Cyn's accident 07/21/10 morning

All,

I have some updated information on how Cyn is doing.  For some will be too much, some will be repeated, hopefully it will be close enough.

Current condition
Cyn is currently in the ICU at Flagstaff Medical Center (https://www.myhospitalwebsite.com/library/webdav/view/Flagstaff/default ), the regional AZ trauma center.  If there is good fortune, she had her accident in a pretty good location.  She broke “nearly every” rib, broke her collarbone, bruised one lung, and has a small lung puncture.  With all the broken bones she is in significant pain, so has been receiving pain medication since being admitted.  They inserted an epidural catheter to put drugs into her spinal area to help control the pain (same theory as a spinal block).  They also inserted a chest tube in one lung to drain fluid and to allow the lung to re-inflate itself.

She has been breathing on her own, but they are working her hard to keep her lungs clear  to prevent pneumonia.  Her nurse described her lung condition as fragile.  She is on an oxygen mask to keep her oxygen level up.  Visiting and the consistent drugs tire her quickly, and since she’s still in the ICU calls are limited.  They have been able to get her into a chair to work on breathing which involves someone in front and someone behind, each pushing while she tries to cough out the junk in her lungs.  When the lungs clear more, she’ll be able to move from the ICU to a regular room.

She is in good spirits, and realizes she has a lot of work and healing to do.  She also realizes that she is extremely lucky to still be around and that “God isn’t quite done with her yet.”  Since pain is the body’s way of letting you know you are still alive, she’s decided she is really alive right now.  She has also decided that drugs are good when you really need them.  For now she’s switched from caffeine and nicotine to morphine.

The cats
We know that one cat (Prancer) survived the crash and was found uninjured at the truck by the impound lot manager.  We may find Mercury during our salvage efforts; we’ll see.  The manager is a cat person and is caring for Prancer and left food and water out for Mercury if he’s still somewhere in the truck.

Future plans
We are currently making it up as we go, but once Cyn transitions from the ICU to a general room we will head toward Flagstaff to get her when she’s released from the hospital.  We are driving down to collect both her, her cat(s), and whatever personal effects we can salvage from her truck.  We aren’t quite sure now how we are going to get her back, up here, but somehow after she’s released, she’ll be recuperating with us.  Right now the option may be the train.

Communications
Until she is released from the ICU, phone calls are probably not a good idea.  If you call the hospital, I’m not sure if they would let you through.  She still has her cell phone, but the battery is pretty well dead.  After the accident, she called 911 to report the accident, then called her dispatcher, and called us from the Emergency Room while she was waiting to be moved to ICU. We don’t know how long she’ll be in the hospital, so if you want to send a card, feel free to send it to our home address:

XXXXXXX

I noticed the hospital does support incoming only patient email (https://www.myhospitalwebsite.com/library/webdav/view/Flagstaff/PatientsAndVisitors/EmailAPatient/default.aspx ), so that might be a good option.

The truck
We haven’t seen any pictures yet, but from what we’ve heard, her former long nose tractor is a now a cabover.   The windshield is gone and the engine block is up in the passenger compartment.  We will be taking our cameras and will distribute some pictures when we get them.  The load was picked up by another team and continued its journey.  The other driver was not injured, and was able to pull his rig away from the wreck.  Apparently the other truck was heavily loaded and Cyn’s wasn’t.   Given that, it’s all physics in determining what happens.

The people
First, I would like to thank you for all your help, encouragement, wishes and prayers.  Everyone in Flagstaff from the State Troopers, the impound lot manager, the nurses and the hospital staff have been exceptionally helpful.  Everyone we’ve been in contact at Cyn’s employer have also been great.  Bernard, one of the dispatchers stayed on the phone with Cyn while she was trapped in the truck  waiting for the emergency vehicles to arrive.  The people from Safety are working to please the paperwork gods who must be fed & satisfied.

Bed
When I get tired, I tend to ramble.  Sorry about that.  It’s bedtime. 

Good night