Thank You GOD

[Gunsmoke]

Hi guys
I haven't been on for a few months, and Im just trying to play catchup with the posts. My 22 year old daughter was in a bad accident, and her car turned over 4 times. The fire dept had to cut her out of the vehicle with the jaws of life. She suffered massive head trauma, had a punctured lung, had to wear a head collar, fractured wrist, and a piece of plastic is still embedded in her eye. She wound up upside down hanging by her seat belt, and goes to physical therapy three time a week, while she is finishing up college. Her memory is now short term, and she is very frustrated about having to reread her papers 4 or 5 times to be sure she didn't forget anything.

She now has mood swings, she never had before, and is afraid to be a passenger in a car. She has nightmares about the accident, and her knees go numb sometimes. She is miserable and knows the therapy could be for life.

So what can I say??????????
THANK YOU GOD!
Thank you for saving my only daughter, with your merciful hand. Thank you for not putting her in a wheel chair. Thank you for making her put her seatbelt on and not allowing her to go thru the windshield, or being thrown from the car. Thank you for letting her put her cigarette out 5 seconds before the accident, and letting her bring her hand in from the window, and preventing her from losing her arm in the turnovers. (she has quit smoking now)Thank you for not scarring her beautiful face, although she was covered with tons of glass. Thank you for not letting ANYONE die in this tragic occurance.

I know this is not a religious forum, but I just wanted to remind everyone that you can lose a loved one in the blink of an eye. No money can be counted, and no life's disappointments can ever amount to anything, if that happens. So when you get a chance, Thank GOD for the blessings that you see, and especially those that you DON'T see. I do that every day and every night.
THANK YOU GOD
regards
Gunsmoke

 

[Wild Bill]

The only thing left to be said after that is..........Amen!

 

[Starman]

Amen

I am gad she is with you. I too have an daughter, our only child, and she too is in college. I know where you are comming from and how you feel.

 

[Passages]

Excuse me while I hug my kids.
They may think Dad is just being odd. but we know better...

Gun -
Thanks for sharing, all the best for your daughters recovery...

 

[Freebird]

The only thing left to be said after that is..........Amen!

Amen indeed!

I mean this in all sincerity as I too know what it feels like to lose memory of certain events. I have not lost all of mine, but there are new things I learn every time I discuss my past(?) illness with family and friends who were with me through my ordeal.

I simply cannot remember any of them visiting me in the hospital other than Michelle and Ryan. I have absolutely no memory of being in a hospital for one week, even though it was the first time I have ever spent more than one night in a hospital, that one time simply being an extension of an ER visit with a kidney stone. Months later, most of which are a mere blurr, I spent three more weeks in another hospital.

Not many memories of that either except for some very specific ones especially the first ECT treatment I was subjected to. That memory is one I wish I could truly forget, as it haunts me almost daily. Have your daughter send me an email if she would like to speak with someone who can empathize with this part of her condition.

I hoped the message I sent in my PM to you when you revealed your story to me in private was of some comfort to you, your's was to me.

Hell boys, I'm no posture child for Christianity. I do not want anyone following my personal example of anything I happen to believe in. I view religion as a private thing, but I am always willing to share my views on that subject when asked.

Big boys are not supposed to cry, remember. Pardon my french, but that my friends is pure bullshit. No stars, so substitutes, that is simply what it is. I am a very emotional person, I hate it, but God made me that way, so who I am or who is anyone else to question why God makes us all different. As a father, I will not try to toughen my son to the point where he feels he cannot feel, show, or share his emotions. Maybe he will grow to be stronger than his Daddy, I hope so, if that's the path God chooses for him.

As before, I will remember you and your daughter in my prayers.

Randy

 

[MarioG]

Gunsmoke, glad to hear your daughter is on her way to recovery. Come summer time, take her swimming even if you have to carry her. it will do her well i'm sure.

bones heal on there own, the soul heals through love.

 

[hwginc]

Gunsmoke, glad to hear your daughter is on her way to recovery. Come summer time, take her swimming even if you have to carry her. it will do her well i'm sure.

bones heal on there own, the soul heals through love.

very well said GOD BLESS

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Gun,
I cannot understand how it must of felt to have that happen to your daughter...

One of of my best friends daughter was killed in a crash in 2000, at 20 yrs of age. He was/is devistated........

BUT 3 years ago I got a call at work that my grandson's apendix's had burst.

