On a windy April 29, I was at home watching a new baby great-grandson for a couple of hours when my world was turned upside-down. I was informed that my oldest son, Charlie, had a wreck and was life flighted to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.
I had to find a way to get to him. I was taken by Charlie’s wife’s daughter and son-in-law to the KU Medical Center.
We stayed day and night in waiting rooms sleeping on chairs, benches and floor to be close by. Finally when we felt safe to leave him we would drive back and forth from Olathe every day and stayed until late evenings. A lot of driving, walking and elevators. We stuck it out for seven weeks.
He was in surgical intensive care unit for five weeks and had four to five surgeries. He had collapsed lungs, broken ribs, broken bones in the back of his neck and on his spine, a tear in the aorta, bruised liver, mini strokes, blood clots on the brain, bruising on both sides from under arms to below hips and two breaks in shoulder blade. He had a breathing tube hooked to a machine and feeding tube in nose for 15 days. Then they put a tracheotomy in neck to help him breathe. He was also in a neck brace with all kinds of wires and feeding tubes.
At five weeks we were told his heart had stopped beating — a real shocker. But thanks to angels and prayers, he survived.
The doctors all told us he was a walking miracle.
Other bad news for Charlie was his father passed away. He was spared that information until doctors thought he was strong enough to hear it.
He was transferred to a private room the sixth week, then to rehabilitation and therapy the seventh week.
Finally he was able to return home. He now goes to therapy three times a week. He is now doing pretty good.
He is my miracle and our family’s.
Lois Womelsdorf
LaHarpe, Kan.
