<p>Hi guys. Since you have all been such a supportive group of friends the past few years, I am wanting to share my very difficult "news". When I was enroute home from Idaho this past Sunday, after seeing my 18 year old ski in the National College Ski Championships (yay, Brown got second!), my 16 year old daughter was in a TERRIBLE car accident when she was driving alone on the interstate. I got word of it when I was three hours from home by car and only that she was in a terrible accident and the ambulance was on its way. Needless to say, this was the most shocking devastating news any parent wants to hear (plus my cell phone got no reception the whole way back to Vermont). She hit the rock ledge and the car flipped over many times on the highway (is totalled) and she was ejected from the vehicle onto the roadway. She is very very very lucky to have survived as it appears that one would not from what I now know. She never lost consciousness and she was taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital. She was eventually transferred to a bigger one in a different city. She knows how much worse this could have turned out but our daughter is alive and will survive and be as good as new after a long recovery. </p>
<p>I have been with her nonstop with no sleep the past three days and just came home late tonight to sleep a little before returning. She has been in intensive care but my happy news is that she can now leave intensive care as soon as they find a bed available! Her main injuries are a fractured pelvis, lacerated liver and one broken rib. Nothing happened to her head, face, spine, etc. and she is not cut either but her body was traumatized and bruised. I am feeling more positive now that her internal bleeding stablized and she is out of those woods. She even got food tonight! Her leg is in traction awaiting surgery on her pelvis this Friday. If that is all she has to endure from this tragedy, she is one lucky kid. It will be a major ordeal and recovery but she WILL recover after three months of crutches (no walking on it) and three more of physical therapy. While she is very disappointed to now be missing her school musical in which she was the lead, her annual dance show and many other performances, she knows there will be many more ahead in her future. In fact, the six month recovery will be just in time for her entrance into college this fall where she will be singing and dancing her way again. In fact, her happy news as of late has been three acceptances into BFA programs for Musical Theater and she still is to hear from half of her schools yet. In fact, while I was away she got a call from a theater faculty to tell her of an acceptance. She has much to look forward to and is grateful that she had just completed all her college auditions before this major setback. </p>
<p>She has had numerous numerous friends, teachers, and directors call her at the hospital from all over the country and out of the country too. Already several close friends have been into visit her with many more on the way which she really loves. Her dear guidance counselor even spent the day with us there today. I came home from being away for a week now to a full answering machine from so many people in our community where the news has spread by both wildfire and TV. She is loved by many people. My older D got back to Brown from Idaho the day this was happening but is having to deal with this from afar (calling us very frequently and she even talked to her sister in the ER before we ever did) She is very attached to her sister and though she has just missed a full week of college for her ski team, she wants to come home this weekend to be with her sister and her professors have been fabulous allowing extensions on some papers/projects that were due after the weekend. </p>
<p>I wanted to let you guys know why I was not posting here and really won't be home hardly ever. I will try to get back and update you. </p>
<p>While this is a nightmare, my child will be coming through this as one very lucky person. She is doing very well overall and now just has to go through this surgery and healing process but that CAN be fixed. </p>
<p>Our hearts go out to you, Susan! :( It is absolutely the most devastating news for any parent to hear. With children away at college, you just don't anticipate this happening close to home. She is one lucky young lady...someone up above was definitely watching over her! The best to you and the family...and our prayers for a smooth and speedy recovery!</p>
<p>Susan, My heart goes out to your daughter and your family. Young people do heal fast and well, but what a devastating experience for you all! Since blessedly, your daughter's prognosis is positve, I'm sure time and faith will conspire to restore the girl you love. We'll be thinking of you.</p>
<p>I'm very sorry to hear that, but appreciate you sharing the news. That must have been major stressful for you the evening you heard the news. Best wishes for your daughter to recover fast and safely leave the hospital soon.</p>
<p>Soozie--I was looking forward to reading one of your chatty posts and am in shock. What a nightmare. I'm so glad your daughter survived this, and am praying for a complete recovery. Please keep us posted.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear such terrible news. But on the encouraging side it looks like no brain damage or paralysis. I went through a bad car wreck with injuries similar to your daughter's when I was 20. It cost me a year of college, and like her I spent many long months on crutches and in physical therapy. But in the end I made a full recovery, and I'm confident she will too. Orthopedic surgery is no fun at any age, but young bones have an amazing capacity to recover.</p>
