So...much like the church hymn "City of God"...we begin..."Awake from your slumber...Arise from your sleep!" The girls were up at the crack of dawn...a rare occurrence but they had a plan. They wanted to go on a camping trip but did not have any money. So, I offered to pay for their trip if they did some yard work for me. They were ready to make it work and were smart not to work in the heat of the day. And let me tell you they worked...wish I had thought to take a picture of them working so hard...but I do have a picture of their finished job (I still need to add something to replace holly bushes!) They were outside for SIX hours! So, it still ended up being hot.
I had told them that I would fix a nice summer meal but needed to go to the store. We ate lunch and I went on my way with the boys and Zaira. BUT..wouldn't you know...I forgot the things I needed for the MEAL! SO...I told the girls that I would have to fix something different. They said not to worry that they would go to town and get what was needed. I made a list and off they were into town!
SIDE NOTE: For all parents...if you have a sense that you need to call your child (ren)....then do it! I did not and soon after that feeling...
Amanda tells me that she knew as soon as she started driving that she was tired. Alysyn offered to drive but Amanda had been told not to let anyone drive our vehicle and she stuck to that plan. Christina had already fallen asleep in the back seat...sprawled across the entire back row. Alysyn decided to not only play quiet music but to sing along with the song. Amanda said the song was so beautiful (Need You Now by Lady Antebellum) and she did not want to tell her to stop. So she drifted off to sleep and off the road...she realized 'right away' and lifted her head and tried to get back on the road but over compensated...she knew not to brake hard so she concentrated on steering the car through the curve that took them into a 180 degree spin and into a culvert ditch going against traffic. Thankfully, there was only one other vehicle on the road that was right behind them and watched as the accident unfolded before their eyes! Amanda did a wonderful job of keeping calm while it happened. Then she realized how bad it was and lost all control...crying and seeing stars before her eyes. All three girls were good to check on the others in the car...then the two women from the other vehicle came to them.
Then, I got the call...panic!!! Christina told me that they had been in an accident...I asked if they were OK and then I heard a stranger's voice on the other end of the line! ARE THEY OK? Well...they are all talking. WHERE ARE YOU??? I don't know! NOT A GOOD ANSWER!!!! I am on my way...don't go anywhere!!!!!
The boys and Zaira were already on their way out the door and into the van. I was at the accident in less than 15 minutes...YES...I was speeding ...NO...I should not have done it...BUT...I was so scared...especially when I saw the lights flashing and knew that it was not just a small fender bender! Oh...my heart just wanted to stop!
I saw Amanda right away...but not the others...I ran to her...Are you OK?...she was indeed talking and said she was fine but the EMT was already asking her to be placed on the board so they could put a collar on her. WHERE ARE THE OTHERS? Then Alysyn slammed into me...crying and asking for her mother. She refused to be taken to hospital and she appeared to be OK...I got her back to the van and she called her mother (they happen to live several hundred miles away!) Then I was back to the accident to see them pulling Christina from the vehicle...she was screaming in pain and they were placing her on a board to go to the ambulance. (We would later find out that her foot was jammed under the front passenger seat!) I went into the ambulance with her and tried to calm her down...but she was having flashbacks to a previous accident. I told her that I loved her and that God loved her too. I prayed over her and then Amanda was brought into the ambulance. She told me she was doing OK...and I told her to hold Christina's hand to help calm her (I would later find out that the EMT would not let them stay that way but at least it helped them for the moment.).
I ran back to the van...assuring the boys that the girls would be OK...and followed the ambulance to the ER. I think I even beat the girls into the hospital.
Amanda was good but the ER had run out of rooms so she was placed in the hall way at the nurse station...and close to the room where Christina had been placed. Alysyn and I went between the two of them. The boys were taken home by a friend. Christina's parents were called...and her father came and sat with her.
However, during the wait for treatment, Christina was very upset and was convinced that she was back four years ago when she had her accident that busted her hips (very traumatic) and she thought her brother was hurt. It took a long time to calm her down and keep her stable. At one point Amanda had enough of the neck brace and back board...as well as hearing Christina scream...so she released her back board straps. I told her that if she got up they would make her stay there longer, so she stayed on the board. And, they finally got her in a room...unfortunately on the other side of the ER! So I did a lot of walking through the ER to keep up with both of them.
After about five hours of waiting, and CAT scans for Christina, she was examined by a doctor and asked to try to walk to the bathroom....they wanted to make sure she could walk without assistance. She got a little dizzy but made it for the most part. Once back in her room, I went to check on Amanda...to find her gone!!! It took some time to find out that she was also taken to have a CAT scan.
And at this point we were told that Zaira and Alysyn would need to stay in the waiting room! Zaira is not the kind of baby to go to just any body and had only just met Alysyn so it was an awkward moment of what to do. I guess Zaira must have understood somewhat the situation because she went with Alysyn willingly (at least for a little while).
I got Amanda back in her room and a lab tech came in to draw blood (I am guessing because she was the driver they wanted to check for drugs and alcohol levels...which were both non-issues). I had Zaira back with me also. The tech was very nice and we started talking about large families. She told us that she knew a woman with TEN children and she was a home schooler. I asked who it was and she said we would not know them because they were not from this area. She mentioned that it was sad because the mother was dying of cancer. I told her that was so sad and again asked where her friend lived. She acted like she should not tell...I told her I would pray for her...so she said the woman lived in a town where we spent many of our early years. I was so surprised...and asked her the name of her friend. She said her last name (still not sure if she should reveal details) and I immediately asked if she meant a friend of mine...and she said yes! Small world! AND...it just so happens that I will be going there this weekend...so I hope to visit her.
