Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Twenty-Eighth Post
Spent some time there tonight with Mom. She is getting better at talking every day, but still has a little bit of trouble finding the right words. I told her about how everyone was doing and she told me how her day was. After a while she got hungry and in pain so the nurse gave her some more Oxycontin in applesauce as well as morphine through an IV drip. That knocked her out pretty well so I said goodnight and went home.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Twenty-Seventh Post
I saw Mom tonight, and what a difference two days have made. I stayed for about an hour and a half.
Mom is a lot more talkative today, conversing in conversations with me. She was doing fine the first twenty minutes then began to get hungry and feel pain.
Mom was also eating liquid/yogurt foods and was off the feeding tube. The nurses mixed some pain meds in with the food and that knocked her out about an hour later.
Mom seems to see fine and to talk well but strangely is not doing well with names. She doesn't seem to remember her own name or anyone else's, and calls Dad and I "sweetie," "honey," and "daddy." She also doesn't remember the name of the hospital or of other specific names of nouns in general. She remembers who we are and what things do but not their names. I think that the most damage occur ed in the part of the brain that matches language with objects.
Mom also seems to realize this is going on and her inability to recall specific names of objects is driving her crazy.
As I was leaving I also got to see an airlift helicopter come in with a patient and transfer the patient to a waiting ambulance.
Mom is a lot more talkative today, conversing in conversations with me. She was doing fine the first twenty minutes then began to get hungry and feel pain.
Mom was also eating liquid/yogurt foods and was off the feeding tube. The nurses mixed some pain meds in with the food and that knocked her out about an hour later.
Mom seems to see fine and to talk well but strangely is not doing well with names. She doesn't seem to remember her own name or anyone else's, and calls Dad and I "sweetie," "honey," and "daddy." She also doesn't remember the name of the hospital or of other specific names of nouns in general. She remembers who we are and what things do but not their names. I think that the most damage occur ed in the part of the brain that matches language with objects.
Mom also seems to realize this is going on and her inability to recall specific names of objects is driving her crazy.
As I was leaving I also got to see an airlift helicopter come in with a patient and transfer the patient to a waiting ambulance.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Twenty-Sixth Post
Saw Mom for a long time today. She is getting better every day but it seems that unfortunately she cannot remember her name or my name now. She definitely recognizes us though and calls me "honey" and "my son" instead.
She also got her own room today.
I will be leaving tomorrow and will be back Monday so will not blog this weekend.
She also got her own room today.
I will be leaving tomorrow and will be back Monday so will not blog this weekend.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Twenty-Fifth Post
Where to begin?
I saw Mom last night from 9:00pm to 12 midnight. During the first fifteen minutes, the TV was on but Mom was asleep so I held her hand and just sat with her. After a while, Mom started coughing a little bit and woke up. She realized I was there and smiled. I told her that she was OK and that she was at Harborview and she seemed OK with the information. Then I started telling her about her accident and she woke up and seemed much more aware and interested.
I told her all about the accident and she took everything in. She would ask questions like "Friends?" and "How?" to find out more about her accident and if there was anyone in the car and so on. We talked for close to 3 hours before I left. The point is that Mom was completely with it it seemed and she was only hindered by her physical inability to speak much, not her mental abilities.
While I told her about the accident, Mom repeatedly said "Wow" and "Oh" and "How embarrassing." I told her the accident wasn't her fault and she had nothing to be embarrassed about, but I think she may just be embarrassed that her friends saw her in a hospital gown without her knowledge.
Today she was transferred from floor 9 ICU to floor 7 normal care. I saw her for five hours and read some of my blog to her today. My Dad and I are a little concerned about the quality of care on that floor and are seeing if we can get her moved to Overlake now. That would also make it easier for us to see her.
I saw Mom last night from 9:00pm to 12 midnight. During the first fifteen minutes, the TV was on but Mom was asleep so I held her hand and just sat with her. After a while, Mom started coughing a little bit and woke up. She realized I was there and smiled. I told her that she was OK and that she was at Harborview and she seemed OK with the information. Then I started telling her about her accident and she woke up and seemed much more aware and interested.
I told her all about the accident and she took everything in. She would ask questions like "Friends?" and "How?" to find out more about her accident and if there was anyone in the car and so on. We talked for close to 3 hours before I left. The point is that Mom was completely with it it seemed and she was only hindered by her physical inability to speak much, not her mental abilities.
While I told her about the accident, Mom repeatedly said "Wow" and "Oh" and "How embarrassing." I told her the accident wasn't her fault and she had nothing to be embarrassed about, but I think she may just be embarrassed that her friends saw her in a hospital gown without her knowledge.
Today she was transferred from floor 9 ICU to floor 7 normal care. I saw her for five hours and read some of my blog to her today. My Dad and I are a little concerned about the quality of care on that floor and are seeing if we can get her moved to Overlake now. That would also make it easier for us to see her.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Twenty-Fourth Post
Saw Mom again today, but the only word she said was "Steve," my Dad's name. I told her that Dad was at home and was safe and was coming to see her tomorrow.
She seemed very peaceful today, and still was off the ventilator. Mom also had the oxygen nose plug thing removed.
When I came in she was set up to watch TV, and so we watched "Cake Boss" on TLC for about an hour.
She kept squeezing my hand again today and still tried to pull out her feeding tube and neck brace.
I'm not sure how well she can see because her eyes seemed unfocused today and very dilated.
As I left she was trying to sleep.
She seemed very peaceful today, and still was off the ventilator. Mom also had the oxygen nose plug thing removed.
When I came in she was set up to watch TV, and so we watched "Cake Boss" on TLC for about an hour.
She kept squeezing my hand again today and still tried to pull out her feeding tube and neck brace.
I'm not sure how well she can see because her eyes seemed unfocused today and very dilated.
