Dealing With A Comatose Individual

Pamela--June 18, 2002

2011-05-11T11:09:00.001-07:00

Ok, so I'm titling all posts from now on the date of the journal entry and hope I don't re-tell any sections.

Journal Entry:
6-18-02
I got to the hospital at about 7-7:30 am. The had taken Pam downstairs for surgery on arm and leg. They began about 8:20 and at about 10:20, Dr. Montgomery came to tell us that in a little while she would return to ICU.

He said he put a plate to hold her ankle together. That the ankle had been severely fractured and out of joint. He did put pins as well. He explained that there was a portion of the flesh/skin on inside of ankle that was dead and that they would have to watch that carefully. They put 2 pins in her wrist and a plate for the 2 breaks in her arm. She held stable throughout procedure.

At about 11 am they called me to the back. She's back in ICU, her room, looking good. Temp 95.7. They covered her this time. Her face and left arm was cool. With all the wrapping on her leg, it looks as big around as her head. Breathing machine is set at 8, she was breathing at 28. Couldn't see the other numbers very good.

At the 1 pm visit, Blood pressure-146/90, EEG-86, Temp-97.?, Breather-8/hers 18

Bobbie left. I'm here alone. Angela said she would come about 5 pm, may bring Robin, but Robin won't be able to stay long. She has to be at work in the morning for 3 am.

Pamela has a HEMOVAC on the arm she had surgery on. Jude, the nurse, said there are 2 needles in her arm for suctioning off any blood around the breaks.

Kermit, Ricky, Glenda, Linda, Norma, Norma's husband, Ashley, Tina, Ashley's friend were all here and spoke to Pamela.

5 pm: temp-97.7, machine 8/Her 30

Her mother, Lucille

Another apology...

2011-05-11T10:45:00.000-07:00

I just found out that I posted a post from the journal that seems out of place. Please bear with me in this. I have to start putting the posts in faster or else I'll make more mistakes like these.

Back to the Hospital...

2011-03-05T06:19:00.001-08:00

Last post I digressed into talking about how Pamela was doing at present. This post I want to carry on from where I left off writing from the journal. The passage is signed by the person who wrote it in the journal.

Saturday, June 8th

On Sat. 6/8 I spent the night with the girls in Crowley. They miss their mom bad. But, we know and I told them you will be okay. The girls talked between themselves a lot about the wreck. They are scared, but they will be fine. Brittany sat on the sofa with me and said, "Nanny, does this mean you have to do everything we tell you?" I wasn't thinking, so I told her yes.

Girl, she she had me hopping for her like a frog. Finally, I realized what was happening and told her the nurse said she had to walk. She decided that was what she wanted to do, so off we went up and down the hall. She wanted to see the babies, but there were none. Brittany was a little sore during the night because of walking, but she only asked one time for something for the pain.

On Sunday, I went home and pretty much cried all day. Prayed a lot. I went to daddy's to talk about you. I wanted him to tell me everything was gonna be okay.

I didn't see you Sunday. Eddie made me sleep and then he wouldn't wake me up. He has been my rock through all of this.

On Monday, when we had to discuss taking you off of life support, I really thought I would die from the pain of losing you. But, we all came together in love (with Kermit) and decided we would not do that. We are giving you a chance to come home.

You have had lots of visitors since you came in. Monday night when Sheryl, Charles, Eddie, Angela, and me were in your room and you started moving your fingers and breathing on your own, we all just went crazy. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt you'll be okay. Each day brings about a new miracle from God. You're breathing more and more on your own. Resisting when Angela tries to exercise your arm and leg.

We've brought flowers, cards the kids made for you, your cassette tapes and plenty of angels to your room. There's the picture of all of us together and pictures of your kids and Jarrett. I sing to you when I can remember the words to a song and sing "One Day at a Time" (the chorus) almost every time I am in there. It helps me feel peaceful and I think it helps you. Sometimes while we are talking or singing to you tears come from your eyes.

On Thursday, Bobbie Jo came down. She rode the bus from Tennessee. She cried when she saw you, because girl, at first you looked really bad. I tell people constantly that you will walk out of the hospital. We have already decided to throw you and the kids a Welcome Home Barbecue where you and Kermit's reception was. Every time I talk about you, I tell them to pray for you and that they are invited. I am gonna have to tell people to bring their own meat. You picked out 2 chocolate cakes, strawberry cake, and coconut cake. You did this by moving your thumb when I said the flavor you wanted. When I tell people this, they look at me sometimes like I lost my mind. But, I really believe that we will be celebrating.

