Update about my Family
I have had many requests for information regarding the accident that occured on August 4th, 2007. As many of you know, my family was traveling to Woodland Park, Colorado for a vacation. We met my sister Renee in Salina, Kansas and Leah my wife, my mother Rachel, and my sister Renee all were riding in a vehicle together. On I 70 between Colby, Kansas and Goodland, Kansas, the vehicle that the women were riding in swerved to avoid another vehicle that had pulled out into their lane, and my sister who was driving lost control. The vehicle left the roadway, and rolled 3-4 times ending up on its roof.
My sister Renee was killed instantly at the scene.
Leah was trapped in the vehicle, in the front passenger seat. She was pulled free by the time the first responders arrived.
My mother was riding in the passenger side rear seat, and was trapped in the vehicle. They had to cut her free with the Jaws of Life.
Leah was transported to Colby, Kansas where she was stabilized for her airlift to Denver. Rachel was transported to Goodland, Kansas and was stabilized for her airlift to Denver. They were transported to Swedish Medical Center http://www.swedishhospital.com in Denver. They wer admited into the Level 1 Trauma Center where they were stabilized and had surgery.
Leah was admited with a broken sholder, dislocated sholder, broken wrist and fractured forearm (all on the right side.) She also was later diagnosed with a broken rib on her right ride. She was also under observation for damage to her corotid artery, and the neurosurgen and trauma surgeon were worried about the possilibty of a stroke. She was kept in a neck brace until Monday morning. Leah underwent a number of CT scans and MRI's to check for any damage, but thankfully she passed with flying colors. She was taken off of the agressive blood thinners, and was changed to baby asprin, which in the words of the neurosurgeon is the best thing that we can hope for for anyone that has been under has care for a possible neck or head injury.
Leah had her arm set Saturday night/sunday morning but was unable to fix the shoulder, as her break occured less then an inch from the ball of the humris bone. She had to have orthopedic surgery on Sunday morning, where she underwent a 3 hour surgery to correctly position the bone and shoulder joint, and connect the two with a total of two plates and 8 screws. She had a cast placed on her forearm and wrist and her arm in a sling. She underwent a bit of physical therapy this morning, and was able to take 3-4 baby steps, and mover he elbow. At this time we also discovered that she had sustained a sprained ankle. Leah has been eating, and has been talking (as all of you know, Leah likes to talk a lot) and is being fiesty with the nurses. We have been encoraging her to whine if she wants to, but she has been trying to put a real brave face on.
My mother Rachel was admited to SMC with a broken arm, broken elbow, dislocated shoulder, colapsed lung and punctured lung. She was also severely bruised and in great pain. She underwent surgery to clear her lungs and start her breathing. She also had her arm set, and a shoulder relocated. She was placed under sedation and on a ventilator. On Sunday morning, she had a CT scan that revealed 12 broken ribs on her right side, and a few broken ribs on the left side. She recieved an epidural at the T6 vertibre to mask the pain of the ribs. At this time, the orthopedic surgeon was checking on her and found her shoulder had redislocated. They formally sedated her and relocated the shoulder, and imobilized the right arm completely.
She was kept under sedation until late Sunday evening, where they removed the ventilator and breathing tube, and she was allowed to breathe on her own. The doctors began to wean her off of the sedation medicine, and she started to become more lucid. Her first words that we could understand was Renee, and she continued to ask for her daughter or for Renee. She drifted in and out of lucidity for most of the evening.
At rounds this morning my mother was more lucid, and was able to communicate with us. We discussed Renee, and recieved input on what her wishes for Renee would be. We have decided as a family that we wish Renee to be in Stillwater, Oklahoma with her husband Zack. My mother was placed again undersedation this afternoon to help facilitate healing.
People wishing to send flowers, should send them to Zack at his parents house.
10 Mohican Circle
Shawnee, Oklahoma
People wishing to contact us may send the patient an email by going to www.swedishhospital.com and clicking on the "patient email services" link. The email you send is delivered to us in the room. Leah is located in room 3146 and Rachel is located in room 3174.
