Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.
On Tuesday evening July 31, Fred was Life Flighted to Emmanuel Hospital in Portland. He was unconscious with a serious brain injury after a bicycle accident in Nehalem. He went over the handlebars heading down the steep hill of Tohls Avenue. No car was involved and he did have his helmet on. Vivi's son Ben drove her in to be with him. She was joined by Fred's son Tom and they have been making decisions on his behalf together. Fred was operated on late Tuesday night and is in the neurological ICU.
Here is Vivi's report from 7:30 Wednesday morning: "Fred’s son Tom and I talked to Fred’s neurosurgeon around 1 am last night. The good news is that his brain did not have much swelling. They removed blood and will assess damage from brain bruising as he heals. There’s really no knowing the impact of this accident is at this point. He has broken bones around his eyes and skull and a cracked scapula but his cervical spine and the rest of him looks ok so far. Tom and I got to see him and hold his hands and talk to him before we left the hospital last night and although he’s pretty banged up I found just seeing and touching him to be very reassuring. He was moving his arms and legs. I’m staying with Fred’s sister in law Barbara who Ives relatively near to the hospital. She will drive me over and stay with me this morning. Emanuel is a top ranked trauma center. The doctor and nurses are kind and super competent. The whole set up feels good. As I wake up this morning and let myself remember what’s going on I am moved by the sense that the prayers of friends and family surround us." Much love,Vivi
