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.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Week Three - Wednesday

So as I write to you tonight, I am sitting here with Lenny. Today Lenny was transferred to a sub acute rehabilitation hospital here in Phoenix, well Scottsdale actually. I bet you are asking yourself how we got here, so let me tell you about our day.

I arrived this morning to find Lenny sitting in the chair he hates eating some soup. I nearly melted. I had just missed the doctors as I guess they did rounds really early this morning and he wanted me to talk to them as a lot had happened this morning. One of the doctors came over and told me that they stood Lenny up this morning. There were 3 men and Lenny was still to weak. Lenny told me it was one of the hardest things he had ever done, he had never felt so much weakness in his body. Because of this they were ready to send Lenny to a rehabilitation center. Lenny and I talked with the case worker to decide what the next course of action would be that would be best for Lenny. If we stay here in Phoenix Lenny will be able to stay with his specialists. It is estimated that he will only need 2-4 weeks of rehab, so Lenny and I decided the best thing is to stay here. The money we would spend to transport him home is substantial as I mentioned before, and we would have to find him new specialists, and have to deal with the insurance. If we just transferred him here, life would be much easier, and frankly, I want him to stay with the doctors that fixed him. Dr. Lattieri, Lenny's facial reconstruction surgeon is a rare find now a days, as it is a dying specialty since airbags were installed in cars. It seems since the airbags not nearly as many facial fractures are seen, so you can see why we want to stay with him.

Our case worker went to work on placing him, and by the afternoon they were there interviewing us. They wanted to know Lenny's history and things like that, they also had to make sure they got insurance authorization and all that good stuff. The rehab hospital required that Lenny have a different type of trach tube, so they had to change it out and taught me how to clean it. I had to learn a lot of things because at the rehab hospital he wasn't going to have a nurse at the end of his bed at his back and call anymore. The rehab hospital accepted him and now we sat in the hospital and waited for transport. While we waited the plastic surgery team came and unwired his jaw. He was so happy. They numbed him up similar to when you go to the dentist, so after they did it he couldn't feel a thing. They wanted him to try eating, but of course he couldn't because he was so numb, so we had to wait a little over an hour for him to try. A while later they asked him again and he was ready to try to eat. They brought him chocolate ice cream. He mowed it down! Now that they saw he was eating correctly, out came the feeding tube from his nose. I am proud to say my Lenny is now tube free.

Around 5:30 the ambulance showed up to transport him. I ran back to the hotel because I had forgot my computer charger. The new hospital is about 30 minutes from the old one so it is quite a trek. We are working on getting my hotel room transferred closer as a month was already paid for, so hopefully that will happen tomorrow.

I got to the hospital about 6:30 and he was already in his room and watching the Spurs/Suns game. Typical Lenny. The nurses were doing a shift change so there was no one yet to help us, and he was hungry, thirsty, and had to pee. It took them till about 7:30 to finally help him out, but they brought him some water, mashed potatoes, pudding, and yogurt. After not eating for almost 3 weeks he was pretty happy.

So here we are pretty up to date. This hospital is very lenient on the visiting hours (which are 8-8 by the way woo hoo) and they are so nice that I am able to SLEEP OVER! I asked Lenny what he thought and if he wanted me to stay. He said it would be great if I could stay tonight with him. This is all so new being in a new place and I think he feels better having me here in case he needs something. They showed me around and where I can get him ice and drinks and such. The hospital is so clean and new and really seems like a wonderful place. In the next 24 hours we will get a schedule of his therapies that I will take part in since he will come straight home from here. Great news huh! He can't wait to go home. He missed the cats and the comfort of his own bed, but we will be home in a few weeks!

So as we speak I am sitting on a little bed right next to Lenny's bed. He is sleeping peacefully and for the first time in a long time I feel a little peace in my heart. The knot in my stomach is less, and I can see the path towards the future and know that we are going to be ok. I don't think there are many people in life that find the happiness that Lenny and I have. We have hurdled so many obstacles in our 12 years living together, this one being the biggest, but this one has taught us both what we mean to each other and everything we have ever taken for granted in each other comes rising to the surface. Never again.

Good night all....or good morning depending on when you read this. Tomorrow we embark a new journey towards coming home.

Love, Nancy

17 comments:

  1. Hi Nancy:

    I was going to bed however could not until you posted. Seems you make my nights.....I am so happy for all of your good news. I know Lenny is in good hands with you sleeping by his side. Have a good and peaceful night and know I think of both of you everyday.

    Bonnie

    ReplyDelete
  2. The days just keep getting better! We are so happy that things are moving forward so quickly now! I am sure that you will both get a better nights sleep being right there together all night!

    Lots of hugs to you both, we love you guys!
    Tina, Jordan and Aspen

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wonderful news. I know how happy you are. How happy Lenny is. Home is just around the corner.

