As a group of us - friends and family - were sitting in a classroom we'd overtaken near the neuro-ICU a woman came in. She was with another family that has been in the area for two weeks. She was visibly disturbed but had a message for us, it went like this:
"We're getting moved, after two weeks, to a regular room. So if you want to come and have the little waiting room we'd taken over, you can stay there. This is just so tragic what we're dealing with."
My friend, Kate said "Oh, are you with the young man who had the ATV accident? I met his mom."
"Yes. Its just the worst tragedy...he's only 24 and paralyzed from the waist down. We just don't know how his life is ever going to recover."
We all sort of stared at her and nodded.
We would take the twitch of a pinky. We would take an eye flutter. We would take anything.
Ann's condition is stable. But the wound in her head is too big to close. The surgery would take more than 8 hours. Right now, she can breathe on her own for two or three hours at a time. It is brain stem function, we know. But still ... it feels/ sounds like something we like to hear.
Words suck. Thinking of you and the family and especially the young woman who has so much work to do.
ReplyDeleteMR - thank you. You just may not know how deeply grateful I am to see your name appear here.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Cindy, I am so very sorry. I am praying.
ReplyDeleteThank you Cathy. It helps. Everyone feels the presence of prayer, thoughts and love.
ReplyDeleteCindy, I came over from Robin's Metanoia to apologize for the tone of my remarks in response to one of your comments....And was stunned to see what you are dealing with. I am so very sorry to hear of this tragedy and will pray for Ann, her parents and friends, and the medical personnel trying to help her.
ReplyDeleteYour labyrinth work is also quite amazing....Blessings on that sacred space.
(I hope you don't mind my commenting here--I couldn't find an email in your profile. If you need mine it is sophiasprayersatgmaildotcom).
I just came over here, too, and Cindy, oh, no words for this. Prayers abounding.
ReplyDeleteOn the ATV: at the Catholic church I often attend, there has been a series of tragedies involving young people this year, one of which was the death of a 15yob thrown from an ATV.
I guess we would all give anything for what we no longer have.
Dear Robin and Sophia - Thank you for your prayers.
ReplyDeleteI have had the experience before of having my world shrink to the size of a hospital room. This was before the Internet.
It is amazing how connections through the Internet bring actual points of light, and air, into the darkness.
Cindy, what a terrible tragedy. I am so very sorry. Sending Ann strong healing vibes from Vermont.
ReplyDeleteTia - you will not be surprised that I have thought of you and Jane nearly constantly through these last few days.
ReplyDeleteMy love, respect and admiration for mothers continues to grow.
It's one of the worst things I can imagine. Hoping the best for Ann (and you all).
ReplyDelete