I know that I have been gone so long but the good news is that I am still here.
A car accident Feb 22 changed my life for awhile and in some ways maybe forever. At the moment I am writing to you from a nursing home, at my age this is tough, but hopefully I will be home in a week.
On my way back from the trade show (which was fun and staying at the Marriot was great), I was 5 miles from home and I was tired and unconsciously closed my eyes while driving. It wasn't long, but long enough. I ended up crossing over to the left, went off the road, and hit a utility pole (actually split it off at the base) . The good news was that I was able to steer away some and divert the path of impact even though it was head on. I did no lose unconsciousness (hard to fight, but I did it). Help arrived quickly, airbags worked, safety glass stayed intact. I had severe injuries and was taken to the nearest trauma hospital. From there, I was life flighted to Peoria where a larger trauma hospital exists.
After many x-rays, many units of blood, and emergency surgery on my right leg and right arm, and a lot of morphine, things calmed down for a bit. Then it was back to surgery on my left leg on Feb 23. That had 2 breaks in the femour and the put in a rod, pin, and nail. It felt 100% better.
On Feb 27, I had surgery on the right leg and arm again. These were open breaks and were the worst. Both bones in the right forearm have a plate and screws. The right shoulder is broke but will heal on its own. The right leg, the femour was shattered down by the knee and under. The best they could do was take out bone and wait for a knee replacement in a few months.
I spent 17 days in the hospital and have been here in the nursing home since Mar 10. I am not able to bear weight on any extremity except my left arm. Transporting me 100 miles back towards home became a big issue with insurance and required me to change drs, something I don't want to do between surgeries. Tomorrow, I go back to the dr and with luck he will give me permission to put some weight on my left leg so that transferring to a wheelchair is much easier (not to mention the bathroom).
For the most part, I kept up a positive attitude (even when the trauma unit was working on me). Some days have been hard, but I am lucky. I didn't have any head, spinal, or internal injuries. Thank God for a large vehicle.
My mother quit her job and moved into our home just a few days after the accident. It is a good thing. She has helped to pick up the slack at home, with the kids, with the new store, and with my care. My family is hanging tough and my sister is also planning to stay with us for awhile once I am home. The churches in town have poured out to provide meals for my family and help in many ways. Very overwhelming, but such a blessing. DH would have gone nuts if wasn't for the extra help.
I am taking each day as it comes and W.I.S.H. has a whole new meaning for me. It is no longer just about weight loss, although I have probably lost 20 lbs. in the last month. I do not recommend the hospital as a form of diet.
I hope all of you are well. I will get back as soon as I can. It takes so long to type with one hand, so forgive my typo's.
Take care. (pretend 2 Mickey's here)
Lesli, just checking in to see how you are doing.
for healing and progress!