As I left she was trying to sleep.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Twenty-Third Post
Just got back from the hospital, and it is true, Mom is awake and no longer in a vegetative state.
The ventilator is also out, and she is down to one IV and a feeding tube. She is on a little bit of pure oxygen though in the form of a nose plug.
While I was there I held Mom's hand and she smiled at me, trying to form words.
After a while, hey gave her some pain medications and changed the bandage on her left leg. Though it looked incredibly painful and large, it was interesting to see actual layers of tissue and how her leg is healing, being a student of biology.
They also turned her on to her side to help drain her lungs.
Unfortunately, at this point Mom seemed to be in a lot of pain. She kept touching the tubes on her face and her cathoder, and grasping her ribs and her neck brace. She repeatedly asked us to "hurry" and "please, help me." At one point she even said "come on guys, help me."
I am happy she is awake, especially given the small chances they gave her of waking up. However it was akin to watching her being tortured to see her in such pain. She was already on the max dose of main medications.
I think that she was suffering psychological trauma. This was the first time she had been awake since the accident, and I think she was flashing back to the scene of the accident. My dad and I both think she was back at the scene and talking to the paramedics.
In a few days I think she will be more orientated with her surroundings and be in less pain and able to talk more. Evidently patients never remember their time in the ICU anyway if that is any help to her.
A mixed blessing, but a blessing still.
The ventilator is also out, and she is down to one IV and a feeding tube. She is on a little bit of pure oxygen though in the form of a nose plug.
While I was there I held Mom's hand and she smiled at me, trying to form words.
After a while, hey gave her some pain medications and changed the bandage on her left leg. Though it looked incredibly painful and large, it was interesting to see actual layers of tissue and how her leg is healing, being a student of biology.
They also turned her on to her side to help drain her lungs.
Unfortunately, at this point Mom seemed to be in a lot of pain. She kept touching the tubes on her face and her cathoder, and grasping her ribs and her neck brace. She repeatedly asked us to "hurry" and "please, help me." At one point she even said "come on guys, help me."
I am happy she is awake, especially given the small chances they gave her of waking up. However it was akin to watching her being tortured to see her in such pain. She was already on the max dose of main medications.
I think that she was suffering psychological trauma. This was the first time she had been awake since the accident, and I think she was flashing back to the scene of the accident. My dad and I both think she was back at the scene and talking to the paramedics.
In a few days I think she will be more orientated with her surroundings and be in less pain and able to talk more. Evidently patients never remember their time in the ICU anyway if that is any help to her.
A mixed blessing, but a blessing still.
Twenty-Second Post
OK, so lots of news.
First, it appears that Mom is awake and speaking now, which it tremendous news. I'm going to see her in about an hour after some breakfast.
I had thought it would take at least two more weeks for her to wake up, but it looks like she is now.
Also, I would like to thank Coach Odom and my Alliance soccer team for a great night last night. I can honestly say some of the happiest times of my entire life have been spent on the soccer field with those guys, and it was great to do it again. That was the must fun I have had in a very long time, and was a special treat because after Alliance broke up this year I thought it was something I would never have again. I think it was, to quote a famous song, just what I needed.
First, it appears that Mom is awake and speaking now, which it tremendous news. I'm going to see her in about an hour after some breakfast.
I had thought it would take at least two more weeks for her to wake up, but it looks like she is now.
Also, I would like to thank Coach Odom and my Alliance soccer team for a great night last night. I can honestly say some of the happiest times of my entire life have been spent on the soccer field with those guys, and it was great to do it again. That was the must fun I have had in a very long time, and was a special treat because after Alliance broke up this year I thought it was something I would never have again. I think it was, to quote a famous song, just what I needed.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Twenty-First Post
Well if you measure my blog's age in posts it would be an adult now. OK bad joke.
Today I heard from Dad that Mom is really doing well. Evidently she is able to track people with her eyes as well as close them on commands. She is also off the ventilator.
This is good news because vegetative state patients can't follow commands and now the nurses said she can. Has she woken up?
I would also like to thank all my soccer buddies for the little get together we're having tonight.
Due to commitments I may not get to see Mom today, which would make it the second day I have not seen her total since the accident. I hope I do get to though.
Scott
Today I heard from Dad that Mom is really doing well. Evidently she is able to track people with her eyes as well as close them on commands. She is also off the ventilator.
This is good news because vegetative state patients can't follow commands and now the nurses said she can. Has she woken up?
I would also like to thank all my soccer buddies for the little get together we're having tonight.
Due to commitments I may not get to see Mom today, which would make it the second day I have not seen her total since the accident. I hope I do get to though.
Scott
Friday, June 19, 2009
Twentieth Post
Got back from the hospital today with the pastor from our local church.
Good news is that Mom's eyes look much clearer and brighter, and that her physical wounds are healing well.
Bad news is that it almost seems like Mom waking up is possible but not probable anymore. The neurologist said we would have to wait until she is completely off pain medications and the ventilator until she would wake up if she did.
Kind of a depressing day again.
Good news is that Mom's eyes look much clearer and brighter, and that her physical wounds are healing well.
Bad news is that it almost seems like Mom waking up is possible but not probable anymore. The neurologist said we would have to wait until she is completely off pain medications and the ventilator until she would wake up if she did.
Kind of a depressing day again.
Ninteenth Post
I went to the hospital again tonight with some friends and just hung out with Mom. I read a little bit and we talked while Mom slept. I spent about 2 or 3 hours there and then we got burgermaster. I feel a little bit better now.
I'm optimistic but it is tinted with doubt. I know she is strong but her brain has physical damage. I think she will make it but the uncertainty of losing her I felt on the night of the accident is back.
I'm optimistic but it is tinted with doubt. I know she is strong but her brain has physical damage. I think she will make it but the uncertainty of losing her I felt on the night of the accident is back.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Eighteenth Post
Well we went to the hospital today. It was me and Dad and two chaplains from the Redmond FD.
