JOAN’s Story

Site created on January 3, 2021

IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE AND JOAN HAD JUST PASSED THE RAILROAD TRACKS AT 1100 IH35 NORTH, SAN MARCOS, TX ON HER BICYCLE. SHE STOPPED TO CHECK IN WITH HER DAUGHTER. WHILE USING HER PHONE, SHE WAS STRUCK BY A PASSING TRAIN. 
DECEMBER 25, 2020; FROM JOAN’S DAUGHTER:
Thank you to everyone calling, texting and messaging about mom! If I’m being honest, I’m overwhelmed and I’m tired. Instead of answering the same questions and telling the same story I’ll just be using this post for updates.
From what I can put together, yesterday in the late afternoon my mom was struck by a train while riding her bike (possibly) home. She was taken to the hospital. She was awake and alert enough to tell the doctor my name and cell phone number when no one could find her phone. He called and the texted me to let me know surgery was required and happening. A few surgeons worked on her for several hours and she was taken to the ICU, where she is currently.
The first surgeon met with me in the pre-op waiting area after his round of surgeries to give me the breakdown.(Before ICU)
-She had a laceration and skull fracture that they cleaned and closed. Swelling on her brain seems to have gone down.
-Her left shoulder had lacerations and damage. It was closed and will have to be in a sling for a while. They hope surgery won’t be needed for it.
-Her spleen ruptured a d was removed.
-Same for her appendix.
-They found a large mass and that too, was removed.
-Her upper thigh was also hanging open. They cleaned it out and closed that up.
-She has broken ribs and a collapsed lung. She has a tube in her chest for that.
I got to see her in the ICU and she saw me too. The nurse said they were going to keep her sedated and comfortable all night. She wasn’t ready to guess how long mom would be in the hospital. While there I was able to find her phone and other belongings that we’d believed to be missing. Looking at how her clothes were cut off of her I had a better idea of what happened.
Today my aunt got to see her and was told that she will probably have to have surgery on the hip and will be in the hospital about a week. She was also very likely have to go to rehab after.
Again. I’m not going to say she’s “okay” but all things considered she’s still in a great spot. Thank you for all of your kind words, messages of support, prayers, positive vibes, good intentions and healing energy.
I’m not good with this stuff and I’m awkward. I’m sorry if I left your message without a response or without being opened. It went from me best friend and I knowing to everyone and I caved in on myself. I’ll try to keep this updated as much as I can. I’m just trying to remain functional and not fall into myself when I have things to be responsible for.
y’all. Thank you again.

Newest Update

UPDATES FROM JOAN'S DAUGHTER

Journal entry by TANYA THORNHILL —

1:00pm update.

-As of now there is not a need to operate on her leg.

-She is going to be on the breathing tube and sedation for the rest of the day and they are going to try to get the tube out tomorrow.

-She is stable and doing very well.

-Saturday’s visitation is claimed.

 

7:35 pm update:

-She is still responding to command requests.

-They are starting to ease up on her sedation so she can wake up fully.

She’s doing very well.

 

11:45 am update Day 3

-They tried to take her off the ventilator but she was not breathing on her own when she’d sleep.

-They are going to try again later today.

-They are going to do more tests and see if she is ready to start eating on her own. If not they will feed her through the tube.

 

9:30pm update, Day 3:

- she was not able to have the breathing tube removed today because there is still remnants of the sedative in her system and when she falls asleep she is not breathing on her own.

-she is awake and alert. She responds successfully till all commands request.

-there is no longer an alarming amount of fluid in her lungs so her tube in her chest has been removed.

-The next test and attempt to remove the breathing tube will be around 6 AM. They want her to be able to breathe on her own for six hours before they completely remove the breathing tube.

She is doing better every day.

 

6:15 pm update, Day 4:

-I got to see and “talk” to mom today.

-She wasn’t able to get the breathing tube of this morning because she wouldn’t breathe in her sleep.

-She’s frustrated and wants to go home.

-She had to write out what she couldn’t mouth because the tube makes it too hard to talk.

-The nurse just let me know her meds have been changed and she’s less “agitated” now. They will be trying to get the tube out around 6:00am

 

8:00am update, Day 5:

-Nothing new to report. The doctor hadn’t been in when I called at 8:00 so the 6:00am attempt to remove the ventilator hadn’t happened.

-For reasons, I am not a fan of her current/yesterday’s nurse. Hopefully she gets off soon.

 

3:00pm update, Day 6

-The ventilator is out!

-Mom is still uncomfortable but still responsive.

-Nurse Sunshine is still there but hopefully her rotation ends soon

 

7:45pm, Day 6:

-ventilator came off at 3:00pm

-NG tube will likely come out tomorrow

-They are going to try to feed her tomorrow

-The lovely night nurse said hi to mom for me (she actually missed my first transfer call because she was talking to mom and keeping her company) and will be reporting Sunshine to the (“trash”???) nurse who makes the schedule.

-I heard mom’s voice in the background. It was the first time in ten days.

Happy day y’all 

 

9:30am, Day 7:

-The charge* nurse has been notified of the request to rid mom of Sunshine.

-All of her tubes and IVs and etc are out or coming out today!

-She is starting a clear liquid diet today before attempting “real” food

-She is doing great!

 

6:30 update, Day 7:

-I TALKED TO MOM!

-She is in her own room outside of the ICU

-No more Nurse Sunshine

 

Day 8 updates:

-Today mom had more pain and wasn’t up for visitors.

-She is comfortable using her phone more and she called me multiple times.

-For those that don’t know a couple of days ago she was able to clearly vocalize what actually happened on Christmas Eve.

She had already seen and passed the train. She was standing outside of the tracks and was looking at her phone. Something attached to the train and sticking out struck her. I smell a lawsuit.

 

12:50pm, Day 9:

-I originally planned on bringing mom some items from her house today but while I was getting ready to leave she called to tell me she didn’t want me to drive that far in the storm.

-A few hours ago she was moved to a rehabilitation center here in Austin

-unlike the hospital she came from the rehabilitation center is completely Covid free 

-Now that she’s closer mom is comfortable with me going to visit her so I’m getting ready to go do that now

 

4:30pm Day 9:

-Mom and I both love the rehabilitation center. They are very sweet and fast acting.

-visiting hours are 3-6. ONE VISITOR PER DAY!

-She is eating though she says the food isn’t good ha

- Her pain was an 8 while I was here

-We had our first talk with a lawyer and it went well

 

Day 10 updates:

Sorry for the delay.

-yesterday mom was visited by one of her sisters.

-She is getting back to her normal voice more and more.

-We came up with a game plan for the lawsuit.

-She’s enjoying a lot of Animal Planet

 

 

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