I have missed work since the accident. I go back on Wednesday,almost 2 weeks later. Eddie told me last night, that if I had to, to quit my job.. He said, "Your sister comes first. We miss you, sweetie. Open up them eyes! I love you.

Robin

Apology

2010-07-01T06:34:00.000-07:00

I apologize for making the readers wait so long between posts. As of today [July 1, 2010] Pamela, I believe though no doctor does, is aware of most of the things said to her and the actions going on around her bed. She responds sometimes immediately when I ask her to move her arm or bend her leg. Sometimes she is stiff. I'll say something like, "Baby, you're gonna have to help me here. I can't lift on your leg while it's stiff. It's too heavy. Loosen up now." and she will. Other times, there seems to be a time delay between my request and her following through.

Her eyes open and shut like anyone else when they wake up or go to sleep. When Pam sleeps, she falls into such a deep one that her stiff arm completely relaxes and we can move it to exercise the joints in her hands and elbows and shoulders. Once we begin moving her arms, it won't be long before she awakens and begins to resist.

On top of caring for Pam, her father, Ted, has been diagnosed with cancer in the blood: multiple melanomas. Now he's bedridden because of his weakened condition. He's also broken one hip and the entire joint had to be replaced. The doctor put a ball and socket joint made of titanium to replace the broken bones. A little more and I should have a cyborg for a husband. lol Ok, enough of that.

I have a younger daughter, about 38 this year, who's been diagnosed with Guillane-Barre Syndrome. A nasty, debilitating condition that can sometimes be fatal. She has moved in with us to help me with Pam and I take care of her when she's down. I joke with the other kids and grandkids saying they'd better wait until these three get up and going before they have to get sick because I am running out of room to put hospital beds. lol Ok, move on.

I'll do my sincere best to pick up with Pamela's hospital notes on a daily schedule, but I can't promise anything. Please keep checking back for new posts or simply the the 'follow posts' type of stuff that's all the rage nowadays. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts.

While Pam was in the hospital [cont.]

2010-02-22T11:04:00.000-08:00

After Angela wrote the entry posted last time, she wrote down four questions we wanted to ask the doctor when he came back to visit. These questions, with their answers, follow:

1. What type of neck fracture does Pamela Have?
ans. It is called a hangman's fracture. It is not dislocated and a neck brace usually fixes it.

2. Get x-ray for neck to see what is going on.
I can't remember if we were successful in getting a copy of the x-ray.

3. Ask result of arm [bruised] x-ray.
ans. The x-ray of bruised arm shows no damage, said Dr. Montgomery, [who was the doctor called in for Pamela's various broken bones. Actually, I'm not sure which arm Angela is referring to here. One of Pam's arms had a crushed wrist with a break between elbow and wrist. This arm had to have a metal plate put in it. The other arm popped out of joint and after the doctor put it back, it popped out again. He had to clean the joint and then put it back together. Since then, Pam's arm has been out of joint. The doctor said it wouldn't be any use putting it back unless she was able to use it.]

Dr. Munchi, the doctor called in because of Pamela's head injury, said that they were evaluating her to see what comes next.

Look for the next post this same day, later in the afternoon, God willing.

Life Intervenes

2010-02-22T10:50:00.000-08:00

Or should I say interrupts?

I've just learned I haven't written any more of Pamela's journal here since 2008. The reason is simple. Life, as I knew it, was interrupted.

Toward the end of 2008, my husband Ted became bedridden. He couldn't walk very much because he hurt his knee and he began sleeping a lot. Not long after this, we learned he had cancer in his blood. There was a chance it could get into the bone marrow which would soon be fatal, but also a chance it wouldn't.

During 2009, he weakened a lot from all the bed rest and lying around. He was afraid to try walking for fear of falling and nothing anyone could say could convince him to try. Then he was assigned a therapist who finally convinced him to get up. After a week or two of trying to walk a little, he fell, broke a hip, it was replaced with a platinum ball and joint and he had to recuperate from that. After this he began having to be given a couple pints of blood ever so often because somehow his blood seemed to decrease without his actually bleeding inside or out. When his blood got low, he spoke and acted almost like he was out of his mind and he got so he couldn't even raise an arm let alone hold his body in a sitting position.