We saw Mom and she looked about as animated as she was yesterday but didn't open her eyes nearly as much.
We also talked to the neurologist.
I had thought that they were just keeping Mom doped up so that she could heal. Evidentally Mom is not under very much medication now and she is actually in a vegetative state. He said that she may or may not wake up from this.
This was most likely caused by the swelling and multiple strokes that have occured that we saw on the long awaited MRI results.
This was shocking to me as I had thought that Mom would be home by August with perhaps some minor vision loss from the stroke.
Now I find out she has had multiple strokes and brain swelling and may not wake up at all.
This would mean that she would require life support to live and that all she could do is stare blankly and sometimes squeeze my hand.
I'm pretty sad right now because I had thought that after the first few days that Mom was going to make it all right. Now its back to 50/50 if she will come back to us.
While I was there Mom turned her head in my direction and squeezed my hand and tears came from her eyes. She didn't open her eyes much today and can't open her eyes or squeeze my hand when asked, it only happens sometimes.
On the bright side her breathing is doing better. Physically she is getting stronger but I don't know about mentally. Oh and I forgot to mention that both sides of Mom's ribcage are broken, I think between the accident and the CPR they did to restore her pulse the first night.
I feel like it is a joke that isn't funny anymore and I just want it to be over. I feel like I can hardly talk to anyone normally anymore without them talking about Mom.
I just want it to go back to normal.
We saw Mom and she looked about as animated as she was yesterday but didn't open her eyes nearly as much.
We also talked to the neurologist.
I had thought that they were just keeping Mom doped up so that she could heal. Evidentally Mom is not under very much medication now and she is actually in a vegetative state. He said that she may or may not wake up from this.
This was most likely caused by the swelling and multiple strokes that have occured that we saw on the long awaited MRI results.
This was shocking to me as I had thought that Mom would be home by August with perhaps some minor vision loss from the stroke.
Now I find out she has had multiple strokes and brain swelling and may not wake up at all.
This would mean that she would require life support to live and that all she could do is stare blankly and sometimes squeeze my hand.
I'm pretty sad right now because I had thought that after the first few days that Mom was going to make it all right. Now its back to 50/50 if she will come back to us.
While I was there Mom turned her head in my direction and squeezed my hand and tears came from her eyes. She didn't open her eyes much today and can't open her eyes or squeeze my hand when asked, it only happens sometimes.
On the bright side her breathing is doing better. Physically she is getting stronger but I don't know about mentally. Oh and I forgot to mention that both sides of Mom's ribcage are broken, I think between the accident and the CPR they did to restore her pulse the first night.
I feel like it is a joke that isn't funny anymore and I just want it to be over. I feel like I can hardly talk to anyone normally anymore without them talking about Mom.
I just want it to go back to normal.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Seventeenth Post
Late, but I still remembered to post it. I saw Mom in the afternoon today, and she had visitors before and after I was there too so she was with people almost all the afternoon.
Mom continues to be responsive but seems to be in a little less pain today. She still had a few tears on her eyes though after coughing.
Mom was the most responsive I have seen her today, and was moving her head almost continuously. She also kept her eyes open up to a minute at a time today.
She got another big dose of oxycotin while I was there today but this time she still seemed responsive after it set in.
Every morning the nurses do a breathing test where they stop the ventilator for a while to see how she handles it but she is still too weak to breathe on her own. She has to concentrate on healing now. They said anywhere from a few days to a few weeks until she is off, they couldn't really predict.
Also she had two really nice nurses in today that I talked with for a while.
Mom continues to be responsive but seems to be in a little less pain today. She still had a few tears on her eyes though after coughing.
Mom was the most responsive I have seen her today, and was moving her head almost continuously. She also kept her eyes open up to a minute at a time today.
She got another big dose of oxycotin while I was there today but this time she still seemed responsive after it set in.
Every morning the nurses do a breathing test where they stop the ventilator for a while to see how she handles it but she is still too weak to breathe on her own. She has to concentrate on healing now. They said anywhere from a few days to a few weeks until she is off, they couldn't really predict.
Also she had two really nice nurses in today that I talked with for a while.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Sixteenth Post
Well, first off I would like to thank everyone for their support once again. Every time I talk to someone they say that they are reading my blog and to keep up the good work and stay strong.
About Mom, lots of updates. Dad saw the wound on her left hip today and said that it looks like there is a large crater in her hip from where the other car sheared the tissue off from the crash.
Dad is meeting daily with some doctors and nurses as part of an ICU study. The study is to see if doctors can better serve the families of ICU patients with more face time, and in return for these personal meetings all our family has to do is fill out questionnaires to see if the meetings helped us understand Mom's condition.
Mom was the most animated we have seen her be today. She would move her head to the direction of where we talked to her from and attempt to open her eyes about once every 2-3 minutes, though it clearly took a tremendous effort. She would also cough a lot to try and clear mucus out of her lungs. In addition, Mom would move her arms a lot, about once every minute, to grasp either her broken left ribs or attempt to grab the ventilator tube. She was definitely fighting. She also squeezed my hand lightly a few times, though not as hard as the first time she did that a few days ago.
Mom is still on pain medications but they said not really too many because too many meds would interfere with the body's ability to heal. They are trying to find a balance between pain and healing with the meds. She is still unconscious but is getting more aware every day. The doctors say for her condition she is on pretty light drugs.
When Mom did open her eyes today, her eyelids were finally raising high enough to be above her pupil so that she could see things, though I'm not sure how much they registered with her under the drugs. One thing I did notice was that her eyes are not lining up straight relative to each other, it is as if they are looking at different things or she has a lazy eye that does not move. When I asked the nurse she said it could be because of the stroke or the pain meds.
The nurses said the stroke was on one side of her brain in the vision center, so in addition to perhaps some lost vision she may be weaker on one side than another.
