Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Where have I been?

My Dear Friends in Blogland,

I have been away for a long time. Let me explain. Last Friday evening on the way home from a playing date with their band, my dear friends, Bruce and Shelly, were involved in a serious automobile accident. They were hit head on by an intoxicated driver.

Bruce was driving and took the brunt of the hit. Shelly escaped with a lot of bruises and a cracked rib or two. Bruce, however, was severely injured. At first examination it appeared that he had a broken femur, wrist, elbow and shoulder. On top of that he had contusions and trauma to his lungs.

Shelly was, understandably, in shock and asked me to come to her house and stay with her. We decided to have dinner out and then go to the hospital about 8:30 PM. When we arrived at the hospital, two doctors were waiting in the hall for us. They took us into Bruce's empty room and told Shelly that during the afternoon Bruce had lost feeling in his legs. A subsequent CT scan showed a break in his spinal column that had, at that point, left him paralyzed from the waist down. The head spinal surgeon at Strong Memorial Hospital strongly urged Shelly to sign permission for emergency spinal surgery, which she did.

It was a long night. They took Bruce, broken as he was, to surgery to repair the damage to his spinal column. Prior to the surgery, and MRI, the (may I add wonderful and compassionate surgeon) said he suspected a possible severance of the spinal cord. At 3 A.M., he called Shelly in the waiting room to say the injury may have been less severe than he had at first suspected and that Bruce had weathered the surgery well, and the spinal cord was not severed.

As of today, Bruce still faces surgery to repair the bones in his arm, leg and shoulder and has had no perceptible improvement in his lower extremities. This is not to say that that won't happen. Whatever the outcome, he and Shelly have a long road ahead of them.

I am still staying with Shelly. My husband is a saint and says stay as long as she needs me to. The outpouring of love and support from people all over the country has been overwhelming. Bruce was a former Band Director and Shelly is a German teacher in our school system. They have influenced untold numbers of students and their parents.

Please pray for grace and mercy as Bruce faces this long road of recovery.

~Hippo Hugs~

9 comments:

Dana said...

so sorry, Pam. I'll certainly pray for them.

Sharon said...

Prayers for your dear friends and for you.
You are a truly great friend for Shelley in her time of need
God bless

Renie Burghardt said...

Oh, no, what a terrible thing to happen, Pam. I will pray for Burce and Shelly as well. You a real blessing to her now.

Hugs and Prayers,

Renie

Tracy said...

I just can't get them out of my mind and am so worried about Mr. T's recovery. I can't stop being angry with the drunk driver. I'll pray and keep praying. How are you holding up? I have loved seeing the amazing show of support on Facebook.

camport said...

Wow. It's crazy how life can change so quickly with no warning. Praying for you and your friends!

Chrissy

Nancy said...

I am just now getting over here to check your blog! What a horrible accident! Luckily, if we can call it that, they weren't killed! Poor guy...he sure has a long road ahead of him. Just goes to show us all how life can change in a split second, doesn't it? SO sad when they are at the stage in their lives to enjoy each other and the things retirement brings to a couple. You are such a wonderful friend, Pam, to stay with Shelly and be there for her. Keep us all posted on how he's doing. Prayers going out for both him and Shelly.

(((HUGS)))

Cheryl Wray said...

Hi, Pam! Please forgive me for not coming on here andposting sooner. (I had seen your pdate on FB about this.)

Your dear friends are in my prayers, and I am praying for Bruce's healing and recovery.

I know they are grateful for such friends as you and your dear husband.

Much hugs and love!

Monogram Queen said...

Sending big big prayers out to your dear friends Pam. I am so sorry :(

Country Mouse, City Mouse said...

I am reading out of order here, I am so sorry for your friends.

Praying.