Prayers for a Delta Gamma alumna
 

I posted in the "What are you thinking right now thread?" and thought I would bring this over here. Sorry to crash your forum...

My mother is a Duke University graduate, where she joined Delta Gamma. My mom was involved in a serious car accident in Columbus, OH last Thursday while traveling for work. She was flown to Grant Medical Center. She is in the ICU, but hopefully will be moved to a step-down bed soon.

She lives in Savannah, GA with my father. Obviously, she is very far from home. My dad made the trip yesterday, and is with her now. She has more surgeries tomorrow. The hope is that as soon as she is stable we can have her transferred to a hospital in Savannah.

Please can you say an extra prayer for her? Between this accident and my father's cancer, we are having a rough year in terms of health. :(

Thanks!

Would you mind sharing your Mom's name (and your Dad, too, since he could also use some prayer)? I like to prayer "specific" prayers for people. You can always send me a PM.

Mom's name is Thais. My father is Larry.

Pardon the crash, but please take heart in knowing that Grant is one of the best trauma hospitals in Ohio and they will do everything possible they can for your mom. She is in excellent hands at Grant. I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.

I was just going to post what BuckeyeTriDelta posted. She will have excellent care at Grant.

You are all in my thoughts.

I'm so sorry, you all are in my prayers. Keep us updated.

Has anyone contacted DG headquarters (in Columbus) - perhaps there are sisters who can visit and/or help until she can get home? I can't do so from here right now.

Delta Gamma headquarters are in Columbus, OH? I had no idea.

Thanks everyone for the thoughts and prayers. No news about her surgery this morning. I am getting anxious to hear something from my father. :o

Just wanted to give you an update.

Mom's surgery went well yesterday. They placed a tracheostomy, feeding tube and repaired her right wrist. Dad said that she seems a bit more comfortable with all the tubes out of her mouth. She is trying to wake up: moving her good arm, wriggling her legs, making faces and opening her eyes. She isn't able to focus on anyone/anything yet.

She is being moved to a step-down bed in the ICU tonight. The best news is that the doctors and medical staff are talking about possibly transferring home to Savannah in about a week.

Thanks for the prayers and thoughts everyone.

I'm keeping her and your family in my thoughts and prayers...this must be really tough on you all.

WhiteDaisy - I got your PM, and replied. Thank you so much for forwarding the message!

As for my mom, she is awake and communicating with the nurses as best she can. The first message passed along was that she was "bored, thirsty and wanted to go home." She knew my dad was there last week. The nurses are thinking she is stable enough to be transferred to a hospital in Savannah. We are waiting on the go ahead from the doctors.

She has a long road to recovery. We know that. We think it will be that much better for her to be in Savannah, with my father and where my brother and I can visit without a hit to our wallet for airline, hotel and rental car charges.

ZTA--I pray that your mother recover and that your father be in remission. The Lord knows what you are going through right now and He has both you and your family in His hands. Hold onto your faith in the Lord and continue to ask him for the strength that you all will need now and in the future.
I pray that your Mom will be able to return to Savannah and be able to regain her strength (both inner and physical) and that you will be able to retain your strength as well. Read James 1:1-5 and James 5:1-14 and I pray that this will begin to help and heal both your family and yourself.
(sorry for the lane swerving)

I wanted to thank everyone who sent along prayers and good thoughts for my mom. We found out today that she will be flown by air ambulance home to Savannah on Monday morning!

ZTABullwinkle,

Delta Gamma's national fraternity president visited my chapter this weekend for founder's day and told us about your mother. We are all keeping her and you in our prayers.

Wow! Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate the parayers.

She was transferred to a hospital in her hometown of Savannah yesterday. She did okay on the trip, but is definitely not out of the woods. They have ordered consultations and tests, while culturing some infections that are brewing in her ankle. I should be heading down there in the next week.