When Mom was moving around a lot I couldn't really tell if she was trying more to communicate or simply reacting to pain. I think it was both. A few times she grimaced because of pain.
I hate to say it but she is nowhere near as peaceful now as she was in the first couple days.
For me the hardest part was when I left the room to talk to other visitors or the nurses. I spent around 2 or 3 hours there today and every time I left she looked very sad and bewildered. She would look around and kind of feel for me and seemed very sad that I had left. When I finally had to leave to go home I told her I was going and she moved around much more than normal as if trying to tell me something. I feel bad that so much time each day is spent alone, in pain, probably wondering where I am and what is happening to her.
The doctors said that while patients may hear and react while in ICU, that nobody ever remembers anything after they are out of ICU of their time spent in it. Perhaps this has to do with the drugs affecting her ability to store information as memories. She must be in a constant stream of sensation without remembering any of it, like a bad dream, with only a vague sensation of how long it has been going on.
Before I left I had the doctors give her some more pain meds to help her get to sleep.
About Mom, lots of updates. Dad saw the wound on her left hip today and said that it looks like there is a large crater in her hip from where the other car sheared the tissue off from the crash.
Dad is meeting daily with some doctors and nurses as part of an ICU study. The study is to see if doctors can better serve the families of ICU patients with more face time, and in return for these personal meetings all our family has to do is fill out questionnaires to see if the meetings helped us understand Mom's condition.
Mom was the most animated we have seen her be today. She would move her head to the direction of where we talked to her from and attempt to open her eyes about once every 2-3 minutes, though it clearly took a tremendous effort. She would also cough a lot to try and clear mucus out of her lungs. In addition, Mom would move her arms a lot, about once every minute, to grasp either her broken left ribs or attempt to grab the ventilator tube. She was definitely fighting. She also squeezed my hand lightly a few times, though not as hard as the first time she did that a few days ago.
Mom is still on pain medications but they said not really too many because too many meds would interfere with the body's ability to heal. They are trying to find a balance between pain and healing with the meds. She is still unconscious but is getting more aware every day. The doctors say for her condition she is on pretty light drugs.
When Mom did open her eyes today, her eyelids were finally raising high enough to be above her pupil so that she could see things, though I'm not sure how much they registered with her under the drugs. One thing I did notice was that her eyes are not lining up straight relative to each other, it is as if they are looking at different things or she has a lazy eye that does not move. When I asked the nurse she said it could be because of the stroke or the pain meds.
The nurses said the stroke was on one side of her brain in the vision center, so in addition to perhaps some lost vision she may be weaker on one side than another.
When Mom was moving around a lot I couldn't really tell if she was trying more to communicate or simply reacting to pain. I think it was both. A few times she grimaced because of pain.
I hate to say it but she is nowhere near as peaceful now as she was in the first couple days.
For me the hardest part was when I left the room to talk to other visitors or the nurses. I spent around 2 or 3 hours there today and every time I left she looked very sad and bewildered. She would look around and kind of feel for me and seemed very sad that I had left. When I finally had to leave to go home I told her I was going and she moved around much more than normal as if trying to tell me something. I feel bad that so much time each day is spent alone, in pain, probably wondering where I am and what is happening to her.
The doctors said that while patients may hear and react while in ICU, that nobody ever remembers anything after they are out of ICU of their time spent in it. Perhaps this has to do with the drugs affecting her ability to store information as memories. She must be in a constant stream of sensation without remembering any of it, like a bad dream, with only a vague sensation of how long it has been going on.
Before I left I had the doctors give her some more pain meds to help her get to sleep.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Fifteenth Post
Alright, so just got back, and not too much to report. Evidently she should get the ventilator off soon. She was coughing less today but no eye openings or hand squeezes.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Fourteenth Post
So just got back from the hospital. Mom got like half a syringe of Oxycontin put through her IV just like 10 minutes after I got there so that knocked her out pretty well.
She was on a 15 degree incline today which is good because it is helping her lungs drain. They suction out the mucus as she coughs it up.
She also half opened her eyes a couple times but her eyes were pretty glossy from all the drugs and everything that was happening. I'm not sure they were open far enough to see us, but it is improvement.
Mom was also much more animated today. She moved her arms a lot more, and was kind of tossing slightly from side to side. She was also unfortunately coughing a lot more, but at least shes clearing her lungs.
She was on a 15 degree incline today which is good because it is helping her lungs drain. They suction out the mucus as she coughs it up.
She also half opened her eyes a couple times but her eyes were pretty glossy from all the drugs and everything that was happening. I'm not sure they were open far enough to see us, but it is improvement.
Mom was also much more animated today. She moved her arms a lot more, and was kind of tossing slightly from side to side. She was also unfortunately coughing a lot more, but at least shes clearing her lungs.
Twelfth Post
Well, my two uncles and my aunt left today. My mom is in the hospital and my dad is visiting her so it is strangely quiet here at the house. This is the first time I've really been alone since the accident.
Still, there is much to do here and around the house. I hope people will excuse me for just starting to send out my graduation announcements.
I'm going in to the hospital earlier today to see Mom. Dad said her eyes were opening at times so I am very excited.
Scott
Still, there is much to do here and around the house. I hope people will excuse me for just starting to send out my graduation announcements.
I'm going in to the hospital earlier today to see Mom. Dad said her eyes were opening at times so I am very excited.
Scott
Friday, June 12, 2009
Eleventh Post
OK, so we just got back from seeing Mom. She's doing well, and is finally stable enough to get a bunch of x-rays of her arms and legs done. Once again they kicked us out pretty fast because they were moving her.
No smiles or hand squeezes today from her again though.
No smiles or hand squeezes today from her again though.
Tenth Post
OK, so keeping things short and sweet cause I'm leaving soon to see mom.
