It's been a long weekend. I left work at 2:00 on Friday afternoon, so that I could get the car serviced and leave for Coffeyville early. Everything was on schedule. As I sat at Quaker State, waiting for the car, I began to get a mild migraine. The car was ready in about 30 minutes, then I went across to Dillons to get a couple of things to take with us, and on home to take some Tylenol and lay down for a bit while I waited for Marvin to get home. The gas tank was full, the engine serviced, and the luggage loaded, so as soon as he hit the door, we headed back out and hit the road. As we drove through Augusta, we decided to pull through McDonald's drive through for Cokes and a bite of supper to eat on the road. The line was short, and we were back out on the street in just a few minutes, sitting at the stop light, waiting to go again. I leaned forward to get some fries out of the sack (which was sitting on the floor between my feet), and suddenly the world exploded. I remember a loud bang, then my body snapped back and slammed into the seat. I was still trying to process what was happening, when I was thrown forward...until my seat belt locked, then there was another loud bang and I was slammed back into the seat again. The mild migraine was now worse...and I seemed to be disoriented. I knew that 'something bad' had just occurred...but honestly...I couldn't quite get a handle on what the heck it was. I'm told that I screamed something (not repeatable) out loud...but I don't remember doing that. As I held onto my head (I'm not sure why), I looked over at Marvin, and he was getting out of his seat belt and telling the man from the car in front of us that he thought we were okay. I watched as he got out and spoke to the guy in front of our car, and as he opened my car door...I realized that I was shaking from head to toe. He asked if I was okay, and I replied that I wasn't sure. I asked if he was okay, and he said he was. After that...it's a bit hazy for a few minutes. We eventually moved from the street to the curb and sat down on the legs of a portable sign. The paramedics came, I ended up on a backboard, in an ambulance. Several hours, a head and neck CT, and three prescriptions later...we were on the road again. Neither of us was hurt...only shaken up. We finally arrived in Coffeyville around 10:30 p.m. The car was drivable, and doesn't look bad at all...although...it will probably be about $3000.00 in damage (thank heavens the guy that hit us was insured). We still aren't sure how the guy behind us, ended up slamming into us...but he did. He was driving a minivan, and apparently, the bumpers lined up just right to avoid a much worse outcome! I have no idea how his van looked, but I'm told that the car that he slammed us into had almost no damage. We both feel extremely blessed...it could have been sooooooo much worse!
Saturday proved to be a very rough day. Becky was in terrible pain most of the day, and we struggled to help alleviate what we could. It is very difficult to help someone...who can't tell you exactly where the pain is. After some trial and error, we finally deduced that her head might be the main source of discomfort. Blocking the light with a washcloth over her eyes and a blanket covering the window, then a double dose of Morphine...all finally combined to bring her a brief respite. Her breathing was labored, her muscles jerky, and her eyes rolled back in their sockets. It was a sad and frightening day. I did not expect that she would make it through the night on Saturday. We finally managed to get her to swallow some meds for the inflammation in her brain, and by this morning, she awoke without the pain, and her eyes were normal again. There are so many terrible things going on in her body...that it is impossible to say that she was doing well this morning...but comparatively...she was so much better. I have no idea how much time she has left...but I expect it is a matter of days now. Her food intake has almost stopped, and her fluid output is substantially decreased.
The whole weekend has reminded me, just how fragile life is. In the blink of an eye...everything can change. Hug the people that you love as much as possible...and make the most of every minute! I hope that the coming week is uneventful...even boring.
Be Well!
3 comments:
Yes...I wish you a boring week, and I'm so glad things were as minimal as they were.
Prayers to that end.
The sad news has just been delivered to me. Words really fail me but I'm glad she is at peace now.
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