I got a phone call....

It's been a whirlwind of a week!  It began with a phone call from OHSU Trauma Center.  Howard had been injured in a car accident and needed surgery.  Right away, the help began to come. Needing a ride to the hospital, Jan MacDonald quickly offered to drive me.  Jan and I were greeted at the emergency room door by a social worker who took us right to the trauma center.  This would be the first of many times the excellent service of OHSU helped us through a difficult situation. The whirlwind began spinning with papers to sign, surgery to authorize, calling family and seeing Howard briefly, as the doctors were compiling the list of broken bones.  (The final total is still not finished!) The surgery was pushed back to the next day as more critical cases came into the trauma unit. Finally, the anesthesiologist began his pre-surgery prep and as Howard's bed was being rolled toward surgery, one of the nurses said, "It's time for hugs and kisses," and he chimed in, "Hugs and kisses," as he squeezed my hand.   The first surgery took 7  hours, with teams of doctors working on different parts of Howard's body.  His feet were bolted to a metal halo to stabilize them until he can tolerate another surgery to set the broken bones in both feet and right ankle.  The doctors cleaned a deep gash on his left knee and replaced the ball of his femur with a metal ball.  Finally, his right wrist was splinted, awaiting pins and a plate in a future surgery.  The family gathered at the Trauma waiting room during his long surgery.  Being together helped to pass the anxious time and when Howard was rolled back into his ICU room, we took turns going into his room 2 at a time.  They had sedated Howard deeply after the surgery, but when we got there we found that they had lightened up the sedation on the chance he might respond to us.  Anna was the only one who really got a response.  He tried to raise his arms and shoulders to give her the customary hug.  He squeezed my fingers, and then by the time Joe and Deb took the last turn in the room he could wiggle his big toes.  He is kept pretty heavily sedated so that he can stand to lie still and heal between turnings and that keeps him groggy almost all the time lets him rest in spite of the pain.
Joe and I went to see and clean out the car and we are evermore grateful that he survived the crash.  About all that survived of the car was the leather seats which are in perfect condition except for the glass laying around them and the back tires and trunk look the same as always.  The guys at the impound lot said the trunk couldn't be opened but I had my little clicker in hand and it responded instantly.  My fancy Safeway bags were in there and my emergency bag.  The jaws of life really lifted the whole roof and the drivers door in order to get him out.
We waited for 4 days hoping Howard would wake up and talk to us.  But between the breathing tube and the pain, we all knew he was better off sleeping. Each day, our visits to Howard's room, we noticed that fewer machines and hoses were needed, less swelling, lightening of the eggplant colored bruises and he began to look more like himself.  Of course, if he's getting stronger, it must be time for another surgery!  So I got a call from OHSU, asking for authorization for more surgery, this time to put pins and a plate in his wrist, drain and clean his knee and hip incisions.  Kelli and I had just finished our early morning project of washing the deck, a good change in activity and useful as people gather here at home.  We barely changed clothes and jumped in the car hoping to get to the hospital in time to give him a hug before surgery.  But the whirlwind continued to keep us off balance, as his surgery was delayed 3 hours and the day turned out to be a 10 hour wait in the ICU waiting room.  But the wait was worth it, as we were escorted back to see Howard and he recognized us!  He looked me straight in the eye and said, "Get me out of here!"  Kelli was greeted with "Hi, daughter."  And Howard tracked Joe as he walked across the room and said, "I gotta go!"  Not a dry eye in the room as we celebrated the first conversation in almost a week.  
Today Howard is sleeping peacefully and resting for until the next surgery to do some of the same cleaning and dressing of hip, knees and begin work on the ankle and feet.  They have not said anything yet about the broken pelvis and torn ribs. He looks so much better as the swelling goes down and the bruises are beginning to fade a bit and will be allowed to rest and gather strength.  We will make our visits shorter and quieter.
It has been so great to have such support from family and friends.  Howard would be so pleased to see that his children are all helping do what they do so well and it results in a strong team to work together and get everything done.
We so appreciate your prayer and the many offers of help.