CAT scan results came in: the stroke was in the vision part of the brain. She could be anywhere from marginally worse sight to totally blind, I don't know. I wonder if she will be able to drive?
Also the spine looks good they said from the CAT scan.
She went in for surgery today to fix her broken pelvis and some more of her right femur. It was, like all her previous surgeries, a success.
They say that soon they will be able to rotate her now that they don't think she has spinal cord damage. This will help drain some of the fluid from her lungs.
Its cool she's doing so good as if this happened almost anywhere else in the world she'd probably be dead.
CAT scan results came in: the stroke was in the vision part of the brain. She could be anywhere from marginally worse sight to totally blind, I don't know. I wonder if she will be able to drive?
Also the spine looks good they said from the CAT scan.
She went in for surgery today to fix her broken pelvis and some more of her right femur. It was, like all her previous surgeries, a success.
They say that soon they will be able to rotate her now that they don't think she has spinal cord damage. This will help drain some of the fluid from her lungs.
Its cool she's doing so good as if this happened almost anywhere else in the world she'd probably be dead.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Crash Pictures
There is no blood, but these are still very powerful pictures. Nobody is making you look at these. Poor Mom and poor car :'(
If there is a message here it is NEVER drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. EVER. A cab is a lot cheaper than your life or the cost of paying for 1 year of ICU, hospitalization, and rehab for someone else. And if there is an accident with you driving impaired it WILL be your fault and you WILL have to pay for the consequences.
This was one of those things where you always thought it wil never happen to you but it does and it sucks.
The roof was cut off by the paramedics and was placed on top of the back of the car for the photos.
If there is a message here it is NEVER drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. EVER. A cab is a lot cheaper than your life or the cost of paying for 1 year of ICU, hospitalization, and rehab for someone else. And if there is an accident with you driving impaired it WILL be your fault and you WILL have to pay for the consequences.
This was one of those things where you always thought it wil never happen to you but it does and it sucks.
The roof was cut off by the paramedics and was placed on top of the back of the car for the photos.
The Car with Cut-Off Roof Laying On Top
Front
Front Driver's Side Wheel
Passenger Side
Driver's Seat and Steering Wheel with Airbag
Roof with Deployed Driver's Side Airbag
Mom's Story in the Papers
From Issiquah Reporter dot Com
Click here to find the story on the host website.
Sammamish woman injured in head-on, police suspect other driver was impaired by alcohol
Today, 1:50 PM · UPDATED
A 56-year-old Sammamish woman was cut out of her vehicle and airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after a head-on traffic accident Sunday night on Northeast Novelty Hill Road in unincorporated King County near Redmond.
The accident appears to have been caused by an alcohol-impaired driver, according to Sgt. John Urquhart, spokesman for the King County Sheriff’s Office.
A 2002 Jeep Liberty, driven by a 25-year-old Portland woman, was traveling westbound on Northeast Novelty Hill Road, crossed the center lane and struck the left front corner of an on-coming 2004 Lexus E330, driven by the Sammamish woman. After the collision, the Jeep rolled over on its top and landed in the westbound lane.
Fire crews had to cut up the car to get the Sammamish woman out before she was airlifted to Harborview.
“Alcohol appears to be a contributing factor on the part of the Jeep driver,” Urquhart said. His office is investigating and no arrests had been made as of press time.
Click here to find the story on the host website.
Sammamish woman injured in head-on, police suspect other driver was impaired by alcohol
Today, 1:50 PM · UPDATED
A 56-year-old Sammamish woman was cut out of her vehicle and airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after a head-on traffic accident Sunday night on Northeast Novelty Hill Road in unincorporated King County near Redmond.
The accident appears to have been caused by an alcohol-impaired driver, according to Sgt. John Urquhart, spokesman for the King County Sheriff’s Office.
A 2002 Jeep Liberty, driven by a 25-year-old Portland woman, was traveling westbound on Northeast Novelty Hill Road, crossed the center lane and struck the left front corner of an on-coming 2004 Lexus E330, driven by the Sammamish woman. After the collision, the Jeep rolled over on its top and landed in the westbound lane.
Fire crews had to cut up the car to get the Sammamish woman out before she was airlifted to Harborview.
“Alcohol appears to be a contributing factor on the part of the Jeep driver,” Urquhart said. His office is investigating and no arrests had been made as of press time.
Ninth Post
So not too much to report. Still don't know the status of the cat scans. Still wondering about the stroke and possible spinal injuries.
It appears that Mom is going in for surgery tomorrow to mend the 2 fractured parts of her pelvis. She's pretty stable now it seems like.
When Kim and I went in today around 8:30 we saw the Walkowskis and met another new nurse, Andy. Mom's room looks out over a couple rooftops and a little bit of urban Seattle.
Mom is looking a lot better as far as the puffiness goes. Before, her body was so puffy that her hands were literally twice normal size and swelled and her eyelids were so puffy they cane over her eyelashes completely. Now she is looking normal enough to recognize again.
Looks like there is less IV drips and hardware on her every time I go in. The traction is off her legs now too. There are always new kinds of bandages on her legs when I go in to see her.
It seems that Mom is still getting better every day, though there was no hand squeezing or smiling again today for me :(
We were also there when the nurse had to suction some mucus out of her ventilator tube which unfortunately made her flinch. Sorry Mom.
Also found out a little more about the accident. Turns out a news station, newspaper, and the police all covered the crash. The other car was a Jeep Liberty, driven by a woman from Portland, Oregon.
Kim and Frank went to the police impound lot to get stuff out of the car and also got her purse and jewelry except for an earring she was wearing. They also took a ton of pictures for the court and for the family. I got my sunglasses case (but no sunglasses), slippers, graduation gown, and jumper cables back.
Scott
It appears that Mom is going in for surgery tomorrow to mend the 2 fractured parts of her pelvis. She's pretty stable now it seems like.