I rushed to the hospital, and was taken out of the room where Tanner had SEVEN tubes in him and told by the doctor "IF he makes it thru the next 72 hours".... I went numb.

Tanner was 5 yrs old at the time...... And spent 8 days in the hospital.

He is 100% fine now at the ripe old age of 8.

I STILL have nightmares about that day on a weekly basis to this day.....

I have 4 other grandkids who I love to death.....

All have "their own castnests" here at the marina that they can throw with the best of anyone. (By the age of 5 all were taught on how to throw one)

But Tanner.... I make DAMN SURE I give him an extra hug when he arrives and when he leaves to go home. And his mother, MY DAUGHTER still picks on me... and I LOVE IT.....

 

[Freebird]

Okay, here comes another post from BlubberBird!

A couple of months before Ryan was due, Michelle called me from the hospital telling me not to panic because her Dr. had admitted her to the hospital for 24hr observation of her blood pressure (she had pre-eclampsia (sp)). She simply asked me to go home and bring some stuff to the hospital, so I did.

The next morning she called me at about 7AM crying while telling me she was going to be taken by ambulance to another hospital next to Children's Hospital as she was high-risk. Her Dr. told her that her blood pressure was critical, and they were going to take Ryan when she arrived at the other hospital.

I immediately jumped into my truck, and sped towards the hospital to try to be with her before they transported her. Having been on the road less than 15 minutes, my cell rang, and it was Michelle. "Mom just called, Dad just died." My head and heart nearly exploded, and the gas pedal went to the floor! God was with us that morning as I sped at triple digit speeds to reach the hospital, passing left, right, on the shoulder, against the concrete barrier to the outside.

When I arrived, they were loading her into the ambulance. I prayed to God and to my Papaw as I followed the ambulance to the more advanced hospital. When we arrived, they rushed her inside, and I was directed to take care of admitting paperwork. Upon finishing that, I joined a group of Michelle's friends who were already there. I went to pieces telling them I did not want Ryan to be born on the same dad his Pop Pop died! I had attended the funeral of Pop Pop's dad two weeks earlier.

A few minutes later, a Dr. came to get me and sat me down telling me he was going to slow the pace to buy my son more time. Two days passed, and I struggled over whether or not to make the trip to MS to honor my father in law. Although I knew I could go there and back in one day (been there, done that to check on Pop Pop earlier), something told me to stay put.

The same day her dad was buried, the Dr. came in to Michelle's room and told her the time had come for Ryan. He started her on drugs which would induce labor the next day, and he told me to go home and get some rest as it would be a long day tomorrow. After being run out of the hospital, I headed to our beloved lake home anticipating the arrival of my son!

I was driving down I-40, half-way home, when my cell rang. It was the hospital, Michelle was having siezures, and they were preparing her for an emergency c-section.

I hit the median, slid across to the eastbound lanes, and once again floored the truck playing dodge everything at over 100mph. I screached the truck to a stop in front of the hospital and ran inside. The Dr. was giving Michelle an epidural in preparation for the surgery. He asked if I wanted to go inside with her, "just try and stop me" was my thought while saying yes. I asked if I had enough time to move my truck off the street, he said yes.

The procedure began, I heard my son cry for the first time, then there was silence followed by doctors and nurses running around the room. Michelle asked "why isn't he crying?". The Dr informed us he was having difficulty breathing, and it was questionable as to whether or not he would be transported to the NICU next door. I said, "Questionable is good, right?". The doctor answered "yes". I was escorted from the room having seen only a glimpse of the son I had wanted all my life.

I went outside and began spreading the good news. "I have a son!!!". A little later, Michelle was returned to her room where I joined her. Shortly thereafter, a Dr. I had never met entered the room. "I wish I had better new for you". My heart simply stopped beating. He then went on to say that our son was having difficulty breathing as his pre-mature lungs were causing him problems as were the drugs Michelle had been given to ease the siezures. He began to paint gloomy pictures followed by the statement, "You need to prepare yourselves for the worst." He said someone would bring our son into the room shortly, and he left.

A few minutes later, a nurse rolled our son into the room while he laid in a clear box with large openings on each side. I touched my son for the first, and prayerfully not the last time. I will never forget the first time those little fingers wrapped around mine! Michelle and I both went to pieces as they took him away.

Okay, I have to stop now and go hug my son for the third time today before he goes to bed. You all know what happened after that, and I thank God every day for my son.

