bio degradable pins and bypass a lot of the complications that come with that sensitive part of the foot. I still received a rod and 11 screws on the outside of my ankle but thankfully in a year when I go to get all the metal out of me I don’t have to deal with getting any metal out of the talur dome.
I’ve suffered a lot of injuries and I have had a lot of surgeries and have more to come, but all in all it seems difficult not to be grateful. The rest of my injuries were inoperable because there wasn’t anything they could do for them. When I landed on my butt I fractured 5 areas in the sacrum as well as broke my coccyx clear off of my sacrum. Luckily they said with time theses areas would reattach and slowly heal.
I spent a couple days in the ICU, 10 days in the acute care unit and another 10 in the Rehabilitation Center (and right now what feels like will be an eternity of physical therapy) but on April 27th my sweet in-laws found a way to take me home. I couldn’t fly because protocol for someone whose lungs collapsed is waiting 6 weeks. That amount of time was not acceptable to me. I was too anxious to get home. I couldn’t drive because my sitting tolerance was too low. I could only put pressure on my sacrum for maybe 30 minuets before being in horrible pain. A 10 hour drive from Boise to Seattle
Now that I am home, I have had a lot of time to think about things and reflect. I have encountered people who will hear my story and tell me, “what bad luck” or “how unfortunate” or “your poor thing” but I couldn’t disagree with them more. I am so grateful. I know I have a Father in heaven who loves me and for some reason saw fit to spare me from leaving this earth prematurely. He provided a way for me to endure this and accounted for every needful thing. I know that we are on this earth to makes choices and that trials are meant for us to overcome. I just need everyone to know that in our trials, we are not alone. Our Heavenly Father is mindful and will provide ways for us to endure and overcome. I am so grateful for this knowledge. I want everyone to know that your support and prayers are working. I have felt their power and it has given me strength and encouraged healing. This weekend I was able to walk on my left foot for the first time in 3 months. I went swimming the other day and actually got a work out (again for the first time in three months. Whoo! What a work out!) I am on my way to being back to normal. Thank you all for your love and support. I feel overwhelmed with all the blessings I’ve received and feel so grateful to have such wonderful people surrounding me.
Now that the whole of my story has been told I need to tell you about some of the lighter side of our experience. The funny stuff….just a couple of stories…they may not be that funny though...
As the ER Dr.’s and Nurses were cutting off my clothes to assess my injuries I stopped them….and said “no don’t cut my bra off, its new and its so hard to find a good bra” It may not be that funny but I think its funny that when my life is in danger…I am worried about my bra. Not sure if I had drugs on board by then but lets just say I did. Anyway the sweet nurse sided with me when the Dr. disregarded what I had said and she saved the bra. Hooray!!
At one point I was so drugged that I wasn’t quite sure why we were in the hospital. So I concluded that the only logical explanation was that I had had a baby. And therefore asked .. “ok so where is my baby?” (a great blessing I wasn’t really pregnant) My mom just looked at me funny and back at the nurse.
I had felt really bad about asking the nurses when I could have more pain killers because I didn’t want to be annoying and I didn’t want them to think I was like a drug addict or something so whenever they came in I would ask “Do you know what time I am supposed to get another dose.. did I just have one? Should I just suck it up?”(I really had no concept of time) The nurses were always so sweet and kind. They would always laugh and tell me I’d been in a car accident and its ok to ask for more pain killers. They would tell me they would be right back with something to help and my response inevitably was “I’ll be right here” (seeing as how I couldn’t even roll from one side of my bed to the other) they would usually laugh as they went to help me manage the pain.
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