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Monday, January 2, 2012

Two days after the accident

MRI, X-rays, cat scan and several blood tests revealed fourteen injured vertebrae, some smashed against each other, some fractured. Surgery should partly repair the damage, but the surgeon can't operate, because Marie has several fractured ribs, and two broken ribs, one poking the lung and the other touching the ventricle--this is the most dangerous. The cardiologist who is worried about internal bleeding has it monitored with regular c-scans.

The good news is that she's now able to move her toes, feet and legs. Thank God no paralysis. Regular injections of morphine, and Percocet pill help Marie deal with the terrible pain.

She refuses to eat saying she's not hungry and swallowing hurts. Being on the heavy side, she stated that not eating wasn't going to kill her. I joked telling her, by the time she gets out of the hospital she'll be slim with a gorgeous figure. She laughed and said laughing hurts. So far her moral is relatively good because of the continuous flow of visitors. Marie is a generous person who was always ready to drive friends here or there.

Tomorrow she will receive the police report and we'll know how the accident happened. Rumor has it that it was a chain accident. One car driver was reckless accelerating in a twenty-five mile zone where cars crawled bumper to bumper. Several people were injured and ended at the hospital, but her injuries seem to be the worst. They keep her in the cardiac unit because of the threat of the broken rib to the heart. The doctor already told her she has to wear a neck brace and a special brace with a fused metal rod has been ordered for her back.

11 comments:

Mary Marvella said...

The news sounds good, then!

Still more prayers and good thoughts.

Beth Trissel said...

Oh my. Well, better than we'd feared but plenty bad enough. Whewwwww.....Praying she heals quickly while aware that this will take a long time.

Mona Risk said...

Thank you, my friends.

Paula Martin said...

I just caught up with your news, Mona, and am so sorry about what has happened to your friend. What a relief that there's no paralysis, but I know from exprience how painful broken ribs can be. I do hope Marie has a speedy recovery.

Judith Keim said...

She has a long road ahead of her. Thank goodness she is getting good medical care. It's an awful story...Will keep sending good thoughts her way...

Dawn Marie Hamilron said...

Oh, Mona, I just got caught up with my morning and visited your site. I'm so sorry about your friend. No paralysis is a good thing. Right? I'm sending positive thoughts her way. Keep the friends visiting, and hopefully Marie's spirits will remain good.

Mary Ricksen said...

Still praying for your dear friend Mona! I am glad she can move her feet!

Mona Risk said...

Thank you Paula, Judy, Dawn, Mary.
I went to visit her today. Latest news: she'll go through surgery on her vertebral column in a couple of day. They need to fuse the 14 broken vertebrae. After that she'll have to go through a long rehab. Needless to say she was very depressed and short-fused today. Her son took a day off and was there. This afternoon many friends will go to visit.

Molly Daniels said...

Oh Mona....I too just got caught up on the happenings and will keep your friend in my prayers! Yes, she has a long recovery ahead of her, but with good friends like you to keep her morale positive, everything should turn out fine.

(((((gentle hugs))))) to Marie.

And this floors me; 25 mph did THAT much damage?????

Mona Risk said...

Hi Molly, latest news. Her broken bones are due to the airbags since she got trapped between the airbags and the back of her seat. The impact was that strong.

Paula Martin said...

Makes one pretty scare about airbags then, if they can do that much damage.