Update on Mom

Ok, so I guess I should explain a bit more what happened to my mom and how she is doing at this point. I haven't wanted to write much about things, since it took a while until we knew all the details, and as far as her condition, it changes constantly. I think things are at a point now where they are slowing down, and it is just uphill from here...hopefully.

So, on Tuesday evening, October 21st, at around 5:45 p.m., my mom was out on her daily walk.There is a greenbelt behind our house that we have walked through and played in as long as I have been alive practically. We call it the first park. There is a street at the end of this park, and across from this fairly wide road, is another subdivision, and yet another greenbelt, or park. This one is kind of in the middle of the houses in the neighborhood. We call this the second park. Then, once you exit the second park, the sidewalk begins again across that street, and it curves around the outside of this subdivision, and ends up back again across the road from the first park. Are you still with me? I know it's confusing.

Anyway...apparently when mom was crossing the road from the first park to go to the second park, she was hit by the car. My mom doesn't remember anything that happened. She doesn't even remember going on her walk at all. The last thing she remembers is being at home, thinking about going for her walk. She doesn't even remember putting her shoes on. I guess this is both a blessing and a curse. I wish she could tell us what happened, because it is so mind boggling as to how she didn't see the car coming. This road is very open and wide, and it should be easy enough for both cars and pedestrians to see the other coming, from both directions.

It turns out it was a cheerleader from the high school that hit her. She was going about 45 mph I think, and slammed on her brakes probably about the same time she actually hit my mom. There were some HS kids sitting on the wall on the edge of the park, near the road who said my mom walked out in front of the car. I have a really hard time believing that. I just can't understand why my mom would do that. It really bothers me.

From the bits and pieces I have heard about the following events, it sounded like it was a pretty serious situation. I have only heard these things from my siblings and my dad, and have kind of pieced things together, so I hope I am stating the facts accurately. I heard the police officer first on the scene reported mom as being DOA...dead on arrival, I think that means.The firefighter who was next on scene with the paramedics, happened to be a man from church, in our Stake, who noticed that mom was a member of the church by what she was wearing. He didn't recognize her, which is really sad, since he actually does know my mom. But he did whisper in her ear that he couldn't give her a blessing, but to know that the priesthood was with her. That just makes me cry. It was such a blessing that he was the one to be there, i am sure.

Mom was lifeflighted to Sharp's Memorial hospital in Mission Valley, which is about 20 minutes away, and there are two other hospitals in between that one. I guess that hospital has the best trauma unit which is why they took her there. She didn't have any ID on her, so they had her listed as Jane Doe. My dad walked in the door after work to the phone ringing, at 8:30 p.m., about 2 1/2 hours after the accident, and it was the hospital. I guess mom came to enough to tell them her name and phone number for dad.

Her injuries consisted of both arms being broken, her jaw and nose broken, and one rib broken. She also had severe lacerations on her face that required a plastic surgeon. Another blessing that occurred, was that the best plastic surgeon in the city happened to be at the hospital for something else, and was able to stitch up mom. The trauma doctors later on told mom what a great job he did on her, so that is definitely a blessing.

She was moved from Sharp's to Kaiser which is where their insurance is through, on the Saturday after the accident I think. She was able to have her own room there.

Her right arm didn't require surgery, and is only in a sling for about 6 weeks. Her left arm and shoulder is another story. This is the most severe of her injuries, and what we are all most worried about. She had to have major surgery to repair her shoulder and to place rods and screws and stuff to fix her arm. She had some nerve damage as well, and is now having to undergo a lot of therapy to hopefully regain movement in her hand and wrist, as well as the shoulder and rest of her arm. She had surgery on her jaw the Friday following the accident, and her jaw is wired shut for a few weeks. The accident also knocked out her two front teeth on the top. Her arm and shoulder surgery took place the Monday after, and she has been in terrible pain since then. She had a really bad week last week after that surgery, and is slowly improving now. They weaned her off the morphine, and she is now just on pain pills.She is able to get up and down with help now,so that is good. Her knees were bruised and scraped, but otherwise, her lower extremities and her whole midsection is relatively injury free. The trauma doctors were absolutely amazed that she didn't have serious internal injuries, or that she wasn't dead. Someone was watching out for her for sure! I think it was Derrick, personally. He has got to be his mommy's guardian angel now. He loved his mommy.

She was finally moved to a care facility earlier this week. My grandma, her mom, flew in and has been able to keep her company during the day so my dad can go to work and get things done at home. She is having her therapy daily while she is there, and although she really wants to go home, she will stay there for almost another week. They are planning on letting her go home next Friday or Saturday.So, from the day of the accident, until she gets to go home will be about 3 1/2 weeks.

My grandma will hopefully be able to stay until she goes home, and then next week my aunt is planning on going to help mom for a few weeks until my sister goes at the beginning of December.I guess I need to look into going around the second week in December. I guess that still gives me some time to make plans.

I have been able to talk to my mom a few times when I happen to call my dad's cell phone when he is there with her. She is able to talk really well even with her jaw wired shut, but she gets tired quickly, so we can't talk too long. I really miss being able to talk to my mom. I am used to talking to her almost daily, and just unloading about all the things my kids have done that day.It is also really hard not being able to be there, or to see her to really know what she is going through.The good thing is, that it seems like she is recovering faster than the doctors even expected, and all I can do is be grateful for all those little blessings, and the little miracles that have occurred in the midst of this horrible situation.I am so thankful that she is still with us! She still has a long road ahead of her to get back to her normal routine, but it will happen.There are MANY prayers being offered in her behalf. Prayer is a powerful thing! I know it really works. Thanks to all of you who have kept her in your thoughts and prayers. I know it has made all the difference.

On some normal life topics...I took the kids to get pictures taken today. I am WAY overdue for it. I should have had Logan's 4 year old pix taken back in May, and Avery's 18 month pictures taken in August! So, technically, Logan is still 4, almost 4 1/2 really, but it counts. And Avery, I can just say is 1 1/2. It works, right? She will have to get her pictures taken again in February when she turns 2 though! But, the pictures turned out so stinking cute! Logan had a silly face in most of his, but Avery looks like a DOLL in all of hers, and it was hard to not buy them all! My favorite though, is the one of them both together, and they are standing up hugging each other. It is so sweet! I love it! I am so proud of my cute cute children!I will post them for sure as soon as I get them! I have to show them off!