Today, special thanks goes to Benjamin for staying with Mom.  This gal was too sick to be up there, and Bman stepped in.  He stayed until Dad got home from work.  THEN, so Dad could spend time with Austin, Benjamin spent the night.  Thank you!  Thank you, Benjamin!
     First thing Saturday morning, another 200 cc of fluid was drained from the R lung.  We've been told that Caren can be in the hospital from one to twenty days while the fluid drains.
     Also, on Saturdays, it appears that the weekend crew has more challenges truly caring for patients.  The weekday crews have spoiled us.  Just for now I think of kicky Abby, the nurse who makes you want to dance in the room - she is exuberant.  Also, I think of Rachel, quiet Rachel who exudes true compassion - a nurses' aide.  Speaking of aides, we MUST mention Tyler, who is 19 years old, has the goal of becoming a nurse, and is truly gifted at caring for patients.  He has truly been a joy and help to CAren.  (Please note, if your name has not been mentioned, it has nothing to do with your exemplary care; but, has everything to do with this sinus headache thrumming in my skull, :-P )
     Thank you to all the staff, doctors, aides, teams, housekeeping, and others who are making this hospital stay bearable.  Two weeks seems like such a long time.  In the grand scheme of things, time is but an illusion.
     [...]

     When I entered the room Friday morning, the very first thing I noticed was Caren's lovely hair.  Rick had brushed it and braided it.  Ain't he somethin'!
     Rick treated me to breakfast.  On the way downstairs, we met Jesse, who joined us.  Rick headed to work, and Jesse and I went up to see Caren. 
     The chest tube procedure was supposed to happen Friday morning.  There were too many emergencies at the hospital, and Caren's procedure kept getting bumped.  Understandable.  Friday she remained in bed to conserve her energy for the procedure. The IV site had been compromised, even though the arm had been placed on an IV board.
     All day waiting is taxing.  Jesse was hesitant to leave, because none of us wanted Caren to be alone.  I had to leave to pick up Austin at 11:15, then Nich and Benjamin at 3:20.  
     At 4-ish Jesse called and said it was time.  He put me on speaker, and I was able to speak to Caren before she left the room.  She was calm.
     While in Intervention Radiology (IR), her IV site was reestablished.  It seemed like we waited forever.
     Most chest tubes, only from what I know, are put in the side between the 2nd and 3rd intercostal spaces.  IR was unable to put in a drainage tube.  They had to move up to a medium size chest tube, stitching it in place.  AND, it was inserted into the back!  Now, I know the lungs can be accessed from the back, it just surprised me that they entered from that direction.  Dr. Z must have had concerns about all those broken ribs.
     After being in place, 800 cc, about 4/5 of one liter, of red fluid was drained.  It is no wonder her breathing was hampered!  
     For the first time since January 04, Caren took a full, deep breath.  Thank God, for Dr. Z and the Thoracic [something] Team for placing that tube!  Caren said that they were all good to her, even though the pain was over the top. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the worse pain imaginable, Caren's was a 12-13.
     I called Rick with the good news.  The song he heard immediately was, She Talks to Angels, by Black Crowes:  "Yeah, she gives a smile when the pain come', The pain gonna make everything alright, Says she talks to angels, They call her out by her name, Oh yeah, she talks to angels."
     As he told me this, I smiled and said that the one I heard was: Overcomer, by Mandisa.  At this point I hadn't seen Mandisa's video of her song:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8VoUYtx0kw  My, oh my!  It is a must see!  
     God bless you, all you overcomers!   
     Yay, God! - for all Caren has overcome!  Amen![...]

     Yet more pictures of this gruesome accident.
     Yet more testament of the abundant miracles we have seen unfold.
    
     Please to continue praying for the other lady involved.  She suffered a fractured femur, and has no family in the area.   We have been unable to visit her because her name remains unknown to us.  
     Thank you for your continued prayers for these ladies.  Also, especially when I view these photos, I am again and again reminded of Caren's gift of life.
     Thank you, God; thank you, God; thank you, God![...]

     These are a few of the pics of the van totaled in the accident.  Caren did not go through the passenger window, as first thought.  The whole passenger window frame was bent outward through the blunt force trauma of Caren's ejection.  And, a million times yes!  Caren was wearing her seat belt properly.  Her body bore the extensive injuries of seat-belt injury.
The seat belt broke.
     It has also been determined that Austin was sitting behind the driver, and exited the sliding door closest to him, into traffic.
     Thank God, for guardian angels![...]