    Love, Julia

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great Great News
    A Sabdy

    ReplyDelete
  5. :-) Great news.......

    Dennis

    ReplyDelete
  6. Truely amazing! When he decides to do something he does it - like everything in 2 days! I'm so excited! So happy that you can be together yet again. The rehab is going to be a new challenge, but I know that Lenny will have great success, especially with you by his side. Love you guys, sending great bigs hugs to you both!

    ReplyDelete
  7. O Happy Day!! The baby steps are becooming toddler steps!! Such good news and we thank and Praise God for answered prayers! Yes it is still a long road and prayers will continue.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Marianne HerreraMay 6, 2010 at 7:27 AM

    Oh my Nancy I am so very happy for you both. Rehab time will go by very quickly because he will always be doing something so that he can get on his feet quickly. This time together will even bring you closer than you already are. Please with all my heart let Lenny know how happy I am for him and not to worry he will be brand new soon with bright days ahead of him. God bless you Nancy your love for Lenny will see you through everything. Can't wait for the post in a couple of weeks that says you are on your way home. Then the journey of rebuilding your lives together will be upon you and happiness will be before you for the rest of your lives.

    Love you,
    Mom

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am amazed at how quickly he is healing. Thank God he has you there to cheer him along!
    Michealle

    ReplyDelete
  10. WOO HOOOOOO!!! we are sooo happy and thankful that Lenny is doing so much better! we wait every nite for your blog to see how Lenny did that day,and we cry as we read how all our prayers are answered....we love you,melanie and becca

    ReplyDelete
  11. WOW, HE IS A FIGHTER,YOU CAN TELL HE REALLY WANTS TO GET BETTER FAST SO HE CAN GET HOME TO HIS KITTIES!! THIS IS SUCH WONDERFUL NEWS!! MAY GOD CONTINUE TO WATCH OVER YOU BOTH AND HEAL LENNY QUICKLY AS HE IS DOING NOW. READING BACK TO THE FIRST FEW DAYS WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT HE WOULD BE IN REHAB SO FAST!!! THIS IS SOOO GREAT. LOVE TO YOU BOTH!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Nanc and Lenny, I'm so Very Glad that Lenny is in Rehab already. He is so very Lucky to have You by His side. You are a Very Spescial Daughter !!!!! And I know that You are going to take good Care of Lenny. It will be so Great when You and Lenny finaly get HOME !!! Tell Lenny that I think of Him every Day. I Love You Both !!!! Love Dad and Terri.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Nancy I can't wait to read your post tonight. I have only briefly met Lenny at the boat parade and in passing but I must say I think he is such a strong person and with you by his side there will be no stopping you guys! Each day brings you closer to coming home and that is what everyone is waiting for. It will be the biggest homecoming ever!!! My Mom has her church praying for you both and Jake too. She has only heard me talk about the two of them and told everyone at her church they needed extra prayers for awhile. Tell Lenny we are thinking of him and to keep up the good work. We Love You Both, JoAnn and Jim

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nancy,
    This is the best news so far, with so much more to come. I am so happy for you and Lenny. You must be on clouds with happiness. I look forward to reading your blog every night. Can't wait to see you guys again!!!
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  15. WOW! WOW! WOW! How awesome to hear all this wonderful news. Lenny, you and Nancy both are such troopers and an inspiration to all of us. Keep up the great work, and rest in the Peace of God that surpasses all understanding as you both keep your hearts and minds on Christ Jesus!When things get tough, press on. Press on to the high calling that God has allowed in your lives at this time. For never will you past this way again. The things you both will learn now and in the future will be there to help others along such as the families you have met in the Hospital and the many notes and cards you have received from strangers even will learn from you both what it means to have commitment to each other as your relationship continues to grow and blossom into such wonder and amazement. Praise be to God for His faithfulness and His unfailing love. I will continue to pray for healing, and financial blessings, above all you could ever ask or think. Until next time my friends.
    Love Patti
    PS: I almost forgot. Here is your verse for today. This requires you to look at a Bible. Nancy see the hotel room.Realize that as you read it all of it is about an act of Worship. Meditate on Isaiah 58:8-9 and realize How God's greatness has been manifested in five area's or categories of your life:
    1 Light- "Then your light will break out like the dawn"
    2. Recovery- "And your recovery will speedily spring forth.
    3. Righteousness-"And your righteousness will go before you."
    4. Protection-"The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard."
    5. Full Provision-"Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry, and He will say, "Here I am."

    Love ya until next time......

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow awesome news. Lenny is on his way to recovery. It brought tears to my eyes, they were happy tears for both of you. Love you, terri

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am sooo happy to hear that he is progressing so well! He is such a fighter! I wish you both the best and continue to pray for his speedy recovery. We miss you both!! Love, Jason, Nicole & Ryder.

    ReplyDelete