Preface: I try to keep this blog fun, positive and light. I like focus on my Krafty-ness and my garden. I rarely talk about "me" and my family, but I had to share this. Although it starts out upsetting and possibly graphic (mom, I know the first photo makes you cry, me too!) this story has a happy ending. I am so blessed!!!
On Monday, February 6, 2012, my 19 year old son was on his bicycle, riding to work. He was leaving the neighborhood when a car doing 40-45 mph t-boned him. The impact brought Shane up onto the hood of the car with his head hitting the window where it meets the roof. He was then thrown about 150 feet, where he hit a fence and then the ground.
On Monday, February 6, 2012, my 19 year old son was on his bicycle, riding to work. He was leaving the neighborhood when a car doing 40-45 mph t-boned him. The impact brought Shane up onto the hood of the car with his head hitting the window where it meets the roof. He was then thrown about 150 feet, where he hit a fence and then the ground.
My neighbor saw him on the ground, seconds after the accident and sped to our house to let us know. He was hysterical. He was sure shane was dead.
Luckily, there are people in our neighborhood who called 911 and quickly our Westgreen Fire Department and ambulance was dispatched. Their quick assesment and decision to get Herman Memorial Life Flight to the scene saved Shane's life. And for that, I am forever grateful!!!
I remember standing pacing the driveway staring in the direction of where my first born was laying broken and possibly dying... talking with God and Shane. Willing him to be strong, to live. I watched as the Life Flight helicopter came in from the North following Westgreen Blvd until they landed. They were on the ground for maybe 5 minutes. I tracked that helicopter as it traveled Southeast toward Hermann Memorial Hospital downtown, until I could not see it again. Again, praying for my baby's broken body, but knowing that he was under the best care in the entire world. God was cradling him and he was on his way to the best Level of Trauma care in the country.
My neighbor raced my husband downtown to meet Shane and the trauma team there... There was no way he could drive himself!!!! Myself, I was so in shock, I could barely speak, much less gather myself up enough to navigate downtown.
Shane was unloaded from Life Flight.... unable to identify himself. No recollection of the accident (which is a good thing) but also had no idea who he was.
After his initial assessment, the trauma doctor told my husband Shane had a 50/50 chance. To live. He had a fracture to his skull and a fragment of that breakage had lodged itself inside his brain and was causing bleed in his brain. They had to perform emergency brain surgery that night. Shane was put on life support and heavily medicated.
All that night, my friend, Ellen, came to be at my side. To comfort me, to talk and cry with me. I do not think I would have made it without her... She has blessed me since the day I met her. She was Shane's babysitter for several years when he was 5.... and she even sat Lauren and Lindsey when they were little. She is family.
From the crash site, Scott brought me Shane's backpack. It had to be cut from him. Inside, I found his phone... in 3 pieces. I put it together and got it powered up and started calling some of his friends... coworkers. Emmett. Tommy. Caleb. Jacob. Iliana. Jay. Word got around, and we all prayed. We all gave Shane strength.
The next morning I made my way down to the hospital. As the nurse walked me back to see my boy, she attempted to prepare me about how Shane looked. His wounds, his tubes and stuff. This is what I got.
Happy to finally just be home!!!!
I now make it a point to hug /kiss my kids every chance I get. Every time they walk out that door, it could be the last. I hate to think that way, as I never did before. I am a very positive person and I look for the good in everything. But in these days, I have to be real. I watch the news. I see the robberies, the kidnappings, the accidents. Kids with guns. School bus accidents. My kids will KNOW how much their mother loves them every second of any crisis they may face. I will always be with them.
Still a mess.... Trevor