     The days are beginning to run together.  Yesterday I was home with Austin.  Jesse stayed with Caren all day, until Rick returned from work.  Thanks, Jesse!  You have been such an immense help.  Love you, bud!
     The concern has increased that Caren's breathing is insufficient and dangerous. So many teams have been up to assess her situation.
      The cardio/vascular surgeon visited Caren today, and informed her that her ribs are not just cracked, they are totally displaced by 1-2 centimeters.  This is what is causing the excruciating pain of breathing.  Also, every time she is moved, it causes tiny pricks to the lungs, causing even more pain.  The idea of a drainage tube/chest tube is a distinct possibility.  It sounds like a terrible movie line, "They'll be back [to confirm]."
      Meantime, along comes PT, puts a gait belt around her [go figure, broken ribs/gait belt], and she walked from bed to bathroom.  I snapped a picture of her return walk from the bathroom.  Her very long hair was piled on top of her head in a huge 'fro.  In respect to Caren, that pic isn't made public, :-)   The above picture is Caren's Badge of Courage.  Caren is one of the strongest women I know.  There are so many facets to her courage and the levels of her commitment to accomplish on whatever she sets her mind.  I am blessed and honored to be her mother.
     We had the joy of a visit from Candice today.  While we were visiting, Joel came in and FINALLY, after several days, got an IV in place for Caren.  It will be used to sedate her for the chest tube procedure.  Thank you, Candice, for being with us at just the perfect time.  To us, it was significant that Candice was present while a 'Joel' got a viable IV site.  We believe!
     We got word that the tube would not happen Thursday.  It will be 'sometime' tomorrow.  Since we had to wait, why not get a shower, under a real shower head, in the real bathroom? Those 'Shirley Temple' finger washes in bed just aren't adequate.  The nurse calls the Trauma Team.
     Yay! We got the verdict around 7-ish.  The shower is on.  (Once the drainage tube is in, there will be no shower allowed.)
     Just as we were getting Caren into the shower, Rick walked in from work.  I'm too short to reach Caren's hair.  All three of us entered the shower - Rick cleaned and untangled Caren's hair while I took care of the rest.  The very warm shower was so delicious, Caren sat there and cried.   It came to my mind how much we take for granted - the simple joys of having warm running water available in the convenient form of a shower, for example.
     Today's activities have totally zapped all Caren's energy.  She was arranged in bed for the night.  As I leave for the evening, Rick was getting something for Caren to eat.  She would be NPO as of midnight.
     When I got home to update Caren's blog, it was physically impossible to put two words together to make a cohesive thought into a sentence. I remember falling into bed, and the alarm ringing a short time later.  At least, that is how it seemed.[...]

(The picture above is a depiction of Aaron and Hur as they hold up the arms of Moses.  As long as his arms were up, God's folks were victorious.  Moses was tired, and weakening. When his arms dropped to his sides in agony, it was apparent that the children of God were losing their victory.  Aaron and Hur stepped up to hold up the arms of Moses that the battle would be won, and all would be victorious.  I often think of Aaron and Hur as the first prayer partners.)[...]

     Yet another CAT scan, yet another diagnosis, yet another time of waiting. Chest tube/no chest tube. Time for rehab/not time for rehab.  Hurry and make decisions while you have an acute concussion/no TV, music, internet because it exacerbates the concussion.  Rest and get well/time for PT, OT, and WTF - the R arm cannot yet be moved by Caren.  
     Yet more endless pain.
     The duplicity between the teams is maddening, infuriating, frustrating, and confusing.
      Besides the pain, most of her team of nurses and aides continue to be compassionate and helpful.
     Ty for continued prayers, cards, and visits.  So much healing depends on attitude, and Caren has plenty of attitude and determination.  Main request:  encouragement.  The more encouragement she receives, the better she feels.[...]

"Compassion is the ability to see what needs doing right now 
and the willingness to do it right now." (Brad Warner)[...]

    From Silent Unity, received today:  "As we pray together in the days ahead, we will be united with you in the faith that the healing love of God is strengthening and renewing every atom of the body temple.  We will hold this prayer in our hearts, and we invite you to join us as we affirm:[...]

     This is definitely not a three-pronged mobility device as first thought.  Oopsie, *chuckles*
     Even though the pain is always present, and oftentimes more than bearable, Caren is determined to keep moving forward.  (lame, but pun intended, :-P )[...]