Jake packed the last of the jewelry, and other things needed to set up for that morning's party, in the trunk of my car. I was walking down the front stairs with an armful of items, as Jake was neatly fitting his things in. He and I are
independent designers for Origami Owl. All of Jakob's profits will go into a trust fund for his college payment account.
I glanced over and saw Jeff polishing his motorcycle, which I always found a strange thing to do, especially when it's only going to get covered with bugs on a ride anyway. We hadn't spoken about riding that day. I knew he had a meeting with a potential new client in the early afternoon, so I thought he was just being himself and cleaning his bike.
Jake and I gave his Papa a quick kiss and we jumped into the car to go off to help him earn money for college.
I'm not quite sure exactly where we were in the party when a number, unknown to me, came to my phone. I silenced it. Soon it came through another time, and again I sent it to voicemail. Then my son called, he never calls. I said something like, "I'm sorry, but I have to take this call."
The words he spoke took their time entering my brain in a way in which I could comprehend them. I remember hearing, "severe accident," "Life Flight," and, "OHSU."
I wasn't sure what to do, it was all attempting to sink in, and I knew Jake and I had to complete our party, so we carried on.
I don't remember much after the phone call from my son, except the hostess packing us a bag of food, and another woman helped up pack up. I think those two women will become, have become, amazing new friends.
On the way to the hospital the Deputy that was on the scene called me. He was amazing. I don't remember much except, "how's your husband?" "too much sun," and, "no citations." I had Jake write his name and number on a scrap of paper I still can't find.
We got to the ED of OHSU, which is a nightmare to get to on a day when thinking is an easy thing to do. We parked and ran to the desk and asked where my husband was. Then things get really blurred. I remember things happening, but I'm not really certain in which order they occurred.
There were several people asking for my payment information. I think, I'm really not sure if it was then, or after I found Jeff. I remember blindly handing my business debit card over and over again, and signing a mountain of paperwork. The entire day, week for that matter, was/is a blur of activity.
When I remember first seeing Jeff, he wasn't looking so good. Neck brace, tubes, wires, machines, and all types of other medical equipment was crammed into the tiny room. He was loopy from the meds, and unable to move. I think he recognized me, I'm not sure. But I remember the sheriff saying Jeff was alert and coherent when the Deputy got to the scene of the accident, maybe the drugs were affecting him.
The first nurse we had was amazing. He walked us through what he thought was true at the time. He told us Jeff had a shattered shoulder and would require surgery the following week. He said he also had a severely fractured pelvic bone that could also require surgery, and Jeff had multiple broken ribs and vertebrae. He also said something about a collapsed lung, so they had Jeff breathing with, what ever the thing was, several times an hour.
That nurse's shift soon ended and a new team came in. We were told then things that contradicted what the previous nurse had, just moments before, told us.
I asked for an "attending," to come in and we were told they were short staffed and would page one.
Well, we waited. The next team that came in gave us differing information again. It went on like that team after team.
Finally I asked for a manager, a leader, an attending, someone to come in and go over it all with us accurately. Soon a nurse practitioner came in. She took us through every note and gave us her opinion on what was going on. What she told us was really pretty accurate to what we were told when we took Jeff to the orthopedic surgeon after we removed him from that hospital.
He has a fractured shoulder and cannot bear weigh on it. The top piece of the shoulder blade (?) had broken off, no surgery needed. He has a fractured pelvic bone, and, as with the shoulder, as long as he doesn't put weight on it, and displace the bones, it should heal well.
The neurosurgeon looked at all of the images and told us, "no surgery needed." The vertebrae will heal on their own. His ribs, unfortunately, have to heal on their own as well. They, I think, are the most painful of all of the injuries.
Yesterday I spoke with the Deputy again. He told me he thought the way the sun was positioned was the major contributor to the collision. From what I understand, Jeff was making a sharp right hand corner and a woman in an SUV was coming from the opposite direction. For some reason, they collided. The deputy said he was issuing no citations, it was just an unfortunate accident.
The motorcycle is in amazingly good shape, I saw it a few days ago when I went to retrieve Jeff's belongings from the Yamhill County Courthouse, yeah, that's a post in itself!
After piecing things together, looking at the bike, and all of Jeff's injuries, we kind of think he took the full impact of the car and the bike went the other way. The driver is fine, thank God.
It's going to be a long journey, but he will live.
I debated a bit about putting this link on here. I talked to a friend about the pros and the cons. Reality is reality, and without going into the down and dirty details, financially, we're in trouble, we've been teetering for years.
The economy of the last four years has hit hard, especially in our industry, as many in business for themselves know. Now, especially with Jeff not being able to work physically, and add on the high co-pays, life flight and ICU, home care, lost income, and uncovered expenses, we're in for a hit that I don't think we can recover from. So after much debate I'm posting a link to the page a friend and my daughter developed.
If you can help, we thank you so very much. If you can share his story and link, we really thank you as well. Whether you do or not, know your decision in no way affects our friendships. You all are important to us, and always will be.
And I have to give a special shout to the man that kept us focused and, somewhat, calm, my brother in law, Tom. As well as the kids that have done so much, those that have graciously donated, and all of those that have kept my husband in your prayers.
xoxo
Read more...