Today, he's doing fine, but we're still on edge wondering when he will have to have another two pints of blood, or if the oxygen count in his blood will lower such that he begins to fade in and out of consciousness. But he's getting around better, walking a little further, and while in his bed, he can visit with his daughter Pamela and talk to her. [A blessing in disquise.]

While Pam was in the hospital...

2008-06-12T04:33:00.000-07:00

From Angela--June 17, 2002
____________________
NOTE: [ ] are used to show what I've included the day this is posted.
____________________
[Beginning of journal entry.]

Hi, Pamela, Today is 6-17-2002. I brought daddy to see you for the 5 pm visit. He took it real hard. I haven't seen daddy cry since papa's funeral. Pamela he kept saying wake up my girl you have to cash my check.

Pamela, I've been here since day 2. I do all your range of motion exercises and lotion you down. You seem to get mad at me, but as you know it has to be done.

I really can't explain how hard it is to see you like that. The hardest part was when we all had to talk about pulling the plug. It was so hard for us, but we decided to let you fight for your children and your famiily.

Pamela we constantly talk to you. I know you can hear everything we say. I just hope you're listening. Honey, you wouldn't believe how much we have all come together in this. It is bad when it takes something like this to bring the family together.

Pamela, moma is the truly amazing one in all this. She has worked tirelessly to keep you comfortable and to help you. She has went on the Internet and got thousands of people to pray.

Joe has been really understanding with me being here with you and he at home, but he does stay with me on the weekends. Pamela we love you and God bless!

P.S. You know I was always too scared to leave the hospital in the first few days, but when Aunt Dot called and said a prayer warrior had said you were healed and you will walk again and be saved, I don't feel bad or scared about leaving for a few hours. You know I get a little scared sometimes and I start to wonder if you will have brain damage then I remember "God said," you are healed, therefore you are healed. I love you, baby girl! God Bless You!

Angela & Joe

While Pam was in hospital...

2008-03-10T07:30:00.001-07:00

From Lucille--June 17, 2002
____________________
NOTE: These ( ) are used the day I originally wrote this and these [ ] are used to show what I've included the day this is posted.
____________________
[Beginning of journal entry.]

Tried to keep this in order, but it's too much trouble.

On Friday, 6-7-2002, I went home while (I think it was Angela) took my place. Can't remember much about those early days. You'll just have to piece it all together.

Friday night I sat, then went home. I'm not sure. I do remember I spent the Sat. Night here because Wayne and Dot [Lucille's sister and her husband from DeRidder, LA] spent it with me. Wayne is such a clown. He had everyone laughing, at times.

Everyone called or came by constantly it seemed. Then we were told that with the swelling of the brain, broken neck, broken arm and leg, and other things that we should consider pulling the plug. Of course, we were not going to do that. We all believed God would heal.

TODAY: Pamela began to resist Angela massaging and moving her arms and legs around. Her eyelids began to bat as though her eyes were open even though they weren't. [Up until now, Pamela's eyes had been closed. Never once did we see them open.] Her left thumb began to move and she would jerk her right leg up when we touched her toes. Temp, blood pressure, etc., went up as high as: 104- temp; 168 over 120+. Her heart beats or rate went up to 100+ and as low as in the 40s. Her temp has went to normal, 98.6, often and her blood pressure went down to 150 over 73 at 1-1:30 visit today.

The breathing machine was originally set on 14, then about 3 days ago, it was lowered to 12. Yesterday they put it down to 10. Today between 9:30 am and 1 pm, they turned it down to 8. [This means she was breathing more and more on her own. Isn't God wonderful?]

The trach was supposed to have been done [put in] today but as of 3:10 pm has not. Dr. Montgomery plans on fixing her arm (which has 2 breaks in the forearm--right--and a fracture in or near the the wrist) and her right leg (which is broken) tomorrow. They are feeding her a food that is thinner than baby food and are having to clean her after bowel movements. They still don't have much hope she'll pull through and be normal, but God said, He had already healed her so we're just taking care of her needs until she wakes up.

Kermit stayed with Michael until Sat. I think. then Tina [Kermit's sister) and Ashley went to New Orleans [where he was in Children's Hospital] so Kermit could come and see Pamela. I'll have to finish this when Angela comes so I can give the right days.

