The Accident

On 4/16/2010 at approximately 10 to 10:15pm, my Lenny was involved in a serious boating accident. There were 6 occupants of the boat, all were injured. Both Lenny and his best friend Jakie sustained life threatening injuries and were airlifted to trauma centers, Jakie to Las Vegas, Lenny to Phoenix.

I received a call at 1:45am informing me of the accident. I then spent the next 2 hours trying to find him and find out what happened. After calling two hospitals I found Jakie, and then called his mom and she took it from there. I still couldn't find Lenny, so I called the Lake Havasu Police and they got back to me in about a half an hour telling me he was in Phoenix and that the social worker would be calling me soon. Next came the longest 20 minutes of my life. Waiting to hear....

Lenny sustained the following injuries - Completely fractured face from the upper jaw to above the eyes, broken neck, broken ribs, collapsed lungs, and severely broken legs. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I spent the next several minutes rallying friends and getting to YiYi (that is what Lenny calls his sister). We all headed to Phoenix and below I will update you on his condition, how we are holding up, and have a way to communicate with you to keep you updated and be able to answer your questions and be able to get the support we so desperately need from all the wonderful people that love him.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Week Two - Sunday

I would like to start by saying WTF LAKERS! Get it together! Lenny needs some wins here! Maybe the gnome is pissed I took him away from home? LOL!

Well today was a slow day. Not much change (and in this situation no change is not a bad thing). For our morning and afternoon visit Lenny was sleeping. He is going steady with the vent trials, they take him off for one to one and a half hours then put him back on for three hours. Hopefully that will progress some more tomorrow. They let me do the full bathing today at the morning visit and bring him some deodorant. I am trying to keep him really clean and cool, cause he keeps pulling off the gown cause he is so hot. Typical Lenny.

This afternoon my high school friend, Melisa, brought me a DVD/VCR Combo and a bunch of movies to watch. The TV in the hotel here sucks, so it will be nice to watch a movie. I am at a loss without my DVR, it is like we are in a technology time warp. Who watches commercials anymore anyways?

At the evening visit I arrived to find him in the "chair" type of bed again. It sits him up more with his legs down low which is good for his lungs. He hates that chair but seemed better today then yesterday. He was still sleepy and out of it so no communication, just hand holding. I love it when he squeezes my hand.

For dinner close friends of Lenny's that I had met once before, George & Kym, were so kind to come and take me out to dinner. It was so wonderful to get out of the hotel and try to function normal. I guess one of the weirdest feelings about all of this is that it seems like life is going on around you, and you are just standing still. You see people going to work, grocery shopping, just going about their life, and all I can think about is when my next visit with Lenny is. It is just a weird feeling that is hard to explain.

At the night visit Lenny was back in bed and awake a little bit. He wanted to know what day it was, when he was going to be able to have a drink of water, how long he was going to be here, pretty much the same questions we have answered almost every day. He was getting a little anxious and coughing a lot which is hard for him to do, so they gave him some Ativan and Benadryl. Then it was time for pain medicine and he was out once again.

The goal is to get him out the trauma ward by the end of the week. Once that happens I can stay from 9am to 9pm and that will make me a very happy girl.

So another day down, and another day of your support and comments. I know when I can finally read Lenny your comments he will be so grateful as am I. I also appreciate the Get Well cards that have been coming. Now if we can just get those Lakers to win....I have decided that if and when he finally asks about the game I am just going to tell him they are winning until he is awake to understand. No added stress needs to be on him until he can understand (thanks for the advice George)!

Gary, Yiyi's husband, had to go home today to go back to work, and it will be weird not having him here. He has been controlling zombie me and taking care of everything, so now it is time to kick it into gear. We will miss ya Gary.

Tomorrow is a new day, and I am slowly getting out of my haze and trying to focus. One step at a time.

Please keep the prayers coming, and thank you for the comments, I cannot tell you how much it helps me.

Love, Nanc

10 comments:

  1. Hi Nancy......please know I think of both of you everyday and you are in my prayers. You are such a strong person and an inspiration to me and it was important to me that you know that.

    Love,
    Bonnie

    ReplyDelete
  2. minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, baby steps all going forward!
    Your writing is amazing and lets us know exactly what is going on with Lenny and with you.
    I hope you are feeling the peace and comfort and presence of our loving God.
    We continue to send our love and our prayers

    ReplyDelete
  3. It is amazing to think that Lenny could be out of the trauma unit in about a week!
    It is still a long road but the bumpiest is hopefully behind you both.
    Thinking about you guys everyday,
    Michealle.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hang in there brotha, praying you make a speedy recovery

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nancy:
    I know that yesterday showed no progress that you are aware of but his body is making progress. It takes baby steps for a recovery of this magnitude. Stay strong my daughter the time will go by fast and before you know it he will be off the vent and on his way to rehab. I am so proud of you and your love and kindness to everyone. You are amazing in every way and your love for Lenny is something that very few men find. We all love you and are here for you. God is holding your hand and walking you through this you are not alone. All of us are with you in spirit and thoughts through out the day.

    We love you,
    Mom

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey Nanc,
    I wanted to wish you and Lenny all the best. I know he is strong and will be fine soon. I also want you to tell Jackie that I hope to hear from him soon as well. Call me if you need anything.....

    Love, Scott

    ReplyDelete
  7. You're doing great Nancy. Lenny couldn't ask for a more devoted person to be by his side. I am just so sorry that this is such a long process. But there will be light at the end of the tunnel. Lenny does appear to be moving forward and that is what counts. Once he is well enough to move out of the trauma unit, I know you will feel better and so will Lenny. You're the best Nancy.
    Aunt Sharon

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello Nancy we never met before I just actually met Lenny the Thursday before the accident at Losers. Ive known Jr.for along time and his ex Tina and I are friends, He told me they went wayyyy back in the day. I couldnt get ahold of Tina that night so I emailed her... She thanked me for telling her he was in town and not even a few hours later I got a email from her telling me about his accident. I was amazed. You and Lenny are in my prayers, just from meeting him for a few minutes I know he'll pull out of this, hes a very strong stubborn man. Im sorry that you have to go through this. Ive been there before and its not a good feeling at all. I praise you, your a strong woman.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You need to give that gnome a kiss. Lakers need to win. Fast healing is what we need also. He's on his way. I can't wait to see you and Lenny. You will be home Nancy. SOON! With Lenny. His cat will be drinking from his glass in no time.

    Lots of Love!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lenny,
    First off, you have such an amaInh woman looking after you and keeping us updated on your condition. I read everyday and ask Ricky for any good news. My smile gets bigger everyday knowing that you are one step closer to coming home. My prayers have been with you since we got that call. I await your recovery b/c you still owe me a ride in your bug. Get well soon Lenny!!

    Nancy,
    All I can say is that you are an amazing woman with such strength and courage. Your love and strength is what's getting Lenny through this. We all thank you for that! My prayers are with you as well. Thank you for the daily updates and I look forward to seeing you soon.

    Liz (ricky's g/f)

    ReplyDelete