(no subject)
So- My life has changed. Drastically. I joined Americorps*NCCC. While serving my tour-I was in an accident- golf cart accident- and I messed my legs up pretty bad. I am now back home in NY.
So- Americorps is a nation service organization that I was volunteering for. (go to www.americorps.org for more information. )
I was living in Denver, Co- and working in various parts of the nation. July 7, 2005-At the time of my accident- I was at a camp for kids with disabilities- in Martinsville, Indiana-which is 20 mins south of Indianapolis.
I had just met this girl- her name was Marcee- she was a camp counselor- who had been there a few weeks longer then I was. We were asked to go get some supplies from the kitchen andsince we were at the water front- we opted to take the golf cart.
On our way back from the kitchen- Marcee decided it would be fun to put the golf cart into nuetral to speed down this huge hill- appropriatly named cardiac hill- because it was so steep you could passes out on the way up.
I was freaking out when the golf cart went into nuetral. We were going way too fast. Marcee was losing control. I was screaming. We crashed into a telephone pole.
I wish I could say that the next thing I remember was waking up in the hospital- but its not.
Marcee scrambled from somewhere to my side of the gold cart. I am not sure if she was thrown from it or not.
I was stuck- outside, inside, and on top of the golf cart. The roof came down on my chest- cutting into my arm and stomach- pinching my torso in place. My right leg was stuck inside of the golf cart. My left leg was crossed over my right so my pelvis was in the ground- with my chest- from the belly button up- upright. My left leg was also burried in the dirt from the toes to the calf.
I was supporting my body with only my right arm.
Marcee ran to get help.
My right leg was broken- I could tell. As I was laying there- I could feel it fish tail around when ever I would try to move myself. I couldnt feel my left leg at all. I later learned that I had dislocated my left knee- I damaged nerves from the knee down- I pinched the femeral artery. I had no pedial pulse in my left leg. If I had not regained a pulse once my knee was put back in place- I would have lost my left leg fron the knee down. I couldnt feel my left arm. I remember screaming. Just screaming- for life- for death- anything. Tears were streaming down my face.
There was a doctor and nurse at the camp. 911 was called and an ambulance and fire truck came. After assessing my situation- the medical professionals decided they needed to call for an airlift.
Before I was removed from the wreck- some volunteer backwoods woman said- "Wow! look at her left leg! it looks bad- real bad" some one touched my leg and then said- "she didnt even feel it" and it was true. I couldnt feel my leg- just pain- pain that I would never wish on any one. A burning sensation that feels like your flesh is being torn off- that your muscles are being blown apart. Pain that steals your breath and makes you vomit at the same time.
My friend Dan was by my side- Helping me support my head and body- offering me comfort. I threw up on him. they had to use power saws and the jaws off life to cut me out of the golf cart. they cut through the gas tank- spilling gas all over my body. they had covered me with a blanket so that I would not see what was happening. I was wet and I was cold. I think I was going into shock. They pulled me from the golf cart about an hour and a 1/2 after I had crashed.
I was then brought into the ambulance. I had my clothes cut off of my body as I was examined. I was so cold could hardly breath.They asked me millions of questions. I think I only answered a few. I only wanted to pass out and it all go away. Finally- after they were finished- They gave me a sheet. The helicopter had landed and I was going to the nearest trauma hospital.
Once I had arrived at the hospital- I went through the jostling cat scans and MRIs and Xrays. Everytime I was moved I would scream out in pain. I tried to hold it in, but there was no way. I was given a cathader. Once I had that- I realzed things must have been pretty serious. I was then given a sedative- and told I would be having my knee but back in place. It was teaching hospital- so students looked on while I had my knee stretched out even more then slammed back into place. I remember yelling- "NO NO!! I dont want them staring at me!!" I dont think I ever really stopped crying. I was so nervous before I finally passed out. I woke up after my knee was set.
My friend Kelly Jo- and TL was in the room with me. My aunt and uncle who happen to live in Indianapolis were there too. A nurse told me she had called my mom. I asked her when my mom was coming and she tokd me she didnt know. I told her she must not have called her then. because my mom had to be there.
Everyone was asked to leave the room- because I had to go to the O.R. I fell into a deep anastetic sleep while the surgeons repaired my right leg with a titanium bar and repaired my left leg with an external fixator.
I woke up the next morning. There was a bright light in my eyes. I was in pain. i needed help . the nurse came in and was terrible to me. I was so confused. i had no idea where i was. I asked her for medication and help with the lighting. she hollered at me, " I am NOT your Nurse!!" I passed back out. Sometime later- a woman came in and hooked me up to a moraphine drip. I passed back out again.
Kelly Jo arrived sometime after. She came bearing gifts of chap stick and friend ship.
My mother and father arrived at 9am after catching a 4 am flight from NY to Indiana.
The director of Americorps arrived sometime around 11. She visited with me for some time. We discussed my recovery. We decided I would talk and extended leave of absence. i thought i would be better in a months time.
a few days later- I asked my mother what was on my left leg. I felt like something was in it. I then realized what had happened. And a deep depression had begun to set in...
So- Americorps is a nation service organization that I was volunteering for. (go to www.americorps.org for more information. )
I was living in Denver, Co- and working in various parts of the nation. July 7, 2005-At the time of my accident- I was at a camp for kids with disabilities- in Martinsville, Indiana-which is 20 mins south of Indianapolis.
I had just met this girl- her name was Marcee- she was a camp counselor- who had been there a few weeks longer then I was. We were asked to go get some supplies from the kitchen andsince we were at the water front- we opted to take the golf cart.
On our way back from the kitchen- Marcee decided it would be fun to put the golf cart into nuetral to speed down this huge hill- appropriatly named cardiac hill- because it was so steep you could passes out on the way up.
I was freaking out when the golf cart went into nuetral. We were going way too fast. Marcee was losing control. I was screaming. We crashed into a telephone pole.
I wish I could say that the next thing I remember was waking up in the hospital- but its not.
Marcee scrambled from somewhere to my side of the gold cart. I am not sure if she was thrown from it or not.
I was stuck- outside, inside, and on top of the golf cart. The roof came down on my chest- cutting into my arm and stomach- pinching my torso in place. My right leg was stuck inside of the golf cart. My left leg was crossed over my right so my pelvis was in the ground- with my chest- from the belly button up- upright. My left leg was also burried in the dirt from the toes to the calf.
I was supporting my body with only my right arm.
Marcee ran to get help.
My right leg was broken- I could tell. As I was laying there- I could feel it fish tail around when ever I would try to move myself. I couldnt feel my left leg at all. I later learned that I had dislocated my left knee- I damaged nerves from the knee down- I pinched the femeral artery. I had no pedial pulse in my left leg. If I had not regained a pulse once my knee was put back in place- I would have lost my left leg fron the knee down. I couldnt feel my left arm. I remember screaming. Just screaming- for life- for death- anything. Tears were streaming down my face.
There was a doctor and nurse at the camp. 911 was called and an ambulance and fire truck came. After assessing my situation- the medical professionals decided they needed to call for an airlift.
Before I was removed from the wreck- some volunteer backwoods woman said- "Wow! look at her left leg! it looks bad- real bad" some one touched my leg and then said- "she didnt even feel it" and it was true. I couldnt feel my leg- just pain- pain that I would never wish on any one. A burning sensation that feels like your flesh is being torn off- that your muscles are being blown apart. Pain that steals your breath and makes you vomit at the same time.
My friend Dan was by my side- Helping me support my head and body- offering me comfort. I threw up on him. they had to use power saws and the jaws off life to cut me out of the golf cart. they cut through the gas tank- spilling gas all over my body. they had covered me with a blanket so that I would not see what was happening. I was wet and I was cold. I think I was going into shock. They pulled me from the golf cart about an hour and a 1/2 after I had crashed.
I was then brought into the ambulance. I had my clothes cut off of my body as I was examined. I was so cold could hardly breath.They asked me millions of questions. I think I only answered a few. I only wanted to pass out and it all go away. Finally- after they were finished- They gave me a sheet. The helicopter had landed and I was going to the nearest trauma hospital.
Once I had arrived at the hospital- I went through the jostling cat scans and MRIs and Xrays. Everytime I was moved I would scream out in pain. I tried to hold it in, but there was no way. I was given a cathader. Once I had that- I realzed things must have been pretty serious. I was then given a sedative- and told I would be having my knee but back in place. It was teaching hospital- so students looked on while I had my knee stretched out even more then slammed back into place. I remember yelling- "NO NO!! I dont want them staring at me!!" I dont think I ever really stopped crying. I was so nervous before I finally passed out. I woke up after my knee was set.
My friend Kelly Jo- and TL was in the room with me. My aunt and uncle who happen to live in Indianapolis were there too. A nurse told me she had called my mom. I asked her when my mom was coming and she tokd me she didnt know. I told her she must not have called her then. because my mom had to be there.
Everyone was asked to leave the room- because I had to go to the O.R. I fell into a deep anastetic sleep while the surgeons repaired my right leg with a titanium bar and repaired my left leg with an external fixator.
I woke up the next morning. There was a bright light in my eyes. I was in pain. i needed help . the nurse came in and was terrible to me. I was so confused. i had no idea where i was. I asked her for medication and help with the lighting. she hollered at me, " I am NOT your Nurse!!" I passed back out. Sometime later- a woman came in and hooked me up to a moraphine drip. I passed back out again.
Kelly Jo arrived sometime after. She came bearing gifts of chap stick and friend ship.
My mother and father arrived at 9am after catching a 4 am flight from NY to Indiana.
The director of Americorps arrived sometime around 11. She visited with me for some time. We discussed my recovery. We decided I would talk and extended leave of absence. i thought i would be better in a months time.
a few days later- I asked my mother what was on my left leg. I felt like something was in it. I then realized what had happened. And a deep depression had begun to set in...