Update from Laurel's Mom December 2008 - 4 Months

Hi. Just wanted to give all of you who have been praying for Laurel some updates and more prayer requests. In November, there was a wonderful benefit dinner and auction put on by people in her home town that raised money to help them with their monthly expenses for the next year. (The doctor has said that Laurel cannot work for about a year, and Rusty was laid off from his job in October. Unemployment benefits started a few weeks ago.) So this was really a blessing!! The town has been so supportive of them and helped in many ways.

We were able to attend the dinner and were privileged to meet Jim Dean, the man who risked his life to save Laurel's, (as well as a young man who helped him move her to safety). We also met his wife and they are wonderful people. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to try to express our gratitude to him. Laurel has nominated him for a Red Cross Hero's Award in Vancouver, WA. We are praying that he will receive this honor.

She came home from the hospital the first of October, and has been doing very well. Her spirits continue to be good - with much gratitude for her survival and just to be able to enjoy her family and friends. We saw her at Thanksgiving, and of course that was what it was all about this year. We also have been so grateful for Rusty, her husband, who has cared for her and filled in for her physical limitations at this time with such love and joy. He is a treasure.

She goes to physical therapy 3x a week and is working very hard to be able to use her right arm and hand again. The surgeon has said that she needs a new grafting surgery after the first of the year under her arm where she does not have enough flexibility and elasticity to give her arm full motion (i.e. she has to eat with her left hand, and can't comb her hair, etc). She can write with her right hand (slowly) which is a big praise. I'm afraid she has been overdoing it with writing thank you notes to people after the Benefit. She says she has pain more often lately.

The latest - our prayer requests - is that she heard yesterday from the Insurance co of Mr. Storby (who hit her car when he came around a blind corner and had broken limbs and other injuries) that they are suing her for the accident. They did not have Insurance on their car at the time of the accident. It is a very large amount, and they have no idea what they can do (having no resouces) at this time. The other thing is that her Medical Ins says they will not pay for any more physical therapy, even though the Dr says it needs to continue. He says they do not understand that burns are different than other needs for physical therapy and usually need much more time. These new things are, of course, very stressful for them. We covet your prayers for them and their growing reliance on the Lord, and for the resolving of these new concerns.

We are so grateful to each of you for your concern and faithful prayers for our loved one during these past months. Thank you. Have a wonderful Christmas and remember to honor the One who gives us Life.

Love,

Lawrie and Lyla

Letter/Update From Laurel's Mom, October 2, 2008

Dear Friends and Family,

Laurel is being discharged today from the hospital!!  She is still far from
healed, but she is so glad to be going home.  Her husband has been trained in
bathing and dressing her burns this past week and he is pretty good at it!!  She
is feeling pretty strong and has a book of physical therapy exercises to
continue working with her right arm and hand and right leg.  She can walk and
does pretty well with her left hand.

She will be seeing the surgeon in a week to check on her grafting sites, and
will be able to do her Physical and Vocational therapy (near her
home).

Thank you all so much for your prayers and concern.  Praise God for all He has
done and will do in Laurel's life.  We are so blessed!!

Please continue to pray as the whole family adjusts to a different life than
they have had.  Please pray that the grafts will continue to heal and no further
surgeries will be needed.  Pray  for their encouragement  - her husband Rusty
has a lot on his shoulders at this time.  They are still looking for a different
home.

We love you all.

Lawrie and Lyla

Thank you all for so many prayers. I will continue to try to update this site. 
Hopefully Laurel will be able to update it soon herself so you can hear straight 
from her how she is progressing! Tiffany

Friday, September 26, 2008

Wow, I am really sorry it has been almost two weeks since I updated this blog. And alot has happened.

Laurel was moved temporarily to Emanuel Hospital. Then she was moved to rehab up in Washington. She was looking forward to that step, and toward making progress. Also, the kids are allowed in her room. So this is a major step. And I am sure also a welcome relief from the burn center where she was for a month. (Although as I say that, a month doesn't seem very long considering her condition upon arrival.)

