Granddaughter Kelly's Challenge, 9/12/09

CRASH! She was on her way to work near Chanhassen. A car ahead of a truck ahead of her, took a quick left. She couldn't see the car for the truck. Chain reaction like, the car in front braked, the truck braked, and Kelly braked and swerved right. Probably a mistake, been better if she'd hit the truck in front straight on. Somehow, she went under the truck, the truck rode up on the car. She was wearing a seat belt and the bag deployed. If Kelly had been going a wee bit faster, resulting in the truck going just a little bit more up the car, tragedy...deep tragedy. Instead a broken neck. A crushed vertebra. She escaped death or paralyzation.

Yes, this is the same date as the previous post. We were having dinner celebrating my friend Rachelle's birthday, and I get a phone call from my eldest daughter Kimberly Irene. Told us about the accident. Kelly Jean was going into surgery, didn't know how it looked, but all were hopeful. Barbara and I skipped the rest of the festivities of course. Needed to make plans to head to the city, call relatives, etc. This is the one nice thing about writing in the present about the past. Got a pretty good idea how it all turns out. And all appears to be well. She was fitted with a "halo" so as not to move her head and neck and thereby letting her crushed vertebra's titanium replacement take it's place in her body. She wore it three months to the day, had it removed on December 12. She now wears a neck brace for another two or three months. Lots of physical therapy, she needs to learn to walk again, but she is young and healthy and a bit stubborn, has a good attitude, and we expect a complete recovery. Sorry, don't like looking at this car, but for illustration of how close tragedy can come.
We, the wife and I, went down that weekend for a couple days. Here's Kelly and her Mother Kimberly. The "halo" in place, screwed into her head...ish. But necessary. At this point we were hoping that she would not be paralyzed. She could not move her legs. Kelly be a trooper though, expecting the worst, but hoping for the best...just like us all.
Showing a little spunk, Kelly knowing her photo is being taken gives her version of a "thumbs up". She kept a sense of humor, giving her grandfather a little bit of sarcasm when he suggested that this might be a good time for reflection. She's doing okay.
Grandpa Michael and Grandma Barb pose with their granddaughter Kelly Jean. And she smiles.
Good news. This blurry photo is of Kelly moving her toes. Yes! A good sign. She's proud of it, gives her even more spunk and the rest of us a lot of hope.
Everything is more difficult with a "halo". Here a nurse washes Kelly's hair.
Lots of support for Kelly. Many of her friends stopped by that weekend and a bunch of relatives too. Here Grandma Barb gives her a farewell kiss, and we'll keep checking up on her over the next couple. A month later she is out of the hospital, moving her legs and staying at her Mother's home using a walker. Lots of physical therapy, and soon she is walking on her own. Three months later she is out of the halo, recovering fast and expecting a full recovery. Just talked to her Mother a few days ago, and Kelly is thinking about getting a car. Get back up on that horse I guess.

My Friend Rachelle, Birthday Girl 9/12/09

Howdy, been awhile. Over a month. Gotta be honest, didn't know how to approach the rest of this. Maybe it won't be the same, maybe it will. Some sobering things have happened, one of which I'll bring up in the next post. That's the problem with writing today about the past. Actually, this probably isn't psychologically healthy living in the past. Perchance there is a message here. It is conceivable that I will think about it, reflect on it. There's a good chance I'll get back to you on it. I often take my own advice if I have any clue what it is. Perhaps I'll catch up to the present, not this way though eh? Should go faster though, not as psyched about Autumn and Winter as I am about summer. Still not sure what I think about blogs, but if and when I catch up, I will have to think of new things if I continue, maybe then I'll find myself if I'm not too well hidden. I suspect I am, but maybe I left some clues.

My friend Rachelle had a birthday. She invited us to dinner with her family...husband, children and Mother. One day this past summer, I allowed her only daughter, about 14, drive my mustang, top down, down my lengthy driveway. Her parents were behind us in car, she and I jumped out of the car and switched places at the head. I think she was thrilled, and I think her parents were blown away, and if I accomplished even half of that, then success. And I am pleased.

The birthday girl with the wife. All smiles. Friends. Good women. Lucky me.
Rachelle is the girl next door in a lot of ways. She's bubbly, and seems to appreciate the little things. I asked her if she wanted to drive my car to dinner. Wife and I had to talk her into it a bit, she's the kind who is afraid she'll break it or something, but she settled right in. It's so fun to have a friend who seems to get a big kick out of little things.

Two hands posing at 10 and 2 o'clock. Knows where to put her hands, who taught her? Driver Ed? She'll need to look straight ahead afore actually moving that pretty Mustang though. Giddy-up cowgirl.
Now she feigns seriousness of a sort. Mustang woman, but she can't fool me. Those are half her children in the back seat. Mustang too small for a woman with children.
Yes, she actually looks like this sometimes. She is probably having as much fun as it looks. And she hasn't even moved the car yet. What a kick, and kicks just keep getting harder to find.
Another side of my friend. Ca-raaaaa-zeeeee. Look at those eyes. Aye yi yi yi. Los Ojos Grande Verde, y un poco loco.
Not too bad a parking exercise. She made it, and strikes a cross legged pose of accomplishment. Looks a little like the photo at the bottom of this blog, only the top's up or is it down?
Las comidas Mexicana al Mi Rancho. It's very nice to be included in this wonderful family.
Daughter and Mother now have driven a Mustang Convertible. They have more in common than that. My friend Rachelle. Don't always show it, but I greatly appreciate her friendship, she teaches me. Cumpleaños feliz mi amiga, muchas gracias por tu amistad.