Tonight at 5 pm visit about 136 over 55 - blood pressure. Trach will be done Thursday, if possible. Arm and leg will be fixed tomorrow.

Here is the link to the pictures I had put in earlier posts. You may have to copy and paste into your browser.
http://s131.photobucket.com/albums/p287/Lucy1945/

While Pam was in hospital...

2007-12-26T08:16:00.000-08:00

From Pat's Wife Cat--June 6, 2002

Pamela,

It's Cat - I was home when Charles (Sheryl's husband) called to tell Patrick. I couldn't believe what he was saying and at first I thought he was just being crazy--you know how silly he can be--but he said "No I'm serious" and then he said he had to come to Lafayette to see about you. I called Patrick at the rig - we were both scared. It's really scary not knowing but we both know everything will be ok.

Hurry up and get out of here.

Love
Cat

While Pam was in the hospital...

2007-12-26T08:07:00.000-08:00

From Pat--June 6, 2002

Pamela, it's your brother Pat. Hey I was on my way to work and when I got there Paul told me there was a wreck on 35 between Rayne and church Point. But he did not know what or who it was. I guess it was about 6:30 pm. (CST) We were slow drilling when I got a call from my tool pusher that my sister got in a wreck and for me to call home.

I called and I was shocked. I ran to my truck and hauled ass to the hospital, I was so scared! When I first heard, I thought it was Perry or Robin. I did not think it was you. I was so scared. I thought I lost my baby sister.

Hurry up and get well!

I love you.
Your brother
Pat

While Pam was in hospital...

2007-12-26T08:04:00.000-08:00

From Angela--June 6, 2002

Pamela, it's Angela!

Girl, when I heard you got in an accident all I could do was cry. Joe and I rushed over here to Lafayette General and made it here at about 12 midnight. Pamela, I can't tell you exactly how I felt, but I know I wasn't ready to lose my sister. I was really scared. We waited until, I guess about 3 am when they let us see you. Pamela if you could have seen yourself. I cried even harder and all I could do was pray. God had to intervene and heal my little sister.

Love, Angela

While Pam was in hospital...

2007-12-26T07:59:00.000-08:00

From Sheryl--June 6, 2002

Pamela, I'm suppose to tell you about my thoughts of the day I found out about the accident.

First of all I thought it wouldn't be serious. I never thought that there would be a time where we would be told you wouldn't make it. To me, no one in my family is suppose to die or even get badly hurt. So I've clung to my belief during every minute of every day that you are healed. There is nothing that can change my belief. I feel it so strongly sometimes that I get a little ashamed of the fact that I haven't been yelling it off the roof tops. I have called Shay, Melissa, Stephanie and even Debbie Robinson. I have been telling everyone I meet about the miracles I've seen. Though I feel I should be renting a giant bill board with giant letters telling about it all.

Sheryl

Picture -- http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p287/Lucy1945/Pamela1980s.jpg

Pamela: The Hospital--Revised

2007-12-13T07:55:00.001-08:00

June 6, 2002

Ted and I went to Amanda's. Just as I got inside the house, it seemed ted could wait no longer, he blurted out, "Pamela's been in a wreck," before he got inside the house.

I told Kermit and Amanda everything the cop had told me. We decided Sheryl and Charles (my youngest daughter and her husband) would go to the girls in Crowley. (The cop had said they were crying and upset, calling for their mama. Actually, the first place I went was next door to Sheryl's. Told her and charles everything and they decided to follow us to Amanda's.)

Ted and I went to Lafayette in the van. Kermit, Amanda, Jared (Amanda's baby) Ricky (Kermit's brother) went in ricky's car. they arrived about 10 min. or so after we did.

They let us into emergency to be with Michael (Pam's son). He was resting. They said his left big toe would have to be amputated, his arm was broken in 2 places and he was handling it all well, talking like he was older than 3 years. He was sedated some. We had to get out so Dr. Montgomery could examine him. After 30 or so minutes they brought him into surgery.

Pamela had been in surgery since we had arrived about 7:15 or later. After Michael went to surgery, a young Louisiana State Trooper led us into another small room and described the wreck to us.

