To: .30Carbine; barker; Basselope; BlessedBeGod; Brad's Gramma; CDHart; dandelion; ...
Thank you all for your prayers! It is a joy to read them.
I spent most of yesterday after church at the hospital with the family. Doctors and HJ (HeatherJane) thought Tom might have internal bleeding, because he was dizzy, and when he stood up, all of his color drained out. By the grace of God, it was not. Seems the accident knocked out of alignment something in the inner ear that affects balance. (Three little stones.) He will probably be discharged today. For now, he's in a room one floor up from his little boy.
The swelling has gone down a great deal for Ian - his little face is so swollen that, if HJ hadn't told me this was Ian, I would not have known. I sat with him Sunday so HJ could check on Tom, and get a little rest. It seemed to me I could see a big difference between early afternoon, and when I left at 9:30 last night in the swelling in his face. The doctors have also said there is no spinal cord damage! He moves his legs and arms, and sometimes swallows. He's doing about half of his breathing on his own, and about half is ventilator-assisted. He still gets pain medication, and it makes a big difference. His parents had just left the room late yesterday when it wore off and he needed more. With the meds, he rests fairly quietly. When it wears off, he's very restless and his little face shows the pain. I sang to him while I sat with him, and his mom thought he was enjoying it.
Regan, the daughter who was in the accident but relatively uninjured, is quite the cool-headed child. She couldn't get out of her seat at first, so she used one hand to put pressure on her father's head wound, and the other to keep Ian's airway open. After the accident, she's experiencing aches, pains, and a lot of trauma. She has trouble sleeping, because she keeps reliving the crash.
Three of our pastors were at the hospital for much of yesterday, as were other women from the church. Our pastor's wife had spent all of Friday night with the family, and most of Saturday. One of our children's leaders works at the pharmacy at the hospital, and has spent a lot of time with the family, as well. They're surrounded by good people, and the nurses, doctors, and staff are the best that can be had. If something like this had to happen, at least it happened close to some of the finest medical care in the country.
One of the nurse's said she was really impressed with how the family's church members came around and supported them. The other woman who was with me at the time looked a little perplexed as she said, "Well, that's what church families do." The nurse assured us that was not her experience, so we invited her to join us.
The man who hit them is a young man, only 25, and is very distraught. Our church is also praying for him. He's been to visit our pastor and our pastor spent a lot of time counseling him.
God bless you all, and thank you for your continued prayers.
88 posted on
12/11/2006 5:48:03 AM PST by
knittnmom
(...surrounded by reality)
To: 80 Square Miles
89 posted on
12/11/2006 6:10:17 AM PST by
E.G.C.
To: 80 Square Miles
Thank you for the continued updates and Bless you for helping the family. How old is Regan? That was amazing presence of mind to help her dad and brother Ian with immediate first aid; I only hope that I would be up to the task under similar circumstances. Continued prayers for little Ian and the family.
90 posted on
12/11/2006 7:29:16 AM PST by
NonValueAdded
(Prayers for our patriot brother, 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub. Brian, we're all pulling for you!)
To: 80 Square Miles
Prayer Bump! (Thanks for the update.)
92 posted on
12/11/2006 10:47:26 AM PST by
Diana in Wisconsin
(Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
To: 80 Square Miles
God be with Tom, you and family, may His Grace be upon all.
95 posted on
12/11/2006 12:15:29 PM PST by
SeaBiscuit
(God Bless America and All who protect and preserve this Great Nation.)
To: 80 Square Miles
Thank you for the updates....I prayed for them this morning on my talk/walk with God.
96 posted on
12/11/2006 1:32:07 PM PST by
Kimmers
To: 80 Square Miles
97 posted on
12/11/2006 4:00:55 PM PST by
Rte66
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson