It’s 10:30. Grandpa,of course, has been hard at it, nailing plywood up getting the lodge ready for family reunions and a nice place for them to stay when they come down from up North to spend time with their daughters and families. It’s time to get the plywood on the tall wall so out comes the scissor lift which works just dandy compared to ladders. The yellow string is stretched in a tight straight line. So grandpa, now here’s the question. Was that string needing adjustments? You’re guardian angel must have turned his eyes away as you’re foot stepped sideways, not knowing it was a 5 foot step to the hard ugly concrete floor. Grandma is busy about daily duties inside Gertys. She hears what sounds like a piece of plywood fall but her heart leaps, not even really wanting look out. Has he had a heart attack?! Grandpa needs help now! And fast! She calls Kandace. Vern and matt are in clarksdale. Matt calls Carson the neighbor boy who works in the shop right close. Kandace is on video call with Cam. The paramedics appear from West Point hospital which is 7 mins from the shop. Grandpa has been laying on his right side until they lay him out flat. About a 4 in. gash on his head! His glasses survived the crash. He is unresponsive. Grandpa is taken. Now what? Grandma, Kandace, Camille and Rachel are left standing there. Stunned. Carson has a short prayer..encourages us to follow the ambulance to see grandpa off in the chopper. Ron and Brenda meet them at the West Point hospital. There’s talk among the paramedics of maybe heading to Tupelo. Maybe Memphis. The helicopter guys say Jackson. It’s a brutal windy cold day so it takes more fuel. Grandpa, still wearing his brown work shoes, appears out of the back of the ambulance. We wanna hide our eyes because why all the tubes, the wires? No. This isn’t happening. Not to grandpa. This happens to other people. Not our family.
Hopeful words from paramedics: “He is stable. Oxygen level, blood pressure whatever is all good.” The family mouths “thank you”.
Cold hard facts: “he had to be intubated cuz he needs sedation. He is going to trauma center in Memphis.” The helicopter winds up. It soars up and over and away. Vern will meet grandpa when he lands. Grandma calmly and bravely packs her bags. The air compressor kicks on and hisses off, reminding us Grandpa got a job to finish. Tools left. The Tim Hortons coffee cups sits, ready to be filled in the keurig. Grandma says you were spose to b coming in for your 2nd cup. Did you forget? Friends stop in to visit. Grandpas not here right now. Uncle Ron provides transportation for the 2 1/2 hours drive to Brenda, grandma and Kandace. Once at the Med, grandma gets given a pass to be let in but oh no. Not the others. These are Covid days. One visitor a day. Same one. The cold air bursts in on the waiting family members as the doors open and shut. Vern gets as much info as possible from the doctors and nurses. Bruising on the brain on both sides. A few blood clots. Eye socket is fractured. Brain trauma but the hopeful words are : no brain damage. But. He is a very sick man. Suppertime by now. Vern and Kandace check in on grandpa before night. Rons, Verns, Grandma and Jaylins stay at the motel.
Now it’s Saturday. How’s grandpa? We don’t know!
Finally by lunch the doctor has met with Verns and Grandma.
This. Is. What. We. Hear.
Message: “Was on a video call with the doctor, prognosis is grim. (Grim I hope is too negative) The brain trauma coupled with numerous rib fractures that we just found out about makes recovery extremely difficult. The doctor said the problem is that the possibility of pneumonia is what makes it the most life threatening.”
“God, we know this is in you’re hands. Please help us understand and calm our fears. Hold Grandma especially close”
I realized that I explained abit about Dads physical condition and being able to walk around but I didn't say much about the neurological side.. Dad is well able to carry on a conversation and his long term memory is very well, short term memory is quite well, all things considered, as long as the conversation doesn't include to many names or numbers (such as time measurements, days, weeks, months don't all come out right always) but then 40 yr olds don't always get such right either!! 😀 This is all improving tho also with the in-house therapist he has (Mom/Lorna ♥️) who is doing fantastic with online mind games etc.. If anyone wants to play online connect4 with Dad just give Mom a call..😀
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