When Kim and I went in today around 8:30 we saw the Walkowskis and met another new nurse, Andy. Mom's room looks out over a couple rooftops and a little bit of urban Seattle.
Mom is looking a lot better as far as the puffiness goes. Before, her body was so puffy that her hands were literally twice normal size and swelled and her eyelids were so puffy they cane over her eyelashes completely. Now she is looking normal enough to recognize again.
Looks like there is less IV drips and hardware on her every time I go in. The traction is off her legs now too. There are always new kinds of bandages on her legs when I go in to see her.
It seems that Mom is still getting better every day, though there was no hand squeezing or smiling again today for me :(
We were also there when the nurse had to suction some mucus out of her ventilator tube which unfortunately made her flinch. Sorry Mom.
Also found out a little more about the accident. Turns out a news station, newspaper, and the police all covered the crash. The other car was a Jeep Liberty, driven by a woman from Portland, Oregon.
Kim and Frank went to the police impound lot to get stuff out of the car and also got her purse and jewelry except for an earring she was wearing. They also took a ton of pictures for the court and for the family. I got my sunglasses case (but no sunglasses), slippers, graduation gown, and jumper cables back.
Scott
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
A Note About Food
Thank you so much everyone who has helped with food so far, specifically my lacrosse team (state champs!) and the Reynolds family. I just enjoyed the pastrami sandwich from Noah's and it was excellent.
One important note though is that I do have a very severe peanut allergy so if you make food from scratch or from a mix or whatever please check the ingredients list. This includes all the components of the meal.
EDIT: Denis is actually organizing food. If you would like to contribute by sending food please email her at denise303@comcast.net.
Thanks,
Scott
One important note though is that I do have a very severe peanut allergy so if you make food from scratch or from a mix or whatever please check the ingredients list. This includes all the components of the meal.
EDIT: Denis is actually organizing food. If you would like to contribute by sending food please email her at denise303@comcast.net.
Thanks,
Scott
Eighth Post
First off, I would like to thank everyone for the encouragement for mom and for me and my dad. I would also encourage people to keep leaving comments as it will be very meaningful for my mom to read.
I hope that you appreciate me waiting in two hours of traffic today mom to see you :) Unfortunately when I got in to the hospital there was a bunch of hubbub. Someone was washing her hair, and I told mom that she looked very pretty and that it was the new spa treatment. Someone came in also to check the hardware on her legs and so I only had a few minutes before I was kicked out. Dad said today that the nurses said Mom was doing much better today.
We also got a new primary care nurse today because they are evidently on a weekly schedule.
From talking to the nurse it seems that Mom will be unconscious on the ventilator for a while still, but that when she becomes more conscious she will be unable to speak because the respirator will still be in, and therefore no air will pass over the vocal chords to produce speech.
Dad said she smiled this morning, and the nurse said her anesthesia was less this morning, but they had re-sedated her only 30 minutes before I got there so I didn't really see any reaction when I was there. I guess I can blame the traffic for that haha.
Take care,
Scott
I hope that you appreciate me waiting in two hours of traffic today mom to see you :) Unfortunately when I got in to the hospital there was a bunch of hubbub. Someone was washing her hair, and I told mom that she looked very pretty and that it was the new spa treatment. Someone came in also to check the hardware on her legs and so I only had a few minutes before I was kicked out. Dad said today that the nurses said Mom was doing much better today.
We also got a new primary care nurse today because they are evidently on a weekly schedule.
From talking to the nurse it seems that Mom will be unconscious on the ventilator for a while still, but that when she becomes more conscious she will be unable to speak because the respirator will still be in, and therefore no air will pass over the vocal chords to produce speech.
Dad said she smiled this morning, and the nurse said her anesthesia was less this morning, but they had re-sedated her only 30 minutes before I got there so I didn't really see any reaction when I was there. I guess I can blame the traffic for that haha.
Take care,
Scott
Seventh Post
So just a few updates.
We haven't heard back the results of the brain CAT scan but they are doing more scans this morning of her brain and legs. They have removed the traction from her legs (some of the hardware) and the nurses say she is doing "fantastic."
Also I found out yesterday that all the airbags in my car deployed when mom got hit which is good. I am also positive that she was buckled in as she does that every time she drives.
I also found out last night that mom had a pretty serious cut on the top of her head on the left side. Previously I had always been standing on her right when I went to see her but this time I stood on the left and say where some hair had been shaved away and the skin stapled together.
Scott
We haven't heard back the results of the brain CAT scan but they are doing more scans this morning of her brain and legs. They have removed the traction from her legs (some of the hardware) and the nurses say she is doing "fantastic."
Also I found out yesterday that all the airbags in my car deployed when mom got hit which is good. I am also positive that she was buckled in as she does that every time she drives.
I also found out last night that mom had a pretty serious cut on the top of her head on the left side. Previously I had always been standing on her right when I went to see her but this time I stood on the left and say where some hair had been shaved away and the skin stapled together.
Scott
Sixth Post
Well I just found out from the CAT scan results that Mom has had a stroke. How big, how bad, or when it occured we don't yet know. I guess I had thought that because she could move her limbs that her head and spine were fine when all it really meant was that she could move her arms and legs.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Fifth Post
OK, so doing better but definitely not through the woods yet. Now it seems that most of the serious bleeding has been stopped, some of her fluid IV's have been removed, and she somewhat stable.
As of now the major threats lie in infection and possible respiratory complications from all the fluids and her sedentary position, specifically fluid building up in the lungs and hardening.
Also, she has a lot of hardware (rods sticking through and into them) on her legs now to set them and get blood flowing to the right places.
Mom is going in for some CAT scans tonight so we'll know a lot more about her in the morning. Uncle Kim was joking that we should send in her cat, Blaze, to be scanned.
The best thing that has happened so far is when I held her hand today not once but twice she squeezed back hard both times. Reflex or some base level of consciousness? Either way she is moving her arms and legs which is good because it means there is no major spinal injury.