Now that she is there, it seems as though they are in a rush to get her out of there. I don't understand this and am anxious to get more details from her mom and dad this evening. That first night of the accident, the burn doctor said it would be alot longer than that in rehab. So I am not really clear on why they'd send her home, seemingly so prematurely. There is concern about the grafts not being completely healed, movement still being restricted, how she can get along at home without medical assistance, etc.

I will see her parents this evening and hope to talk to her myself shortly. Thanks for caring and for your continued prayers for Laurel and her family.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Sorry this update has to be quick but I did want to post since she had surgery this week.

Laurel's surgery went well on Tuesday. They were able to do the rest of the skin grafts, finishing up by grafting the skin on her forehead and back. Her greatest fear going in was the anxiety (FEAR) she feels upon waking up. She spoke to the anesthesiologist about it beforehand but wasn't sure he'd heard her.

When I talked to her on Wednesday she said it was like waking up from a nap and the best time out of all of them! Another big answer to prayer.

I got to visit on Wednesday and she looks great. A pastor and his wife from our church met me there and we prayed together. She is an encouragement to others at the center, particularly a little boy she cheers on as he takes forced, painful walks down the hall each day. And she is already talking about volunteering there when she is fully recovered.

I have to say that I admire my cousin. I am sure she doesn't feel strong, and probably doesn't want to be alot of the time. But her trust in God, her ability to do the next thing, and to keep laughing and crying (sometimes at the same time) are strength indeed. Wow. I am so proud. She is an example to me.

Sunday, August 7,2008

I was finally able to see Laurel again today. I got to wait with her as she was in what we called Purgatory. It was, after all, a holding spot! No T.V., lots of extra beds, medical supplies, nurses computer and blood testing area. And who knows what all was behind curtain number two? Thinking we were alone, we had been chatting and being silly for awhile when we heard talking on the other side of the curtain.We stared at each other, I am sure both of us rehearsing what we'd said in the previous 30 minutes or so! Thankfully it was just a nurse over there, not another patient!

Her ICU room, sadly, was needed for a new patient and she was the current resident most ready to be moved. So we waited in there while they cleaned both her old room and her new one. Then they moved her into a new room with an actual bathroom in it. I'm really finding beauty in things I might normally take for granted. Toilets are beautiful. And hers has a garden view -- and, YES, a curtain Silly!

Her new room has a garden view too. It actually looks right out onto the shelter where we had our pretend campout last week. So maybe as she sits there and looks out she can hum a few bars of Kumbayah as she recalls:)

We had a very good visit. In addition to our chat of everyday life, we peppered in some laughter and some tears. It was the most time I've been able to sit with her at one time and we made the best of it:) I have to say I was about moved to tears when she pulled up her sheet and I looked at the graft site on her "donor" leg, where they harvested the good skin for her right leg. It is so raw looking.

Her mom and dad came over for another visit Friday and Saturday. On one of the days, they pulled the curtains, closed the door, and settled in for a movie, complete with snacks. Laurel really enjoyed it and appreciated the nice long visit.

Her Uncle Rick, Aunt Paula and GG came by earlier today for a visit after church. Her Grandma gave her a robe she really likes. She will get alot of use out of it now too, what with her own bathroom and all! And don't let me forget to mention that, in addition to getting into her recliner, she can now get up and hobble around some with a walker! Now THAT is progress!!!

Laurel said she will be having her (hopefully) last skin graft surgery on Tuesday. They will be grafting a smallish spot (comparatively speaking) on her back and on her forehead. The doctor was hoping those two would heal enough themselves but they are not, so will go ahead with the graft.

For her forehead they will use a donor swath from her head, which means she will have to start over with growing out her hair. Or maybe just go from here then sport a side ponytail for awhile:) They explained to her that caucasians have yellowish skin from the neck down and from there up we are more pink. So they needed a graft that will match more closely.

I was glad when she told me her first thought was that she hoped not to have a hairy forehead afterwards, as I wondered the same thing and felt so vain. And you did too, didn't you? But no. The hair follicles will stay and the skin will be moved. New skin, complete with hair, will grow -- but only on her scalp.

After this surgery, they are hoping she will be able to be moved to the rehab facility in Vancouver within a couple weeks. She will work on movement of all affected areas, but much of it will have to wait until the grafts are healed. They have informed her that she cannot bump any of her wounds. If blood pools (which we would call a bruise), it apparently prevents the blood from circulating through and healing the graft so can be pretty serious.