The doctor came in soon after this issue was resolved and Amanda was freed from the neck brace and back board. The doctor determined that she was well except swollen lymph nodes so he prescribed her some antibiotics and discharged her. That put us in Christina's room to wait...just about the time a fire alarm went off in the ward! My initial reaction was to gather my chicks (LOL!) and I went to find Alysyn, but we were told everyone was to go into the rooms of the patients. We could not leave until the alarm was determined. Thankfully, I had Zaira back with me at that time...because I would NOT have left her in the waiting room with the potential of a fire or other danger AND I had a hard time letting Alysyn be away from us! Thankfully, a false alarm! The doctor soon came in and told Christina that she had inflamed herniated disc in her lower back. She was given a steroid shot and prescription before being released. Her father left.
Just when we thought we were done, the nurse came in and told us that Alysyn admitted herself into the hospital ER! I think the adrenal had finally worn off and she was feeling the pain of the accident. So...I found Alysyn and brought her into our single ER room...by this time we were back to the nurses used to us and letting us be together. The nurse told us it was going to be a long wait, and the girls were hungry so we came up with a plan to go get food for everyone. Christina (who had had her clothes cut off of her...and was in two hospital gowns) was to stay with Alysyn. Amanda, Zaira and I would go get food and gas (I was on empty!)
We got out to the van, when I realized...I did not have my wallet...and my credit card was in the wrecked car. YES...I had given the girls my card to buy groceries!!! We had no way to do anything!!!! The only solution was to call the wrecking service (we were told it was a 24 hour service) and get into the car. My van registered that I had 12 miles to empty...so I called...he was not pleased but when I begged for him to open his gate, he finally agreed IF we could get there in five minutes (so much for 24 hours!). We made it after getting lost twice, so we were thankful he stayed longer than 5 minutes. Then he asked for an ID...I just repeated over and over...I have no ID...I have no gas...I have to get back to the hospital...please let me in to the car to get my credit card. I am not sure how many times I repeated this but he finally agreed.
The first glance of the car was quite upsetting. We got what we needed...praised God that the girls were OK...and headed back to get gas and food before returning to the hospital. Just in time to meet my friend Lyndia who would take the two discharged girls home. (I had called her to update her on the situation and she insisted that Amanda and Christina not stay at the hospital any longer.)
So, on entering the ER room...there was Christina on the bed and a boy (Tyler) in the chair. These two have known each other for a LONG time but I had only met him through stories and pictures, so I smiled and introduced myself. He told me he heard about the accident and came as quick as he could. It was helpful because he was able to get Christina to the waiting car.
And then there was one...the nurse came into the room and made sure we were OK...but also to tell us that it would be a long wait with several other patients ahead of us. Zaira had finally fallen asleep and with the other girls safely home, we just settled back into the room and waited.
This was a good opportunity to talk with Alysyn alone. Without going into details...we needed this time. Right after she told me her story...in walks the doctor..."OK...third girl....lets get you all home! You have been here long enough!" So he examined her and determined that she would be sore but she was not hurt. And we were on our way! Praise God!
We arrived home at 2am... all were exhausted but wound up so much we could not sleep. I finally got the girls and I talked out enough to at least try to relax. One thing that continued to be discussed amongst the girls was an odd feeling that something liquid had splattered them in the wreck. However, there was no evidence of any drinks in the car! Christina (being the neat freak that she lovingly is) had just cleaned out the car right before leaving the house so they would have room in the car for groceries. Christina even had some of this mystery liquid on her phone...it was sticky and smelled of Dr. Pepper...but there was not any in the car! I told the girls that we would figure it out when we saw the car.
Sunday was spent going to Mass...and resting. I did have to take Christina to her first day of work later in the afternoon...I felt so bad for her but she had worked so hard to get this job...she did not want to lose it. She told the people at work about the accident and they allowed her to sit on a stool when the store was not busy. Then I took Alysyn to work just before picking up Christina.
SIDE NOTE: I offered to let Alysyn live with us...begged her to get her high school diploma...again details do not need to be given out here but please pray for her. All I could do was tell her that we were here for her and let her get things figured out.
Today we went back to the wrecking service and to the accident site. Amanda and Christina were able to get all of their things out of the vehicle. The company holding the car lost the key...I told them it would be OK...I did not think we were ever going to need it again and we could get into the car without it. We took several pictures...thanks to Christina we were able to just pull out the baskets that she had just neatly placed in the trunk. I told the young man who helped us that he must see a lot of walking miracles in a job like his. It is hard to believe that Christina was not hurt worse than she was...the side of the vehicle she was on looked terrible...pictures do not show all the damage to the vehicle but it is obvious that the vehicle will be totaled. Seeing the accident site was hard but again showed that God is good...ALL THE TIME!!! I also insisted that the girls were being guided by their angels...if the car had gone even a few inches further to the side they would have gone into a creek bed and it would have flipped the vehicle! I also told them that God obviously had bigger plans for them!
And the mystery drink...there really is no evidence of a drink in the vehicle!!!! I told the girls that it must have been Michael's presence to give them comfort during a stressful time (We have a long standing joke in our house that Michael has to explode Dr. Pepper in vehicles!) . All we know is that it happened and no explanation of why.I am convinced everything happens for a reason...whether poor choices...to make a point...or because had it not happened this way it would have been worse with another choice...I do not know why this happened to the girls but as the hymn was sung on Sunday...."All Will Be Well." Praise be to God!!!!
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