There have been so many friends all over the world praying and concerned for Jeff after his accident. I want to be able to keep everyone informed and a blog seemed the most sensible way to do so. I will do my best to try to keep you informed each day of his condition, progress and our plans as we know them. But most of all I want to be able to relate to you the ways in which the Lord steps in and meet our needs as He brings glory to Himself. He loves us beyond our comprehension and knows our needs better than we do. We choose to lean on Him and trust.

I want to share my heart completely with you. I realize, however, that some only want the facts, so with my posts I will be brief and share only the basic details and then “wax eloquent” as I share my heart along with the facts. Thanks again for your love and prayers. Blessings to you!

Thursday, Feb. 25

Short version (for all you guys out there)

On Thursday morning, February 25, Jeff was headed to see his sister, Leslie in downtown Atlanta. All he can remember at this point is moving over into a turn lane as he approached an intersection. Suddenly, it was like an explosion, he said. Glass flying, car spinning and a loud boom. He never saw it come, but come it did in the way of a 20 year old guy (who also says he can’t remember what happened) who hit Jeff in the front corner of our van just in front of the driver’s door. Jeff blacked out, then came to to hear someone shouting, then blacked out again. It took a while to get him out of the car. They had to cut the top off the van to get him free. His leg was pinned under the dash.

When he got to the ER, he had 7 broken ribs on one side and 1 on the other, a broken sternum, his lower left leg broken (both bones into the knee joint), a broken back (technically)and a bruised heart. He’s also doing treatments for his lungs. The doctor said his back was “technically” broken, but he just had (as I understand it) chips off several vertebrae caused when his muscle was pulled away. It will heal on it’s own. The ribs will heal on their own and the sternum will heal on its own. He will be released from the hospital to go home and wait for the swelling to go down before surgery can be done. We hope this can be done locally (Anderson, SC). We are looking at months of recovery.

Thought by thought version (for those who want all the details)

Grady Heath System…..I had no clue what that was…until today. Yesterday morning I began a leisurely
morning, checking email, posting on face book, looking forward to an afternoon with my son and daughter and their precious little son. Life took an abrupt turn about 9:00 when a social worker from the emergency room at Grady Health System called me up. Slowly my brain caught up with her words. “Husband, here, x rays, accident…” I had talked with Jeff only an hour previous. All was well. Life was predictable. Everything under control. Then our world exploded as did our van when he was struck by another driver on his driver’s side door. I stumbled around for a while there in the kitchen, insisting that my brain function. Forcing one foot in front of the other, the “what-ifs” began. My creative brain moved into overdrive. All possibilities were considered. No outcome was rejected. I wept, I imagined what might lay ahead. I wept. Not knowing what was going on was excruciating. I wept. I CAN’T DO THIS!! Yes, you can came the gentle answer. I began to make preparations to travel the 600+ miles that separated us.

He remembers little. Images, really. Sensations, voices, noises, a covering to protect him as they cut up the car to get him out. I received the news that he had 6 broken ribs, a broken sternum, his lower leg broken in two places which would require surgery. And I was so far away, visiting with my sister and her kids. Jeff sent word through the social worker for me not to come. He obviously had no clue of the extent of his injuries. I began my trip back some hours later. It would take 9 hours to get home where I would sleep and continue on to Atlanta the next morning. Our dear friend Paul had come to Jeff immediately upon hearing of his accident and spent the night with him. Our pastor, Robbie also came to Atlanta that night to be at the hospital first thing the next morning. The Lord surely has a special reward for such faithful friends.

Meanwhile, I felt I would explode if I couldn’t get to Jeff. QUICKLY!! I packed at warp speed and got on my way. Numerous times safe communication required me to pull over to talk, call or text. Slowly I watched the arrival time on the GPS creep later and later. At one point, I grasped the steering wheel tightly and screamed to no one in particular, I CAN‘T DRIVE ANYMORE! Yes, you can came the soft answer. I drove on.

The two hour drive to Atlanta the next morning was excruciating. It was such a blessing for me that I didn’t have to drive. Sherri and Tim were taking me down there. At least there was the added pressure of having to drive in Atlanta. I felt like a bottled soda bubbling to the point of explosion. Being apart. So many unanswered questions, so much uncertainty. My “imaginings” wanted to push to the forefront. For someone who typically likes having her ducks in a row, it was a torment to not have answers to so many questions. I CAN’T HANDLE THIS! Yes, came the answer compassionately, but firmly. I held it together, until I got to his floor and knew he was only steps away. Breathe. Breathe. This is not the time to lose it. I manhandled three sets of doors (Who knew there were little metal plates to push to make the doors open automatically?) and finally found his hall and his room. Eyes wide, anxious to see and yet fearful, I found his face. He lay still, a neck brace hiding most of his face. I gave Paul a quick thank you hug. Slowly one arm raised toward me and I moved forward. I just stood there holding his hand for a while, and suddenly, the day was done.