Please pray for continued grace and peace for Laurel and her family. She specifically asked for prayer for her hubby, R. He is doing a great job holding down the fort and realizing just how much Laurel does at home. But all of the trauma of his wife being injured so badly is something that is hard for anyone to accept and it is very painful for him. She asked that we would please pray that he will be able to lean on the only One who can calm the storm. They are seeing prayers answered daily, but it is still so very hard to make any sense out of any tragedy, especially one that strikes your loved ones.

A Photo At The Burn Center

Here is a picture of Laurel from Saturday with her brother Rob.

You can see how beautifully her nose has healed. It is even better now and you can barely even tell it was burned!The same goes for her chin, which was pretty raw at first. You can also see there are injuries to her fingers, there in the bottom left of the picture. You can see a bit of bandaging on her right arm. That bandaging is pretty much covering her right side and both legs.

Tuesday, September 2

The two younger kids (S&L) especially need prayer right now. They have started school and maybe this will give them some sense of routine which may comfort them. Things have been so out of the ordinary for them these past weeks, plus worry for their mom, being homesick but knowing home isn't the same right now, changes in school, not a whole lot of definitive answers about when their mom will be home and things will regain some normalcy -- all of these things must be very difficult for them.

From Laurel

I asked Laurel if there is anything she wants me to put up here from her. For now she wanted me to share with you a quote that came to her shortly before (I think just the previous day) the accident, in an email from a friend. She found it noteworthy enough to jot in down on a slip of paper and her hubby found it after the crash and brought it in to hang on the bulletin board in her room at the Burn Center.

She especially wanted the first part to be posted:

If God brings you to it,
He will bring you through it.

Then the rest says:

Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

Quiet moments, worship God.

Painful moments, trust God.

Every moment, thank God.

-Unknown

Laurel, Happy Times

This is Laurel with her Main Squeeze:)

I only say "main" because K, S and L are her squeezes too...


This picture was taken on Laurel's 36th birthday. She celebrated with her family by taking a trip to Mt. St. Helens.


Before posting pictures taken since the crash, I wanted you to see HER, so you will recognize her amongst the burns and bandages. She is beautiful then and now.

Monday, Labor Day, September 1

Laurel came through her third surgery on Friday, August 30th. She had a less difficult time in recovery as the anxiety was much lessened. The actual sites are extremely painful. In order to have grafts of her own skin, many of the areas where she was not burned were "harvested" and used as grafts on her burned areas. So she is pretty much sore everywhere.

On Sunday, I returned S&L to R via the hospital so they could see mom. I was happy to note that the burn on her nose is almost completely gone and barely even shows up. She can now be kissed on her nose and her upper left arm:) In fact, her left hand is now unbandaged and is improving well too. I think all of her fingernails and fingertips are still dark. I am not sure if they are burns or deeper tissue injuries. I will have to ask her. All of the bandages are off of her face with the exception of her forehead. There is a more extensive burn there. And I think pretty much the rest of her entire body is bandaged at this point.

One thing I know would drive me crazy is that they have to keep the dressings wet. So she sits in wetness all day long. And the bandage changes are very painful.

Some nurses are more compassionate than others. I am sure it would be hard to do that job if you are very empathetic. Laurel is thankful for one nurse, Jeri (sp?) who makes it a point to always explain to her what is happening before she does it and is very loving towards her. There have been some excruciating moments, like when a nurse has transferred her to her chair without even asking if she wanted to be transferred. Imagine being moved around when your skin is raw. But she did get to enjoy some time with kids and family out in the garden under the little shelter.

Originally she was wheeled under the shelter to keep her from the sun, which was shining at the time. But within minutes the sky literally dumped rain! We made sure she wasn't getting any drops on her bandages, then sat and laughed and tried to pretend we were camping. Her dad even started singing"Kumbayah". She got a nice visit with S&L too. I know she especially wants to spend time with them. They are not allowed into the unit itself so she has to be able to get to the garden to see them, except for waving through the window.

