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If I was a believer in karma, I would be wondering exactly what awful things I’ve done to deserve the series of unfortunate events that have struck my family this fall. The latest bad news came in the form of a phone call from the Virginia State Police last Tuesday evening. We were being notified that my mother-in-law and her husband were involved in a automobile crash, and that they wanted us to come to the hospital. We contact my brother-in-law’s family and then my wife, daughter and I piled in the car for the 40 mile (64 km) drive to Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg. As we drove, my wife was on the phone, trying to get additional details, and contacting other people that we felt needed to know.
When we arrived at the hospital, my mother-in-law had already been moved from the Emergency Department to a bed in the acute care unit. The attending doctor told us that she had several pelvic fractures, at least one rib fracture and a mild concussion. None of the fractures were displaced and all seemed to be stable, so he expected that she would be moved quickly into a physical rehabilitation program and that her recovery prospects were good.
However, the other news was tragic. Her husband (of just seven months) was killed instantly in the crash. Speaking with my mother-in-law’s pastor, who was also at the hospital, he indicated that he had been told by members of the responding emergency crews that this was one of the worst crashes they’d ever seen. Given the extend of the damage to the vehicles and the fatal injuries to my step-father-in-law, it was clear that my mother-in-law’s injuries were remarkably minor.
My wife has spent much of the last week at the hospital with her mother, and is pretty exhausted. On Monday, she and her brother helped transfer their mother from Mary Washington Hospital to the Rehabilitation Center at INOVA Mt. Vernon Hospital, which is only about five miles from our house. It is a highly regarded rehab. facility, and they will be pursuing an aggressive physical and occupational therapy regimen, with the goal of returning my mother-in-law to full mobility and independence.
The funeral for my step-father-in-law was held in Warrenton yesterday afternoon. I picked up my daughter at school at midday, and we drove out for the visitation hours. My wife and brother-in-law arranged for their mother to be temporarily released from the hospital to attend the funeral. They rented a wheelchair-accessible van to transport her, and brought her out for the last hour of the visitation and the funeral service itself. She was at the funeral home for about two hours before they took her back to the hospital. I suspect that it was a draining day for her, both physically and emotionally, but I also agree that it was important for her to be there.
I am now ready to enjoy a long spell without any additional bad news. This autumn has been far too stressful, and I really need some good news to balance all of the bad. I know that I’m going to be very hesitant to answer the phone for quite some time to come.
When we arrived at the hospital, my mother-in-law had already been moved from the Emergency Department to a bed in the acute care unit. The attending doctor told us that she had several pelvic fractures, at least one rib fracture and a mild concussion. None of the fractures were displaced and all seemed to be stable, so he expected that she would be moved quickly into a physical rehabilitation program and that her recovery prospects were good.
However, the other news was tragic. Her husband (of just seven months) was killed instantly in the crash. Speaking with my mother-in-law’s pastor, who was also at the hospital, he indicated that he had been told by members of the responding emergency crews that this was one of the worst crashes they’d ever seen. Given the extend of the damage to the vehicles and the fatal injuries to my step-father-in-law, it was clear that my mother-in-law’s injuries were remarkably minor.
My wife has spent much of the last week at the hospital with her mother, and is pretty exhausted. On Monday, she and her brother helped transfer their mother from Mary Washington Hospital to the Rehabilitation Center at INOVA Mt. Vernon Hospital, which is only about five miles from our house. It is a highly regarded rehab. facility, and they will be pursuing an aggressive physical and occupational therapy regimen, with the goal of returning my mother-in-law to full mobility and independence.
The funeral for my step-father-in-law was held in Warrenton yesterday afternoon. I picked up my daughter at school at midday, and we drove out for the visitation hours. My wife and brother-in-law arranged for their mother to be temporarily released from the hospital to attend the funeral. They rented a wheelchair-accessible van to transport her, and brought her out for the last hour of the visitation and the funeral service itself. She was at the funeral home for about two hours before they took her back to the hospital. I suspect that it was a draining day for her, both physically and emotionally, but I also agree that it was important for her to be there.
I am now ready to enjoy a long spell without any additional bad news. This autumn has been far too stressful, and I really need some good news to balance all of the bad. I know that I’m going to be very hesitant to answer the phone for quite some time to come.
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(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-07 01:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-07 01:53 pm (UTC)And here's the obituary for my step-father-in-law: http://www.fauquiernow.com/page.cfm/go/obituaries/full_obituary/37
(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-07 02:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-07 04:20 pm (UTC)Wishing you a peaceful holiday and much better fortunes in the coming year!
(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-07 05:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-07 09:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-08 12:49 am (UTC)I remember my aunt. About eighty now. She lost her husband years ago, and found a lovely widower man at church a couple of years back. She got married and I have never before or since, seen a bride look so radiant. Sadly, he died about a year later.
I think that we can't take anything for granted, and we must cherish friends and family every moment we can.
*hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-08 03:41 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-08 12:19 pm (UTC)You and your family are due for a fantastic 2012.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-08 12:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-08 08:28 pm (UTC)I pray for healing, improved health and much, much better months and years to come for you and yours, Andy.
Heaps of hugs
(no subject)
Date: 2011-12-10 05:30 am (UTC)(((((((((((((((((((((((((((to you and your family))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Please know that you're in my thoughts.