On another note, I am currently without a car. I was out looking yesterday for a C 1978 ford mustang fastback. It was blue with white racing stripes, and was for sale a couple months ago in my girlfriend Katie's neighborhood. I remember remarking to her "Man, if I didn't have my Lexus I'd totally buy that." But now its sold. Oh well...
As of now the major threats lie in infection and possible respiratory complications from all the fluids and her sedentary position, specifically fluid building up in the lungs and hardening.
Also, she has a lot of hardware (rods sticking through and into them) on her legs now to set them and get blood flowing to the right places.
Mom is going in for some CAT scans tonight so we'll know a lot more about her in the morning. Uncle Kim was joking that we should send in her cat, Blaze, to be scanned.
The best thing that has happened so far is when I held her hand today not once but twice she squeezed back hard both times. Reflex or some base level of consciousness? Either way she is moving her arms and legs which is good because it means there is no major spinal injury.
On another note, I am currently without a car. I was out looking yesterday for a C 1978 ford mustang fastback. It was blue with white racing stripes, and was for sale a couple months ago in my girlfriend Katie's neighborhood. I remember remarking to her "Man, if I didn't have my Lexus I'd totally buy that." But now its sold. Oh well...
Fourth Post- Comments enabled!
Hey everyone, so the femur surgery was a success. I'm going over to the hospital soon to see her for a couple hours. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me and my family so far. I can't even count all the text messages, facebook comments, and phone calls I have gotten the past couple days and it has really helped me stay positive.
On different note, I changed the blog to allow anybody to comment. I am going to show this to my mom when she is conscious so if you want to leave anything for her post it here. Just select the "comment" button below every post. Make sure you sign your name at the bottom or else we wont know who left it.
Thanks again,
Scott
On different note, I changed the blog to allow anybody to comment. I am going to show this to my mom when she is conscious so if you want to leave anything for her post it here. Just select the "comment" button below every post. Make sure you sign your name at the bottom or else we wont know who left it.
Thanks again,
Scott
Third Post
OK, so things are happening a million miles per hour here.
Mom's already been in a couple surgeries so far, and is now going into a surgery to fix her femurs and restore blood flow to the legs and feet for healing. Expected operating time 2 hours. Shes still unconscious and likely will be for a long time (2 weeks we're thinking) because she is on a respirator. This save my mom the trouble of breathing and hopefully let her body concentrate on repairing itself.
Thing really happen at all 24 hours at the hospital. Every time I've gone in I have seen a nurse there taking care of mom, and often a doctor or two also. She is getting different types of care at all different hours of the day.
Mom's already been in a couple surgeries so far, and is now going into a surgery to fix her femurs and restore blood flow to the legs and feet for healing. Expected operating time 2 hours. Shes still unconscious and likely will be for a long time (2 weeks we're thinking) because she is on a respirator. This save my mom the trouble of breathing and hopefully let her body concentrate on repairing itself.
Thing really happen at all 24 hours at the hospital. Every time I've gone in I have seen a nurse there taking care of mom, and often a doctor or two also. She is getting different types of care at all different hours of the day.
Second Post
If there's one thing I have learned in my life, it is that fate is very strange.
As it turns out, a classmate of mine that is a year behind me in school happened to be driving past my mom's crash site when he stopped and ran over to help. He arrived there around 3 minutes before the aid cars and saw my mom's reaction. He only realized it was my mom yesterday morning from my facebook.
He also talked to eyewitnesses and also by chance there was an off duty paramedic there with him explaining what the rescuers were doing real time as they worked.
From talking to eyewitnesses, it seems that the previous story is correct.
The classmate did stress how strong and stubborn my mom was. He said she was fighting to stay alive and conscious, and that it was evidently taking tremendous willpower. He said even though he did not know her, he said he thought she would be OK because of how incredibly strong she was. I agree, she is a very strong woman and I don't think shes going anywhere while I'm still alive.
The person I talked to also told me how much the paramedics worked together to rescue my mom from the car. He said there were at least 4 fire trucks and a ton of ambulances there to look after her.
The classmate was also kind enough to email some pictures. As these are zoomed out, I talked with my dad and we felt it would be best to put them up. I found these pictures strangely comforting as at least now I know what the crash looked like instead of only wondering.
As it turns out, a classmate of mine that is a year behind me in school happened to be driving past my mom's crash site when he stopped and ran over to help. He arrived there around 3 minutes before the aid cars and saw my mom's reaction. He only realized it was my mom yesterday morning from my facebook.
He also talked to eyewitnesses and also by chance there was an off duty paramedic there with him explaining what the rescuers were doing real time as they worked.
From talking to eyewitnesses, it seems that the previous story is correct.
The classmate did stress how strong and stubborn my mom was. He said she was fighting to stay alive and conscious, and that it was evidently taking tremendous willpower. He said even though he did not know her, he said he thought she would be OK because of how incredibly strong she was. I agree, she is a very strong woman and I don't think shes going anywhere while I'm still alive.
The person I talked to also told me how much the paramedics worked together to rescue my mom from the car. He said there were at least 4 fire trucks and a ton of ambulances there to look after her.
The classmate was also kind enough to email some pictures. As these are zoomed out, I talked with my dad and we felt it would be best to put them up. I found these pictures strangely comforting as at least now I know what the crash looked like instead of only wondering.
My mom, driving my black lexus.
The other driver's car that we believe was drunk at the time of the accident.
Monday, June 8, 2009
First Post
Hello Everyone,
So as many of you know, Allyn Lindemann got into a car crash on the afternoon of Sunday, June 7th, 2009. A drunk driver (possibly with passenger) crossed over the center line into Mom's lane and hit her about 1 mile up Novelty Hill from the intersection of Avondale and Novelty in Redmond. The speed limit at that point was 45 mph.
