On Sunday October 27th I worked 7am to 7pm. It was a long, busy, difficult day. Scotty & Sydney had been out trunk or treating & I may have been a little bit jealous ;) I know that I couldn't wait to go home.
So my relief came in around 1845. I stopped in the back office and joked around with 2 of my Sergeants and left. It was 1856 when I pulled out. My Sgt was standing in the parking lot waving & the last thing he said was "have a nice break".
I was riding a long listening to Luke Bryan when I saw the deer.
At 19:06 , ten minutes later, my coworkers starting getting the 911 calls for the wreck. A female laying in the middle of the road. Her vehicle had rolled over multiple times. She was unconscious & not talking.
In my hurry to get home I forgot the one thing I never do.....my seatbelt. I was found 200 feet from my car! I broke 16 bones in 27 places.
I had a traumatic brain injury, a lacerated liver, a lacerated kidney, a bruised spleen, ruptured adrenal glands.
I broke my shoulder blade in two. I shattered my right forearm (ulna). I broke every single rib on my right side which caused a collapsed lung. I broke one rib on the left directly over my heart-thankfully it bent forward not backwards. I fractured my neck at the c1 which is known as the "widow maker". 2 centimeters to the left and I'd have died instantly. I broke my back at the t5. 99% of people who do that never walk again. I broke & dislocated my left thumb. I broke my pelvis on the left side.
I was flown to Roanoke immediately, after being taken to the local hospital by ground.
I don't remember anything after seeing the deer . I can still see her!
I was hospitalized for 29 days. I have talked to everyone on scene. They're friends and colleagues. I was combative on scene thanks to the brain injury. Which is embarrassing. A lot of it was embarrassing. But, I'm alive and at first they were not sure I would stay that way.
I only ended up having 3 surgeries. The brain, kidney, liver & spleen injuries dissipated on their own Praise the Lord!
My right arm was repaired with a large titanium plate and 6 screws. My left thumb was put back together but no longer works. My spine was fused and repaired with 4 titanium rods and 8 screws.
I can walk. Again praise the Lord!! They wanted me to fill out the paperwork to be put on disability but I asked the Dr to let me try going back before writing me off.
I'm still in physical therapy. But, after 5 months I did go back to work.
I hurt so much. Pretty much constantly. I'm still having issues. I will ALWAYS have issues. I will ALWAYS have pain. It sucks. It's hard to deal with. I have nightmares. I can't remember but I can't forget. I am just now starting to drive again. Out of necessity not because I want to. It frankly scares me to pieces.
but I'm alive!! The Dr's call me a miracle. They say there's no medical reason I should be here. But, God knows what His reasons are.
I am blessed. I am thankful. Thankful to still be Sydneys mother. Thankful I didn't hurt anyone else. Thankful Scotty wasn't working the ambulance that day. When I am hurting, when I want to give up I try to remember all the things I have to be thankful for. Try to remember how far I've come not how far I've still got to go...........