Her mom spoke with her on Monday (she was able to use the phone in her room finally!) and she sounded like she had a fairly good night. I think she spent a good portion of the day on Labor Day with her hubby and kids. The kids watched TV in the lobby and I think R&K took turns sitting with them. And they were also going to prepare for school to start on Tuesday. I will update more when I get to see or talk to her again.

Laurel often reads this blog now, on K's laptop. So if you take a couple minutes to sign up for a Yahoo ID (if you don't already have one) you can leave a comment and she will see it herself. You can also ask questions if you have them and either I will answer them or maybe even Laurel herself if she is up to it and has someone to type for her.

I also have a couple of pictures of her from before the crash which I am hoping to get posted soon. My scanner is acting up so as soon as I can get it figured out I will post them.

Article and Crash Photo, Skamania County Pioneer newspaper, August 20

I apologize for the awkward way this is displayed. I am still trying to find a way to post it that will be better, but this will have to do for now. This paper is not online. Right click on the photo, then click "open link" when the window pops up, it will appear in a size that is easy to view in much more detail. Do this with the article and it will open up in large enough size to read.

Laurel's van is the vehicle right next to the wall. It is pointed in the opposite way than she was traveling. Mr. Dean had to kind of climb up on the wall and be between the wall and the burning van to get her out.

Precious Moments, Wednesday, August 26th.

I was fortunate enough to be at the hospital yesterday when Mr. Dean came in to have his burns treated and introduced himself to R. R and K brought him out to the waiting area where I was with Laurel's sister, nieces and two younger kids. Wow. Too many words I could use right now and none express everything that, even just as a cousin, I feel. I can only imagine what is in the hearts of her husband, the kids, her parents and siblings, and in Mr. Dean himself.

Weilding my trusty camera, I was able to capture for her the moments Laurel got to tell him thank you.

She was telling him thank you with her words and her eyes and her broken body and I think he understood.

He was speaking encouraging words to her about what her job is now and how he knows she has hard work ahead of her.

He spoke of his family and anticipates meeting Laurel's parents soon since he often travels to the town next to where they live. His arm was bandaged and healing burns still visible on his hands. He said he never missed any work. After meeting him, I wasn't surprised. Some people just do what needs to be done. I am so glad he is that kind of man. And that is how he views his selfless act, as something for which he says "There (was) no choice".

And here is a miracle for us all to think about. Mr. Dean's wife kept him home for five extra minutes that morning because she wanted to talk to him. He gave in and had that extra cup of coffee. He said he was going to be a little late for work because of it.

Someone Else knew he was the right person for another, more important job -- and that he'd be there just in time.

About Tuesday the 26th

TUESDAY,August 26: Laurel had another skin graft surgery on Tuesday. Coming out of it was very difficult, both because of intense pain, and because of medication induced anxiety. The surgery went well, grafting on Laurel's own skin so her body can identify that it is okay for it to be there and allow it to stay. The doctor said there is also a layer of some kind of space age like material that has silver ions in it to act as an anti-microbial and help it heal nicely.

The bummer is that they were not able to complete everything. Laurel's body temp. was dropping too much which inhibits the blood from clotting. So another surgery to finish up is planned for tomorrow (Friday).

I saw Laurel myself after her surgery on Tuesday and I could not help but weep. She was so clearly in so much pain, both physically and from the anxiety caused by the anesthesia. So, when I tell you she took the news like a champ (that they have to go in again)when the doctor told her on Wednesday -- know that I mean it. She just seems to be taking the attitude that she knows she has to do all of this to get through what she needs to and just wants to do it and be done.She is setting herself to push ahead, to push through it all to get to the other side.

Although she says she isn't as brave as she thought she was, that isnot what I am seeing! She is so brave, so much more brave than I can imagine being with so much ahead of her. Frankly, I think burns are the worst kind of injury. They are so incredibly painful. When I see her and others in the burn unit my heart swells with admiration and compassion at the same time.

The Healing Garden

The award winning Healing Garden at the hospital where Laurel is was featured in a magazine. If you click on this link, Healing Garden, you will see some beautiful pictures and read about it.

~ The rock fountain visible in the first picture is the fountain that is visible from Laurel's window.