He told us pretty much the same thing as the first cop had and added that the driver of the truck that hit her head on said that when he saw her hit the dump truck he began slowing and heading toward the ditch. He was going 10-15 mph. If he had been going faster she and the kids could have been killed. There had been, in a line, the dump truck, another pickup who got a window broken out from debre flying from the impact of the 2 vehicles later, then a double cab white truck behind that had been the one that hit her. While the LST was talking to us, Amanda was with us. Afterward, I called Charland (my pastor) and Amanda called Kermit's sisters. They came in shortly after the cop left.

From then on we waited. Time passed, though there was little watching of the clock. Soon Perry (my oldest son) and Darryl (his cousin) came in. After or before that Angela (another daughter of mine) and her husband Joe arrived from Lake Charles. Robin (another daughter of mine) and her husband Eddie were the last to come in. soemtime near midnight, we got word that Michael's hip was broken and they were going to air-med him to Children's Hospital in New Orleans. They left about 1 am and Kermit went with them. (Michael, at 3 yrs. old, had attachments to father and mother and had trouble when left with someone else. We all felt Michael would be better off with his father while I, Pamela's mother, could be there for her.)

Pamela was said to be on her way to ICU. Everyone began to leave. Tina and Glenda (Kermit's sisters, Charland (my pastor) and I went upstairs to the ICU waiting area. Time: About 1:30 am or so.

After seeing Pam, Tina and Glenda left. Charland and I went to the waiting room. Charland left about 4:30. (I'd been telling her since 1:30 to go home and rest. She was counselor at one of the high school's in Lafayette and had to be at work early that morning and I was afraid she'd end up in hospital herself.) Now I was the only one there until 6 am.

During this alone time, I couldn't seem to settle on any one particular thought or idea. I wasn't anxious or anything despite the way Pam had looked when we were able to see her about 1:30 am. I was tired, but wired, as they sometimes say.

Pam had looked real bad, but the Lord had given me the assurance that all would be fine, so in the face of all the tubes (breathing tube down her throat because her breathing was too shallow and eratic, tubes in the arms letting in antibiotics, that water solution to keep her from becoming dehydrated, medications that they were giving her, oxygen tube in her nose and evidently into her lungs or perhaps just in her nose. At present I can't remember that detail). Her face was swollen from the cut that went from the edge of her nose, through her upper lip and down at an angle through her chin. It was all stitiched up, all swollen. Various cuts, scratches and bruises of different degrees covered her arms, legs. Her left arm was out of joint. Her right arm was broken and its wrist was shattered. Her left ankle had a long cut on the outside of it. However I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she would live and not die.

Praise God for his mercies and love.
Lucille (Pam's Mother)

Picture -- http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p287/Lucy1945/Pamela--TheAccident.jpg

Revisions of First Entries to this blog

2007-12-13T07:41:00.000-08:00

I intend to put the thoughts of not just mine, but my other family members as well. I'll begin with mine.

June 6, 2002

I was at the computer as usual. About 6:15-6:20. Ted, my husband, comes into my room with a scrap of paper. It read something like Bull-783 and a number. Ted said the police had given him the paper and said Pamela had been in a wreck. I felt a twinge of fear then from then on I've felt the peace that only God gives and the assurance that all was well.

I called the number. The cop said he had been returning to work and saw the result of the accident. He stopped to help pull Pamela and the kids out of the car. They had to remove the back door to get the kids out. Ericka, the oldest, tried to give them Amanda's (Pamela's step-daughter's) telephone number. The man quoted 3 numbers to me and that's how I knew that fact. He said Pamela had been in a 4 car smash up on LA 35 North. (Not exactly a 4 car smash-up, but it did involve more than one vehicle, just not all at once.) Then he said she had sweved across center line hitting the back tire of a dump truck. (This happened first.) She went into a spin and a truck behind the dump truck hit her head on. (This happened second. Later, we find out her car, after hitting the second truck, went into an opposite spin and ended up on the grassy shoulder near someone's house.) The girls (2 of them) were brought to American Legion in Crowley. (At first the girls, Pamela and her son were all brought to AL. AL couldn't tend to Pamela or her son, so they sent these two to Lafayette General.) Pamela and her son were brought to Lafayette General.

I told the cop thanks and that I would get in touch with Kermit. (Pamela's husband.) I told him the 3 numbers he gave were part of Amanda's phone number. Then I gave him the entire number and hung up.

