Jim was in an accident on thursday, he survived with minor injuries, wearing his seat belt, he rolled the jeep as his attention was diverted and over corrected sending the car into a roll and stopping when one wheel came to rest on one rock at the end of the bank of the river. This is the two lane highway to the park going thru the canyon, maybe 5 miles from our house. Only in Montana do people drive around with axes, two men cut down a tree and used the stump to stabilize the car until the medics arrived. A second team was called for the jaws of life while Jim was being stabilized in the car.
I was at work, one of the nurses came to prepare me for the phone call, a stranger was giving me all she knew up to that moment, so with hands shaking I drive to our ER, it would be another hour before Jim would arrive with the drive and the extraction from the car. Julie, my boss met me there as did another friend.
He arrived, all strapped down with his back and neck immobilized and the medics walked in and said you must be Nancy, and we now know everything there is to know about Stiff Man syndrome, since Jim had kept trying to tell them to stop trying to get his back and neck flat, wasn't going to happen, he had this disease. When Julie asked him what hurt, he said, "My soul."
I laughed and I cried. The
nurse part of me took over, telling the doctor he had to have this xray to check his pump, and the catheter, and she put up with me for 4 hours, and after many xrays and scans and stitches, pump working, catheter where it should be, no bones broken, I took
him home, him wearing only a hospital gown and pj's, he was very upset at the loss of his clothes and then now days later the magnitude of what he went thru and the emotional burden at the loss of
the car and the financial burden is overwhelming him more than his injuries.
You only have to look at that mangled mess to realize that your man is one lucky fellow to be alive with minor injuries. I know that the financial hassle and insurance etc aren't pleasant, but the optimist in me says it a far better thing to be dealing with than the alternative. I hope the days to come bring Jim comfort as he recovers. (((Hugs to you both)))
ReplyDeleteWhat a miracle that Jim's injuries allowed him to come home the same day of the accident! Just wish I had magic words for you to pass on to him that would help his depression. Let him know that he's being thought of, with wishes for a fast recovery.
ReplyDeleteHaving been through a totaled out car accident, I feel for you guys. I'm glad your hubby is all right and not too many aches and pains as the shock wears off.
ReplyDeleteSending you both (((hugs))) - I only had a minor accident and know just how much my own equilibrium was knocked out of kilter - I guess it's not often you give thanks for 'mad axemen'!
ReplyDeleteSending prayers your way Nancy.
ReplyDeleteOh Nancy! Lynn emailed me to to tell me about it last week, but just told me that Jim had gotten in an accident, but that he was ok. I've been meaning to email you to tell you that you both were in my prayers, but just didn't know what else to say. I'm so glad that he is ok. That car looks terrible.
ReplyDeleteWow, Nancy! I was the beautiful first photograph fist - the rest were quite a shock! I am so glad he is okay. When I had a car accident, I was shook up, and I read a flyer that talked about post traumatic stress disorder as a result of car accidents. I had a mild case, but my accident wasn't as bad as this one either. It is amazing that he was able to get home the same day, clothes or no clothes. I'm glad he is safe and well.
ReplyDeleteOoooh...my goodness. I am glad he came away from this okay. How frightening! I agree with Shasta about the PTS. This was a very serious and life changing event. Nobody walks away completely unscathed. Hope he is careful to get some talk therapy and soon will be driving again.
ReplyDeleteMy husband hit a deer in the early morning while it was still dark. The eyes glowed in the lights and WHAM! Tom was okay physically, but emotionally not so much. We spent a lot of time walking and talking through what happened, until eventually it was less traumatic and thankfully the deer rutting season passed and there were fewer deer on the roads. Tom was gun (deer)shy and the commute to work was very difficult for him.
Our vehicle was an ugly mess of machine and animal. It was a complete loss. It did take weeks to work through the insurance - 2 months total with shopping to replace it. But I still have my Tom...as you do Jim. Whew!
Oh my gosh! From the looks of that, I am so shocked he made it out of that car in one piece. My thoughts are with you as he recovers and you guys deal with this.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad your DH is okay!!! What a scare for you both!!
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