~ If you scroll down the article to the picture where you can see two medical personnel talking, the male nurse on the right has taken care of Laurel.

Sunday, August 24th: 11 Days

Today it is raining outside. I am sure Laurel can see it through her window which faces the Healing Garden (which we have been referring to as the Peace Garden). I have not seen her since Friday, so my update today is through talking with other family members. Her brother James flew in from California to see her today. He has to get back for work but I am sure it was good for both of them to see one another.

She looks out onto quite a bit of greenery directly out of her window. If she is sitting in the chair, or leans forward some, she can see many of the flowers and a rock fountain.

Friday, Laurel did indeed get to be with her two younger kids, for the first time since the accident, in that garden. There were some tears shed, and it was good for them to reunite. Yesterday they were able to again be together. Her mom said the kids didn't cry this time as they seemed to have adjusted after that initial meeting the day before.

I don't know if they will see each other again today with the rain, since children are not supposed to be allowed in the burn unit critical care. Laurel also said she is pretty tired.

The surgery which was scheduled for tomorrow has been changed to Tuesday. It will be another skin graft surgery, but I am not sure which injury they will be working on.

Laurel does not remember the accident , but she is aware that a stranger pulled her out at the risk of his own life. She is so grateful and hopes to meet him. Apparently he is embarrassed and does not feel he did anything heroic. But he is a hero in our book.

August 22,2008

Now that I have this page up and running, I hope to provide more consistent updates.

Laurel had her first skin graft surgery last Saturday morning, August 16. They grafted skin from a donor onto her right side, in the area your arm covers when you have your arms to your side. The surgery went well.

The burn on her right arm was severe enough that the first surgery was the same day as the accident and was two cuts, each running the length of her arm, one on top and one below, to allow circulation to her hand. The swelling from the burns and from the neccessary IV's would otherwise act as a tourniquet and cut off circulation which would lead to the loss of her hand if not treated.

Prayers were specifically answered when she was showing improvement more quickly than the doctors expected. She was able to be given a feeding tube after about 24 hours. This is usually not possible until 3-4 days after the injury. Her pulses were good, including the pulse that shows circulation to her right hand.

She needed a breathing tube until Tuesday the 19th, so was kept in a medically induced state of sleep until it could be removed. On Tuesday evening they removed the breathing tube and she was able to breathe on her own so the meds were decreased. Since that time, she is increasingly more aware, able to communicate and is even able to sit in a recliner and walk (assisted) to the restroom. She was able to drink Gatorade today from a straw which was a welcome ting for a parched mouth. Yesterday her two younger kids were able to wave at her through a garden window (kids under 12 are not allowed into the ICU burn unit so they have not been able to see each other at all since the accident).

When I saw her Wednesday she looked much more like herself. Alot of the swelling had gone down and she was recognizable. They had to shave her head because her hair was burned as was her scalp (like a bad sunburn). Because fo burns, the only parts above her sheets that are visible are her left arm (hand is bandaged) and part of her face from her lips to her eyebrows. The rest of her head is bandaged. Her entire right arm and hand are bandaged as well as her left leg and both feet.

Because of the extreme pain associated with her injuries, she is still on alot of pain medication. Even with the pain meds, it is still very painful when they change her dressings. Today she is more aware of them doing that and has expressed that she is in alot of pain. She is a trooper and understands that she has to endure all of these procedures. But this is not going to be easy.

Her hubby and oldest daughter have been at the hospital with her as much as possible. Her mom and dad are driving back and forth from the beach as much as they can. Her mom was able to spend the day with her today and have actual conversations, which was comforting for both of them.

I don't have the most current updates for sure, but when I talked to her mom (my aunt) a few hours ago, they were giving her actual food. And the nurse was speculating that she would be allowed into the Peace Garden which is a beautiful enclosed garden just outside her window. This means she will be able to actually be with her two younger children S and L for the first time since the accident.

She is scheduled for another surgery soon and I will provide details as I receive them. There are so many details, I am sorry I cannot remember enough to post everyting but this gives you an idea. I am also hoping to post some recent pictures of Laurel and her family in the next couple of days.

Thanks for your prayers and loving thoughts.

August 14, 2008

To read my initial post about Laurel's accident, please go here.