Journals

2007-12-13T07:37:00.000-08:00

When I started this blog, I wanted very much to tell Pamela's story, but somehow it hasn't been falling just right. I wanted to consult the journals I kept while she was in hospital, but had a difficult time finding the first one. As a result I decided to try to tell the story from memory. It was a poor shot.

Now I've found the first journal and will be writing its entries in this spot. Once I've done all the journals, I'll pick up the story as changes take place and/or my thoughts, hopes and doubts change. You know how it is--up one day, down the next.

Pamela: The Hospital

2006-11-21T19:19:00.000-08:00

We arrived at the hospital around 6:30 that evening. A few minutes later my pastor, Sis. Charland Jordan arrived to sit with us. The hours stretched out into infinity. Waiting, not knowing whether Pamela would live or die, not knowing whether she was awake and suffering or unconscious, just knowing that she was in one of the emergency rooms at Lafayette General, being worked on. We knew nothing of the extent of her injuries.

Still the Lord was working with me because my emotional state didn't even come close to anxiety. I knew Pam was in the hands of the Lord and I knew He was capable of bringing her out a whole person.

We learned almost as soon as we got there that Pam's youngest, a little boy not yet four years old, was in another room being looked after. He had a broken arm and one of his big toes had been severed. Instead of being allowed to go to him, we were herded into a tiny room not far from the emergency area and told to wait.

Almost an hour later a Louisiana State Patrolman came to tell us what happened."Your daughter seems to have fallen asleep on the wheel and her vehicle swerved into the oncoming traffic hitting the rear wheel of a dump truck. The impact caused her vehicle to go into a spin and hit a pickup that was following the dump truck. The vehicle began to spin in the other direction and ended up on the shoulder of the highway."

My pastor questioned him. No one was hurt except for Pamela and her three children; all of whom were not wearing seat belts. "When Mrs. LeJeune leaves the hospital she will have to face at least three charges.

After the trooper left us, we went to see Michael. Pamela was still in the emergency operating room. Michael lay in a bed in a tiny cubicle off the operating room his mother occupied. He was sedated.

The doctor attending him was an orthodontist. The same doctor (and I’ll leave his name out of this) tended to Pamela’s breaks after our talk about Michael.

“He has a broken arm and leg. (I can’t remember where these breaks were.) His big toe is severed and black now. I’ll try, but I don’t think I’ll be able to save it. At least he okay otherwise.”

After the doctor explained Michael’s condition, Michael awoke and mumbled something. The doctor leaned close. He wore a smile when he straightened.

“Michael says he wants to go help his mom. I told him we were helping her and he could rest.”

I won't go into the details of what went on in the waiting room after this. No one but the family members, cousins and siblings and Pam's parents and pastor sat and talked filling in the long hours until about midnight. And that’s about it.

At midnight, the orthodontist came out of the operating room where he’d been working on Michael.

“I’ve set Michael’s breaks.” And he explained each and assured us they only had to heal now. “I was about to have Michael moved to recovery when he moved. I notice then that something didn’t look right. We took x-rays and found that his hip is dislocated. The ball portion of the hip joint is shattered. I can’t fix it. He’s going to have to go to Children’s Hospital in New Orleans.”

The doctor went on to explain that if anyone could fix that joint and make it work again, it would be the doctors in New Orleans. That hospital had more of the equipment Michael would need and the doctors there had more experience with this type of break.

The family began to discuss then who would accompany Michael to New Orleans. Trouble was, Michael had never been apart from either his father or mother for long lengths of time and never from both at once. We knew he’d cry most of the time if one of his parents weren’t with him. His father, Joseph LeJeune would have to go with him. I and whoever would volunteer to help me would stay with Pamela. The problem then arose that if Pamela needed any special service that required permission how would they get the permission from Joseph who would be in New Orleans? The doctor said it wouldn’t be a problem. They could use the phone.

At midnight, Joseph went with Michael in the ambulance to Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. I stayed at Lafayette General with Pamela.

After Michael left, the orthodontist who’d set his breaks, came to tell us about Pamela. He decided not to try to set her breaks until her condition was stable. At present, she was in a coma and there was no assurance as to when she would wake up. Her right arm below the elbow was fractured and the wrist was broken badly. The orthodontist fit her arm with a half cast and sling to support it until the decision to set it would be made.

