January 21, 2009

Day One

What was and will probably be for a very long time the scariest day of my life. It started out like a relatively normal morning trying to decide what to do for Mark's birthday. Caitlin came in to my room about 8:30 to see why I was home from work. After explaining about my upset stomach she offered to run for some Sprite and crackers. About 9:45 she called from the store's parking lot explaining what she had gotten and was there anything else I needed. After a quick no but thanks she ended our call and the morning continued. A little after 10:15 my mom radar went up when she was not home from the 10-15 minute trip home. Multiple calls to her cell went unanswered. I called her dad who said he would look as they headed home from just south of Maryville and I went in search of car keys.

About 10:30 I headed out of the driveway to go see if she had car trouble and was stopped by the highway patrol. God love the officer who drove me down there for I have no doubt he saw a side of me I didn't even know I had. En route the officer said Caitlin had been in an accident, that she was breathing, they had found her pulse, but she was unconscious and did not respond to painful stimuli so I called her dad and told him to meet us at the ER because the accident was serious. Never again do I want to pull up to crash site again, the emotions nearly took my breath away along with my ability to stand. The officers were amazing and in their own way calming. After I found calm, I stepped into the ambulance and our journey began.

Caitlin was taken by ambulance to St Francis where she was examined and stabilized. Within the hour it was detemined she had internal bleeding and would be life flighted to Heartland Hospital in nearby St Joseph. At that point, Mark stayed to see her off in Maryville and my close friend, Ellen, drove me to St Joseph to meet the life flight. We pulled into the parking lot as the chopper was landing at 1:00. By 1:20 I was racing down the hall with Chaplain Sandy Davis for a quick prayer and kiss and entrusted her with Dr. Long (he is amazing).

By the time surgery was over, her dad, her maternal grandfather, Pastor Tom, Chaplain Sandy, Ellen and myself were waiting. Her other grandparents and family were holding down the fort in Maryville and arrived a few hours later. Caitlin did remarkably well in spite of a lacerated spleen that Dr. Long was able to save and get internal bleeding stopped. Fortunately the liver was not lacerated as they thought and given time, her general good health, and prayers she would be fine.

Knowing Caitlin and her upcoming plans we did ask her surgeon if she would be able to dance at her wedding and he replied definately. We feel so fortunate that Caitlin's guardian angels were with her with God cheering them on in her corner. She still has a road ahead of her and when you have time please say a quiet prayer for her and/or keep her in your thoughts. We still plan to see her dance at her wedding on March 14!