We also are happy to take phone calls, but please understand that we may be in the rooms and unable to talk at that time. I can be contacted at 402.321.4167. Please feel free to call and leave a message or if I have the chance I will talk with you if I can. I can also be reached via email at halljw@gmail.com
We are being helped out by many people here in Denver, and our family wishes to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. We will be asking many favors of people once we get the girls home.
I will be updating this page as the opportunity arrises.
My sister Renee was killed instantly at the scene.
Leah was trapped in the vehicle, in the front passenger seat. She was pulled free by the time the first responders arrived.
My mother was riding in the passenger side rear seat, and was trapped in the vehicle. They had to cut her free with the Jaws of Life.
Leah was transported to Colby, Kansas where she was stabilized for her airlift to Denver. Rachel was transported to Goodland, Kansas and was stabilized for her airlift to Denver. They were transported to Swedish Medical Center http://www.swedishhospital.com in Denver. They wer admited into the Level 1 Trauma Center where they were stabilized and had surgery.
Leah was admited with a broken sholder, dislocated sholder, broken wrist and fractured forearm (all on the right side.) She also was later diagnosed with a broken rib on her right ride. She was also under observation for damage to her corotid artery, and the neurosurgen and trauma surgeon were worried about the possilibty of a stroke. She was kept in a neck brace until Monday morning. Leah underwent a number of CT scans and MRI's to check for any damage, but thankfully she passed with flying colors. She was taken off of the agressive blood thinners, and was changed to baby asprin, which in the words of the neurosurgeon is the best thing that we can hope for for anyone that has been under has care for a possible neck or head injury.
Leah had her arm set Saturday night/sunday morning but was unable to fix the shoulder, as her break occured less then an inch from the ball of the humris bone. She had to have orthopedic surgery on Sunday morning, where she underwent a 3 hour surgery to correctly position the bone and shoulder joint, and connect the two with a total of two plates and 8 screws. She had a cast placed on her forearm and wrist and her arm in a sling. She underwent a bit of physical therapy this morning, and was able to take 3-4 baby steps, and mover he elbow. At this time we also discovered that she had sustained a sprained ankle. Leah has been eating, and has been talking (as all of you know, Leah likes to talk a lot) and is being fiesty with the nurses. We have been encoraging her to whine if she wants to, but she has been trying to put a real brave face on.
My mother Rachel was admited to SMC with a broken arm, broken elbow, dislocated shoulder, colapsed lung and punctured lung. She was also severely bruised and in great pain. She underwent surgery to clear her lungs and start her breathing. She also had her arm set, and a shoulder relocated. She was placed under sedation and on a ventilator. On Sunday morning, she had a CT scan that revealed 12 broken ribs on her right side, and a few broken ribs on the left side. She recieved an epidural at the T6 vertibre to mask the pain of the ribs. At this time, the orthopedic surgeon was checking on her and found her shoulder had redislocated. They formally sedated her and relocated the shoulder, and imobilized the right arm completely.
She was kept under sedation until late Sunday evening, where they removed the ventilator and breathing tube, and she was allowed to breathe on her own. The doctors began to wean her off of the sedation medicine, and she started to become more lucid. Her first words that we could understand was Renee, and she continued to ask for her daughter or for Renee. She drifted in and out of lucidity for most of the evening.
At rounds this morning my mother was more lucid, and was able to communicate with us. We discussed Renee, and recieved input on what her wishes for Renee would be. We have decided as a family that we wish Renee to be in Stillwater, Oklahoma with her husband Zack. My mother was placed again undersedation this afternoon to help facilitate healing.
People wishing to send flowers, should send them to Zack at his parents house.
10 Mohican Circle
Shawnee, Oklahoma
People wishing to contact us may send the patient an email by going to www.swedishhospital.com and clicking on the "patient email services" link. The email you send is delivered to us in the room. Leah is located in room 3146 and Rachel is located in room 3174.
We also are happy to take phone calls, but please understand that we may be in the rooms and unable to talk at that time. I can be contacted at 402.321.4167. Please feel free to call and leave a message or if I have the chance I will talk with you if I can. I can also be reached via email at halljw@gmail.com
We are being helped out by many people here in Denver, and our family wishes to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. We will be asking many favors of people once we get the girls home.
I will be updating this page as the opportunity arrises.
posted by Jay at 4:53 PM
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