<p>Also, you never know what good might come out of this trial. In my case I was put back a year in college, which made it possible for me to meet W.</p>
<p>I am so sorry to hear about your D's accident. At the same time, I am so thankful she survived and is going to recover. I posted a short message over on the MT site telling people about your post here. I, and I'm sure many others, feel as though we know your D. I'm pulling for a speedy recovery for her. I know that she has a big cheering section at home and she has a cyber cheering section here. I'm sure we all hope she gets her dancing legs back soon. </p>
<p>Tell her I said congratulations on her 3 acceptances. I hope she'll get some more in the next few days to buoy her spirits. </p>
<p>Yes. Thank you so much for taking the time amidst all you have to do right now and all the people you have to communicate with and telling about this. I am so glad your daughter will be OK. Be careful of yourself while this unfolds - at some point the adrenalin will leave your system so take care of yourself too.</p>
<p>I'm so sorry this happened: I get nightmares just thinking of the shock you must have felt at the news, and the hideous worry during the drive home and the time your daughter was in intensive care. Thank heavens the long-term outlook sounds so promising and that she has so much to look forward to. </p>
<p>I'm glad too that she has such supportive friends--as do you. I know that many, many people on CC will join me in wishing the very best for both of you in the coming months.</p>
<p>I am very sorry to hear this has happened, and will keep your daughter's speedy recovery in my thoughts and prayers. You have been a mentor and a guide to many of the students (myself included) and parents here on CC and we are very grateful. I wish you and your family the best. Your daughter is indeed not only lucky because of her survival; but because of an awesome mom and a loving family to support her during this difficult time. </p>
<p>I'm pretty sure that in six-months time, she'll be (like you said) "singing and dancing" away.. And I'm sure she's looking forward to starting her new adventure in college (many of us 2009ers will be doing likewise). Best of luck!</p>
<p>I too wish her a full and speedy recovery and my heart aches for what you had to go through. Please take care and know that people are thinking about you and your daughter.</p>
<p>Thanks to dancersmom on the MT site I am able to send you, your daughter, and your family heart felt wishes for a quick recovery. I too had a very bad accident once which prevented me from performing for awhile. But now I am good as new and back to doing what I love most in this world. Your daughter will be good as new in no time! She is a very lucky lady!!</p>
<p>Oh, Susan, you went through every parent's nightmare! I am very saddened, of course, but also encouraged that the prognosis is so good, and that your family has such a wide and caring support system. How fortunate that she was done with her auditions and that she is now getting good news - acceptances are always good, but in this case they give her something to think about and to look forward to, as she heals.</p>
<p>Dear Susan,
What a terrible trauma, and what a lucky girl. Here's hoping for a smooth and event-free recovery. </p>
<p>MIght she decide to defer admissions to facilitate a fuller recovery (on all levels- emotional as well as physical)? Especially since she is young as is...Just a thought-- it might not be feasible given the nature of the programs she wants..</p>
<p>Susie, I am stunned and shocked at this terrible news - but relieved that your daughter has been spared more serious injury. I know this must be terribly traumatizing for your whole family. We all wish your daughter a speedy recovery.</p>
<p>I have come to appreciate the CC "family" more and more for the genuine help and suport offered here, especially by the parents to each other and to our kids. I am very sorry to hear about your daughter's accident and wish her all the best for a speedy recovery and a wonderful college experience thereafter. </p>
<p>Susan,
What a combination of frightening -- yet fortunate -- news!
Your D, as you well appreciate, could have been SO much worse off after this accident. She will come out of it pretty much good as ever, it seems! What will be in the long run is the most important, and all her future is before her.
What a blessing that neither she -- nor anyone else -- was more seriously hurt.
My thoughts are with you as you deal with her care and recovery.</p>
<p>How terrible for your younger D! And yet, how like you to share the good news together with the bad and reassure all of us that things will come out well. In the midst of these bad news, it is nice to know of her three MT acceptances so far. </p>
<p>Let us all wish your D a speedy recovery. Big hugs to you and to both your Ds!</p>
<p>Susan - like everyone above, I am stunned, shocked, saddened, and sorry, as well as grateful that she is coming through. How very fortunate it is that it wasn't far worse. </p>
<p>Having had a very, very ill daughter myself, I know precisely what it is like to sit by a bed day and night....you enter an entirely new country, a new form of existence, that cannot be explained to anyone who has never visited it.</p>