DG Mom
 

I am so sorry for your family's difficulties. Please know they are in my prayers, as are you. Stay strong and lean on those who love you. Please keep us updated.

Most sincerely,

Paula M.
Sugma Delta Tau
Patrae Multi Spes Una
One Hope of Many People

Mom is out of surgery, and should be headed back to her room soon. It is time to start saying some prayers.

The infection in Mom's right ankle was extensive. The doctors had to remove about a baseball sized amount of tissue that was infected. He removed all the pins, washed it out really well, placed a couple of drains and was able to place a couple of new pins for some support. The infection had moved up here leg to her knee, so the doctor also cleaned that out and placed a drain there. They will be going back in to check how it is doing probably Tuesday. There is some real concern that she will be able to keep her leg if they don't get this infection under control. If she keeps the leg, she will need skin grafts to close up the ankle. So, please say some prayers that the infection will stop spreading up her leg and the antibiotics will work.

Her external fixator on her right arm will probably come off in two to four weeks. Her halo brace will have to stay on for three months at least, until they are sure the fracture in her vertebrae is fully healed. They are back to using the ventilator as positive pressure during the day (meaning she is doing all of the work of breathing. The positive pressure helps to open up the alveoli to receive more oxygen.), and during the night they use it so she can get some rest and strength.

Dad is scared about the infection. I think we all are at this point. It is totally out of our hands, and in God's at this point. I will be going to Georgia on Sunday or Monday. So, soon I will be able to see her. Not to mention help my father out in whatever ways he needs me for.

Thanks everyone for your prayers and good thoughts.

Infection
 

Please be sure to ask that an Infectious Disease Specialist examine your mother. I had eight different doctors giving me antibiotics which did nothing to help. They finally sent in an Infectious Disease Specialist who looked up at the bag on the IV pole and said, "What in the hell are they giving you?" He pulled the bag off the pole, did a three point shot into the trash can, gave orders that I was not to receive any more antibiotics and the next day, the infection began to dissipate and the fever broke after 24 days. I went home within a few days with no infection. Had he been called earlier, I probably could have been cured and gone home long before I did.

You are all in my prayers.

Paula M.
Sigma Delta Tau
Patrae Multi Spes Una
One Hope of Many People

I am sure she is seeing an infectious disease doctor, among all of the consults they have gotten.

I just saw this thread. I am keeping your Mom in my thoughts, but she has two very powerful things going for her - you and your Dad.

Here's hoping for a full recovery.

Update 4/15
 

My dad and arrived at the hospital around 1 pm today, and were greeted by her nurse and the respiratory therapist. They were asking us to bring in some DVDs or books to keep her occupied. We had brought the ipod, and had her listening to it on Monday. We thought nothing of it. It didn't strike us when the nurse said we would notice some different things in her room. I went in to drop off our books before we dressed in the hospital's best yellow gowns and gloves. I immediately noticed two things: she was reading a book and she no longer had the oxygen tube attached to her trach, and was wearing a nasal cannula. When I commented on it, I turned my back only to hear her say "Hello!" Yes, she is speaking! My dad stopped in his tracks when he heard her voice also. What a great birthday gift!

We were able to talk to her, with her fading in and out to sleep. She doesn't remember any of the accident, and had a vague recollection of the events beforehand. She does remember bits and pieces, like Dad's face in the hospital in Columbus, OH. We filled her in on some things, but didn't want to overwhelm her. At one point, we put the ipod on her and she was singing and dancing along to "Spamalot." There were quite a few tears shed on my part. She may not be the world's greatest singer, but she sounded wonderful to me! She even sang a bit of happy birthday to me. She also read the half dozen cards she received in the mail in the past couple of days.

The pain patch seems to be doing a pretty good job of keeping her pain at bay. They have really had to cut down on the number of morphine injections they give her during the day. We didn't tell my brother and his wife before they went to visit tonight, so they are in for the same surprise we had. So, now if we can occupy her mind while stuck in that bed, we will do our best. We are taking a stack of books and the portable DVD player to her tomorrow afternoon.

what wonderful news!! continued good wishes and prayers that she continue on this upward trend to a full recovery!

