It's been one week since the accident

I arrived this morning to learn they have again postponed her surgery. There are still concerns about turning her onto her stomach due to her lung function. They aren't sure if they are still leaking air or not but the pressure of turning her, combined with the moisture is not the best conditions for her at this time.

The neurosurgeons turned off her pain meds this morning to check her nervous system. She was more awake than we have seen her this whole time. She moved both feet and arms which was GOOD! She was very uncomfortable with the respirator down her throat and tried to say so. I understood her telling me she was thirsty and we wet her mouth and throat. She let us know she was in pain so she was returned to a sedated rest. It is so frustrating to try and understand her when she wanted to talk we guessed at things and she nodded. She cannot use her hands, they are both swollen and bandaged and she is too medicated. We really don't want her moving her neck however. She is in a delicate state.

The medicine she is on is called an amnesiate or something like that. She won't remember anything and can't remember anything every time she wakes. We explain to her each time what happened and her condition. It's sad to see that reality hit her again and again but she won't remember it that way.

Yesterday they removed an arterial port which was used to collect oxygenated blood samples. They didn't need it anymore and it was a possible site for risk of infection. Today they will be inserting a filter into her vein to trap a blood clod they located in her leg. This will prevent it from getting loose and traveling into her lungs or heart.

We talked a long time yesterday with young, handsome doctor Jack who showed us her x-ray photos and explained many things. We could see the air in her chest all along her right side and accross her shoulders. He also showed us the darker areas of her liver where it has bled. The broken ribs are many, a couple are complete, some are fractures and this is where air has leaked from her lungs. All and all, they said she is mending well and is very fortunate.

The nurse this morning had a couple of days off and said she can see much improvement since she was last here. We really like her. Her name is Rebecca and she's pregnant.

John and I are into the routine here. He got a much better night's sleep last night in a different waiting room that has a door and less people. He is not sitting by that phone all the time anymore. We are tired of eating and sitting around so have been going on walks. I take my cell phone so we can be called. John still does not want to get a cell phone, just yet, but he is considering it at this time.

We have to laugh about the social drama going on in the waiting area. People spend the nights together and get to know each other a bit. There was a couple who had been here a month but they never talked to each other and he just played a little game boy and kept his hearing aid turned off. Another woman has been here (who knows how long) and says her son is in protective custody because someone wants him dead. He was hit in the head with a cinder block but we don't know where he is. She has one eye and looks like a voodoo preistess. John has taken on the fatherly role in the room and told her when she came in around 2 am that she shouldn't be out so late. The last couple of days the room was been taken over by a large family who seem to have come out of the holler for the first time in a long time.

I'm not going home until I have to. Sunday or Monday as it stands. I appreciate my friends back home who are offering to help with my kids. I miss my home and family but must stay here with Mom and John until.....