Thursday, January 26, 2012

Trip - 4EE (224 kms/2+ hrs) ACCIDENT


Although written in 2012, this event was November 2011 with a recollection of time
(forgotten, vague, remembered) which I've been told until Day 42.

Day 0 (Nov. 7, 2011) - Recollection is hard when you rely on others to fill in blanks.

What was told to me.....
With shutdown cancelled at work, and after talking to a coworker in Fredericton, I take the opportunity to ride there (about 4 hrs) to attend a meeting I know very little about (in hindsight).  I leave work, and am going down Hwy.11 a little before 08:00 to Bathurst.  Here, the road I take the right fork onto Hwy.8 south.  I continue to Miramichi, where you'd think that the highway number would continue straight, but noooo, you have to exit the road to continue on the SAME Highway 8!  The traffic usually slows to a crawl here by the Douglastown Mall, and it's usually start/stop traffic through the many lights of the city.

What was told to me.....
After crossing Miramichi River, traffic speeds up and I'm headed to the next community Blackville.  Almost to a minor airstrip at Dunphy, is where all shit hits the fan at the following location....

For some reason, I was passing cars (standard when I'm in a passing area, and a slower car is ahead). Apparently there was one cop car in the traffic.  I was going down a fair sized hill and easing to the left, before the road straightened out. Then, something happened - I left the highway near a barn/trailer on the right. This time though, I ended up in a major accident.  NO ONE was harmed except ME.  No other vehicles were involved in the accident, but luckily, two girls were nearby to help in whatever way they could (thank you, thank you, thank you). The police car that was in the traffic responded, along with another one later.



Police called an ambulance (thanks for making a quick request).  My full-faced helmet was still on, so someone removed that to allow better breathing, and eventually I was transported by ambulance north to the Miramichi hospital.


What was told to me.....
I stayed at the Miramichi hospital till I was stabilized enough for transportation south to Moncton (even though my wife was told here OR Saint John at this point).

After arriving in Moncton, and when doctors were ready, I went through surgeies after major problems positioning me - mainly due to front and rear torso problems....
My fractured back was repaired with 8 pins inserted to upper/lower points of upper vertebrae.
I also needed 4 tubes inserted (2 each side) of my upper/outer chest to extract buildups of liquid in my lungs.
Then it was time to correct multiple cracked/broken ribs, sternum and problem with my heart being bruised, though these were done by my body naturally.
Although the doctors had problems, I eventually came out of surgery 6 hours later in an induced coma,

After surgery, I spent time in ICU in 2 places - beside the nurses station in the "serious bed", and later in general ICU.  Sometime later, I recovered enough to be moved to the recovery area and begin treatment.

During initial recovery, it was discovered that I had right-side paralysis due to a clot in my lower right leg. Warfarin was prescribed - which I would be on for 13 months.

Physio therapy was limited, but would begin by strapping me to a padded table and hang my body into different positions (while being concerned about my injuries).  This continued over time, but would start to improve my body. Over many weeks, I slowly progressed.

Day 42 (6 wks on Dec.19, 2011).... I was awake and could remember! (somewhat)
This was a HUGE day when I woke, and I looked around, I knew my head was screwed on the right way! I could think and somewhat remember - finding that I was in a hospital (which one, I wasn't sure), and saw someone else in the room.

I looked at my body and had 2 different supports on my legs (although my legs could move slightly).  I later saw 4 holes (2 each side) in  my upper outer chest. When I had to use the washroom, I surprisingly learned I had to use a wheelchair! When there, I looked in a mirror, and saw marks in the front of my throat.  I later talked to a nurse who informed me I had been in an accident, temporarily went to Miramichi Hospital, and later was transferred to this hospital in Moncton - now knowing where I was.

I was confined to the bed for now and needed a wheelchair to go anywhere, and later learned that the holes in my chest were for draining fluids in my lungs and the throat marks were for 2 tracheotomies for breathing. Forty-two days is a long time to wait to have this feeling, but I was glad to be here and finally aware!

I asked to use a phone, and when one was brought to me and getting the basics of where I was, I called my mother in-law. She told me that my wife was not there, and I should call her cell phone and not telling me much.
I called her and gave her the rundown of where I was, the basics of what happened, but she already knew, since she was coming to see me regularly every day! To my surprise, she told me she would see me in about 5 minutes!!!  WOW ..... she was on a bus on her way to the hospital.....AGAIN!  She had been doing that for the last 41 days (little did I know).
Knowing and remembering much at this point was new to me, so seeing my wife (first time since the accident), was very overwhelming!!

After this, I got used to my wife and son visiting me regularly (since he lived in Moncton) over the many weeks ahead.  I learned answers to many questions I naturally had at this point, and I looked forward to their visits.

I learned that I had to go through many further weeks of rehab with different people in 3 different sections with 5 people.
I had been going through physio rehab since my body was able (without me knowing).
I started speech rehab with a speech pathologist and would help me with speaking and understanding.
I would continue with personal rehab with 2 girls who helped me take care of myself (making meals, bathing and learning to become independent).

Although I progressed enough to this point, it would take many weeks to carefully go from wheelchair, to crutches, and finally to my own feet along with the therapy.

I then learned there was a whiteboard schedule of patients who were required to attend the nearby gym. The next day I learned I was on the list, so went through a prison escape section to gain semi-freedom to walk through the main door of my section, down the hall and sit on a bench till I heard my name called. I entered the gym and a girl helped me do multiple exercises (on a bench, walking up/down small stairs, and stationary bike). Much later in recovery, a male helped me within the gym section, and would take me out of rehab gym periodically and play hockey using plastics stick/ball with me by passing the puck up/down the hallways - which was great!

Day 69 (Jan. 15) - After being used to my daily visits by my wife, eventually she had to leave. Today was the day since much had to be done to get our house back together. This was after I learned that our house was in the same location - NOT upriver at water level in a run-down location brought on by an ongoing dream/twisted thoughts.
It was a long time for her parents to look after our 3 dogs (and I'm very thankful), but it was a sign I was getting better. Thankfully my son continued to visit me!

The rehab continued daily and I was progressing with my son continuing to visit me.

Day 79 (Jan.25) - I had been told earlier and, the time was here!
After enough discussions by my wife before she went home, communication afterward, and follow up by the hospital staff about my case, I finally was being released today!!!
I had learned earlier that some coworkers would be in Moncton, so I arranged for them to pick me up!
I packed my things, and went to the front desk to have my wrist bands removed (that warned the staff that I was escaping), then waited in the TV room for my son & friends to arrive. After they all showed around 1 pm,  I was anxiously waiting, and soon I got the go-ahead from the hospital staff to LEAVE!!!

Since my strap was removed and signing myself out, I was amazed that I could open the door without hearing a warning buzzer for the staff!!  We left the rehab center, walked to the elevators, and went down to the main lobby!  Here, I was more amazed when I walked through the main door to freedom!  It felt GREAT to be out after such a long time!!!  After walking to the car in the parking lot, we hopped in, and drove home. It was awesome to see/experience the outdoors and the trip - I appreciated the outdoors more than I thought - even though it was the middle of winter.  Once in Miramichi though, I needed to sleep in the rear seat. I was out for about an hour till after Bathurst. Every minute of the day I really, really appreciated, and was very thankful to Roger and Armel for coming to pick me up.

Finally, we arrived at home, and the guys helped me to bring my things inside, and again it was great to see my wife!  We said goodbye to the guys who were so nice to pick us up in Moncton and drive us home.  And great that I could now be home with my son and wife!

I soon got used to my dogs (no, I didn't live by the water in an older/smaller house somewhere upriver), and thankfully family and friends were around to make the transition back to "normal" as I could expect.  "Normal" gets closer after 486 days that I write this, and there won't be any motorcycling for me (since it was "totaled" and later I phoned and gave the parts away to Blue Rock Towing in Blackville).  I have many many many appointments with Therapists and Physio nearby, and Doctors near and far, that continues to this day.  But, there's one last thing I would like to have, and that is my license to drive by myself!! I just need to jump a bunch more hoops through many more appointments, then one day I could show up at your place!

There's one thing that's stood by me all this time, and that is my family - and more importantly the ones closest to me (my wife and son).

(Read final followup here)