ITA, what wonderful news.^^

Mom is heading into surgery first thing tomorrow morning to place the skin grafts on her lower right leg and on her stomach. It sounds like they are going to try and harvest the skin from mom's upper leg. The plastic surgeon will still uses the wound vac's negative pressure to help the grafts take after surgery.

She also is eating normal food. She had a fruit cup and spaghetti today. She doesn't have much of an appetite yet, but I am sure it will come back soon. She did enjoy the few sips she has had of that Diet Coke.

I am heading home tomorrow. My husband is getting a little too comfortable as a bachelor, so I think I need to get home. (J/K) I dropped off some cookies and a thank you card for the nurses when I went to the hospital today. I won't be able to see her before I leave, because of her scheduled surgery.

My dad seems to better rested these last few days. I took his Ben to the dog park to try and run some of that extra energy off. I am hoping he does okay with me gone. I have told him, if he needs me I will come back down, no questions whatsoever.

I do hope all is well. I will keep everyone in my prayers.

While my mom is healing from her injuries, she has to deal with the death of my father. He passed away this morning a 7:10 am. He had been fighting cancer. Please keep my mom in your prayers, since she is still in the hospital recovering.

Oh my goodness, I am so sorry. Will keep you, your mom, and the whole family in my prayers.

Hope that she is on the road to rehab soon. Is she still in ICU or has she moved out?

She has been transferred to a hospital in her hometown of Savannah, GA. She is in a long-term "Select Specialy Hospital" whose goal is to get her into a rehabilitation hospital then home.

Gotcha. I am familiar with Select-type facilities. Best to your mom as she recovers.

ZTA, I'm so sorry for the difficult time you and your family are going through right now. Stay strong!

ZTABullwinkle, please accept my sympathies at this time. My thoughts are with you and your family right now.

dear sister, i am so sorry to learn about your father's passing. please know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Oh ZTA, I'm so sorry you have to feel such pain. Please take the time to heal...time can be such a wonderful friend. You, and your family, continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

We had the memorial service last Thursday for my Dad here in Georgia. Mom seems to be doing a bit better every day. She has started asking about questions about getting Dad's affairs in order. We need to contact her friends and DG sisters from Duke about the whole situation, but that will be in due time. (Every day she remembers someone else we need to call.)

I am down in Georgia (except for the short time I return home this weekend) for the long term until we can transfer mom back to a hospital in Virginia.

If I have learned anything from all of this, do not procrastinate talking to your husband/family about your wishes. My father must have thought he had more time to make arrangements, and now we are trying to put all the puzzle pieces in place to take care of everything. It has just added to our stress.

If you're near Alexandria, or if there's something I can do for you or her here in Virginia, please PM me.

ZTA, I'm so sorry for your loss...accept my prayers and condolences, and I wish a speedy recovery for your mom

Thank you. I am in Georgia (Savannah area), but reside in Hampton Roads. If we can make a trip up to the DC area, I will let you know.

***BUMP***
 

I just thought I would bump this thread to ask that you keep my mom, Delta Gamma alumna from Duke University, in your thoughts today. We are having her husband's (my dad) funeral today at the Naval Academy. She puts up a strong front, but the closure she is feeling is a bit overwhelming at times for her.

As for her healing, she is healing more every day. She is still in therapy for her injuries, and not as healed as she would like. But compared to where she was a year ago, she is doing fabulously.

Thank you everyone for you support for both of us. I know I am not as active of a poster on GC as of late, but the messages I have received have meant so much to me. They helped me survive what had to be the most hellacious year of my life.

ZTABullwinkle, I grew up in the Hampton Roads area. Please accept my condolences on the passing of your father :(
You and your mom will be in my thoughts, hon