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.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
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.
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, September 7, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
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
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.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
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.
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.
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