The timing was very strange, just hours after my graduation from Overlake. It was also the first time my mom's brother has ever come out to Washington, and a full moon too. Enough to make you superstitious. The good news was that all my living relatives were in town for my graduation, from Maine to California to Washington. The bad news is that an otherwise happy celebration was turned into a scary ER visit.
My mom was driving my black lexus ES 330 home from lunch at Fairwinds where my grandfather lives. She was the only one driving, everyone else was in the other 2 cars driving home from Fairwinds (3 total cars). After she did not show up at home after everyone else, my dad and Uncle Kim went back to see if she was out of gas when they saw road flares and the crashed cars. The doctors later called it a "high mechanism" crash meaning that massive forces were involved.
The top had to be cut off my car (which she was driving) and she was airlifted to Harborview Hospital in Seattle. The good news: my parents got me such a nice car to keep me safe, it is one of the safest cars out there. It is comforting to think that my mom got me a safe car so I would be safe, and it ended up saving her own life.
Also, Harborview is one of the best trauma hospitals in one of the best countries in the world. My mom was the #1 priority when she got there, so she literally had the best doctors in the world working on her.
I was attending my class overnight celebration with the rest of my class when I was called away. During the overnighter we were supposed to give up our cell phones but I kept mine for my peanut allergy. This is a good life lesson: don't give up your cell phone! I drove back with Graeme and Mrs. Boit (thanks again!)
When we got there, my mom was bleeding profusely both internally and externally. Though we got there around 8pm (if I remember right), we wouldn't see her till 5am. The doctors told us she might die because of blood loss. By 12pm, Me, my Dad, our family friends the Walkowskis, Mrs. Booth, Mrs. Perry, Mr. and Mrs. Angelo, my girlfriend Katie and her brother, Graeme and his sister and dad, and Mrs. Boit were all in a cramped waiting room crying and praying.
As we found that night, her initial injuries were:
Broken left lower leg
Both femurs broken
Pelivis broken in 2 places
Tissue missing in left leg
Bleeding profusely internally and externally in pelvis and legs
Broken left elbow
Broken left ribs
Body temperature too cold
Lost nutrients, fluids, proteins, and platelets from blood loss
At the time we did not know if she also had possible spinal or brain injuries, but she has been seen moving her arms and legs which is good.
The doctors worked well and stopped the major bleeding. They also brought her body temp up with blankets and water baths, started aIV and blood transfusions, and set up tractions in her legs to help with blood flow to her legs and feet and to help set the femurs.
The fluids have made her body really puffy but it was good to see her fighting this morning and today. Life has been hectic as our whole family and friends are getting organized.
If you would like to help call our home phone, if no answer leave a message. We are getting a phone tree set up and food organized now.
Please keep Mom in your thoughts and prayers.
So as many of you know, Allyn Lindemann got into a car crash on the afternoon of Sunday, June 7th, 2009. A drunk driver (possibly with passenger) crossed over the center line into Mom's lane and hit her about 1 mile up Novelty Hill from the intersection of Avondale and Novelty in Redmond. The speed limit at that point was 45 mph.
The timing was very strange, just hours after my graduation from Overlake. It was also the first time my mom's brother has ever come out to Washington, and a full moon too. Enough to make you superstitious. The good news was that all my living relatives were in town for my graduation, from Maine to California to Washington. The bad news is that an otherwise happy celebration was turned into a scary ER visit.
My mom was driving my black lexus ES 330 home from lunch at Fairwinds where my grandfather lives. She was the only one driving, everyone else was in the other 2 cars driving home from Fairwinds (3 total cars). After she did not show up at home after everyone else, my dad and Uncle Kim went back to see if she was out of gas when they saw road flares and the crashed cars. The doctors later called it a "high mechanism" crash meaning that massive forces were involved.
The top had to be cut off my car (which she was driving) and she was airlifted to Harborview Hospital in Seattle. The good news: my parents got me such a nice car to keep me safe, it is one of the safest cars out there. It is comforting to think that my mom got me a safe car so I would be safe, and it ended up saving her own life.
Also, Harborview is one of the best trauma hospitals in one of the best countries in the world. My mom was the #1 priority when she got there, so she literally had the best doctors in the world working on her.
I was attending my class overnight celebration with the rest of my class when I was called away. During the overnighter we were supposed to give up our cell phones but I kept mine for my peanut allergy. This is a good life lesson: don't give up your cell phone! I drove back with Graeme and Mrs. Boit (thanks again!)
When we got there, my mom was bleeding profusely both internally and externally. Though we got there around 8pm (if I remember right), we wouldn't see her till 5am. The doctors told us she might die because of blood loss. By 12pm, Me, my Dad, our family friends the Walkowskis, Mrs. Booth, Mrs. Perry, Mr. and Mrs. Angelo, my girlfriend Katie and her brother, Graeme and his sister and dad, and Mrs. Boit were all in a cramped waiting room crying and praying.
As we found that night, her initial injuries were:
Broken left lower leg
Both femurs broken
Pelivis broken in 2 places
Tissue missing in left leg
Bleeding profusely internally and externally in pelvis and legs
Broken left elbow
Broken left ribs
Body temperature too cold
Lost nutrients, fluids, proteins, and platelets from blood loss
At the time we did not know if she also had possible spinal or brain injuries, but she has been seen moving her arms and legs which is good.
The doctors worked well and stopped the major bleeding. They also brought her body temp up with blankets and water baths, started aIV and blood transfusions, and set up tractions in her legs to help with blood flow to her legs and feet and to help set the femurs.
The fluids have made her body really puffy but it was good to see her fighting this morning and today. Life has been hectic as our whole family and friends are getting organized.
If you would like to help call our home phone, if no answer leave a message. We are getting a phone tree set up and food organized now.
Please keep Mom in your thoughts and prayers.
Thanks,
Scott
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)