Pamela’s right leg below the knee was broken (I think in one place, but I’m not sure.) and the ankle was crushed. A half cast was put on it as well. She would have a large tube inserted into her bronchial tube and connected to a breathing machine. We were not to worry, said the orthodontist, the machine was set to a low number which meant that only when Pamela forgot to breathe or her breathing got very slow, then the machine would breath for her. Once she was breathing on her own again, the machine would set idling (or words to that effect.) I don’t recall seeing the neurologist who examined her.

All that we could do now, the doctor said, was wait. It was midnight. Sis. Jordan went home because she had to go to school the following day. She taught 7th and 8th grade at Scott Middle. My husband and all Pamela’s siblings except her sister Angela left for home. Angela stayed with me the whole night. She had no children of her own and her husband encouraged her to stay to help me.

Here are a few of pictures. This first picture is of Pamela when she was about 2 or 3 years old.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p287/Lucy1945/Pamela.jpg

This one is when Pamela was a teen back in the 1980s.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p287/Lucy1945/Pamela1980s.jpg

Here’s one of Pamela just before the accident.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p287/Lucy1945/PamelabeforetheAccident.jpg

This picture is of Brittany.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p287/Lucy1945/Brittany2001.jpg

Here’s Ericka, Pamela’s oldest daughter.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p287/Lucy1945/Ericka1.jpg

Here’s Michael before the accident.
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p287/Lucy1945/MichaelChristmas2000.jpg

Pamela--The Accident

2006-11-17T08:07:00.000-08:00

Being a middle school teacher, I had to attend school on the 31st of May 2002. There wasn't much left to do: turn in our Lesson Plan books, keys, report card mailings, and shut down everything in our classrooms. With a relieved sigh, I drove away from school to begin my summer vacation.

Monday or Tuesday, June 3rd or 4th, 2002, I met with my three sisters in Texas and we spend an enjoyable day checking out flea markets, gift shops, and the like. My summer began with a bang. Joy filled me as I drove home that day, knowing I didn't have to worry about going back to school and knowing that now I could spend all my free time writing. I also research my family tree and am a member of several email lists for that reason.

At the same time, I'd contracted with Team Spirit Editing and Critiquing Service to have my first novel edited and re-written prior to offering it for publication. This business promised to take about a year because we were working line by line searching for mistakes and grammar problems and other things that make a good story.

As a result, on Wednesday and Thursday, I answered emails, worked on my second novel while waiting for TSE&CS to edit my first chapter. Everything was going great. No omen or premonition of what Thursday would bring forth marred the days.

I sat at my computer Thursday, late afternoon, somewhere around 3:30-4:30. Calm covered me like a blanket, but before I could more than note the feeling, Theodore, my husband and Pamela's father, came into the tiny room I call My Computer Room.

"Lucy," he's seldom called me Lucille, "the Sheriff's office called. They want you to call them back."

"What for?" I asked. The calm never ruffled as I reached for the phone.

"Here's the number." Ted, I only call him Theodore when I'm frustrated or mad, couldn't answer my question.

Why didn't Ted call? I wondered while I waited for someone to answer. And why would the Sheriff's office want to talk to us?"

"There's been an accident, Ms. Robinson," the deputy said. His voice came over the wire steady and calm. "I understand Pamela LeJeune is your daughter."

"She is," I said, still not ruffled. "What's happened?" No possible scenarios entered my mind.

"She had an accident on Highway 35 between Rayne and Church Point. Witnesses said her car suddenly swerved into an oncoming dump truck, hitting the rear tire on the driver's side. The tire exploded and the contact caused her car to spin out of control. She hit another vehicle that was following the dump truck. Her car ended up on the shoulder of the highway. When the ambulance arrived, she was trapped between the front seat and the dash. She had her three children with her and neither her nor her children were wearing seatbelts."

"Where is she now?" Peace, calm, no other reaction set in."They were taken to American Legion Hospital in Crowley. Your daughter was transported from there along with her son to Lafayette General because ALH couldn't handle her case. The two girls are still in American Legion."

Here's the link to view the picture of Pamela's wrecked car and read the write-up in The Crowley Post-Signal. You may have to highlight, copy and paste it into your browser.

http://s131.photobucket.com/albums/p287/Lucy1945/?action=view¤t=Pamela--TheAccident.jpg