I'm Still Thankful.......

Today did not turn out like I expected.  Just as I was getting ready to leave for my brother's place my cell phone rang and it was Jim, my son literally screaming into the phone "Mom, mom...I've been in a bad car wreck!"  He went on to say it had just happened, he was still in his car but that his face was bleeding real bad and that the paramedics were on their way.  I asked him if he was going to have to go to the hospital and he said yes, that he was bleeding real bad from his face, so I told him to have them take him to a certain hospital and I would meet him there.   (Mind you now...I hadn't even dried my hair yet and the green bean casserole was still in the oven)   I called my brother immediately and told him that Jim had been in an accident and I was heading for the hospital.  He said.."I'm on my way out the door, I'll meet you there."  Then about 10 mins later Jim called back and said he didn't want to go in the ambulance, would I please come and get him.  He was only about 3 miles from my brother's house and I was 10 miles from the accident scene.  So I called my brother back on his cell  phone (thank you God for cell phones) and asked him to go get Jim and take him to the hospital and I'd meet them there.  So that's what we did and actually I got to the hospital first...never did figure out how that happened.   Anyway, some guy hit him on the passenger side of his Honda Civic (with only 20,000 miles) and it pushed the passenger door into the console where the gear shift is.  Thankfully, there was no one with him...they would have been killed for sure.  Something from the passenger side hit the right side of his face and left a big gash that the doctor had to put together...he didn't stitch it but used that glue stuff and steri- strips.  Then the doctor ordered a CAT scan to see if he had any other damage and they found that the little bones on the right side of his nose were crushed.  By this time, Jim was thinking that something was wrong because it was swelling on the right side and he said it felt like he was getting a cold on that side.  Meanwhile my brother went home (taking my green bean casserole with him) for dinner  with the family while Jim and I sat and waited for what seemed like hours for all the reports to come back.  He hadn't eaten since last night and I hadn't eaten since breakfast this morning.  We were both starving.  I asked the nurse if I could get him a sandwich or something from the cafeteria and they asked me not to, until the CAT scan results were back.  (I guess in case he would have needed surgery).  So we were both starving.  Anyway,  they finally discharged him about about 5:30pm and he said he just wanted to go home.  His clothes were bloody and he really didn't feel like doing anything but going to bed.  He said the guy he rents from was cooking today so there would be food there to eat....so I took him home and headed for my brother's place.  My oldest niece and her family were just leaving but they did stay and visit for a few minutes.  And the other one and her family stayed until I left about 7pm.  They had a plate of lovely turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy for me.  And I had a piece of my brother's apple pie...he's becoming quite the baker.   My dear son said to me when I pulled into the driveway where he lives, "Mom  I'm sorry I messed up your Thanksgiving."  I told him "no my son, you didn't mess it up, we got to spend the day together...that's what holidays are all about."   

 My brother has offered to loan Jim his little pick-up that he only uses for hauling trash and will get together with him Friday so he can do that.  Jim is anxious to get to the wrecking yard and get his personal things out of his car, so he'll be able to do that tomorrow too.

Tonight I'm thankful for;  the fact he wasn't hurt worse, that there was no passenger in his car this afternoon, for the quick response of the paramedics, for the fact that he was so close to my brother's house and that my brother could go get him, that even though we had to wait for what seemed like an eternity, he got a thorough exam and excellent care at the hospital.  While we were waiting in the Emergency Room,  I was telling him and my brother about the pastor reminding us last night that the Bible says "In everything give thanks.."  And my brother agreed....he said....Jim's alive, he's not in the Intensive Care Unit or worse.  And this time next year other than the fact that he'll have a different car, this will be just a vague memory.   Thank you Lord !

Jim just called me...he did get a plate of turkey & the works from the guy he rents from.  He's started the antibiotics that the hospital gave him and has taken one pain pill and he's going to bed with an ice pack.  He can feel that the right side of his nose is pretty swollen as it's difficult to breathe from that nostril but he's so tired, he's sure he'll sleep ok. 

Now this tired old mom is going to go to bed herself....so it's down the hall with my book and my kitty.     Linda