Thank You God? Yes indeed as anyone with the capability of simply reading this forum should as well.

 

[Gunsmoke]

Jaxfish: Hug Tanner for me too, and I will hug my daughter for you.
Mario: Swimming it is! I'll take her scuba diving if she wants.
Free: An incredible story, for an incredible guy. My wife is a neonatal icu nurse, and I'm glad your story had a great ending. She tells me plenty of BAD stories from her hospital, but gets the blessing of getting Chrismas cards from the parents of patients dating back 20 years ago, that survived. One just entered West Point. He was born less than 3lbs, 20 years ago. He was a gonner back then. Now, he's over 6ft. Who woulda thunk it?
Thank you everyone for the words of encouragement, and THANK YOU GOD!
regards
gunsmoke

 

[Freebird]

Smoke,

I don't know how folks work in those NICU's. It broke my heart everytime I sat with Ryan in there to see all those helpless little souls hooked up to every hose and wire imaginable. I saw crack babies, deformed babies... I had to keep my focus straight ahead every time I headed toward where Ryan was.

I must say, the nurses I dealt with were nothing short of angels. They explained everything I would see before they took me to see my son for the first time. I spent the entire night with him that first night, and they were absolutely wonderful at telling me every single thing that was going on.

They were truly angels of mercy I will never forget.

PS Ryan just came into the room where I am on the computer. He wants to sleep in Daddy's bed. Good night!

 

[Nick]

Life changes in an instant! I Hope your daughter fully recovers and our prayers for you and the family.

 

[nyrussell]

Our prayers as well. Let us all know if we can do anything t this time.

Noel, Yukari, Erin

 

[chris piazza]

Gunsmoke,

Being an administrator in law enforcement for over 27yrs I have been the person that shows up at parents doors in the early morning hours to tell Mom and Dad that there Son or Daughter has lost there life due to some senseless accident or assault. Every time I have to do this it breaks my heart and has caused many sleepless nights. I myself got that awful call one night 3yrs ago when my youngest daughter was driving back to school and a Intox ran a light and hit her broadside. The impact of the accident tore the engine from the car some 100' from the scene. I am not a terrible religious person but I think God was looking over Jaimie that night and I thanked him for it. They say there is a reason for everything that happens but sometimes at first its hard to figure out why. My prayers go out to You and your Daughter for the road that lies ahead.

Chris

 

[eclipsarkanna]

Gunsmoke:

My heart goes out to you and I wish you and your daughter all the best on the road to recovery.

Bill

 

[Freebird]

Okay, let me share one more story, not about me, but one that should make us all thankful to know there is always someone else out there who is worse off than we are.

Last summer, shortly after buying my 41, I passed by a guy sitting on the "front porch" of his old houseboat. I had Ryan with me, and the guy said hello and asked my son's name and age. I told him, "his name is Ryan, and he just turned 3". The guy smiled and replied, "I had a 3 year old son named Ryan". Honestly, I didn't think much of it as I was in a hurry to head out. I just told him it was nice meeting him, and I headed to the boat.

A few days later, I mentioned something about that conversation to a friend of mine at the marina. Turns out that guy had lived through a nightmare which quite frankly I don't think I could have.

He and his wife lived on the lake nearby many years ago, and they had two kids. Ryan, who was 3, and a younger daughter whose name I do know. One day his wife, who was a nurse, was playing hide and seek with the kids. When she could not find Ryan, she began to panic. He was later found dead in the lake behind their home where he had fallen into the lake and drowned. She tried frantically to revive him, but her nursing skills were of no use that day. Her son was gone.

I had a nice home on the lake and a son named Ryan. I lost the home, but I still have my Ryan. As I try to look at everything in life, maybe God kept me from living with the unimaginable pain that guy lives with every day.

Thank You GOD!

 

[Paul45c]

You really can't take anything for granted where the safety and security of your family is concerned. A little over a month ago my eldest (17 yr. old) daughter was involved in a very serious multi-car accident that she fortunately walked away from. The car was an absolute mess -- i didn't even want my wife to see it at the impound lot it spent some time at before being declared a "total."

Though she wasn't at fault, she learned a really valuable lesson about just how fast these things happen. No one who's never been in a crackup can really understand it. I hope it will make her never take her safety behind the wheel for granted, and yes, I couldn't be more thankful to my maker for her being able to walk away.

Gunsmoke, I'll be thinking about your daughter and wishing for the best.