We're closing in on the 7th anniversary of a horrible car accident. Nancy and the six youngest kids were traveling to Michigan to introduce two week old Sadie to her family. Half way there, they rolled off I-80.
Anyone who has been in, or had someone close in a serious wreak knows how devastating it can be and how the effects can last for years. This one was no different. But for all the negatives, there were miracles and positive lessons as well.
Jonathan and I arrived at the hospital in Kearney, Nebraska about 9:30 the evening of the accident. Alyshia, Natalie, Aaron and Ben had been treated in the ER and were ready to be released. Joshua had suffered a severe concussion and needed to be admitted.
Nancy was trying to take care of everyone, but it was obvious to me that she needed more medical attention than she had allowed. She ended up being admitted for a closed-head trauma and several cracked vertebrae in her neck.
I got the kids to a hotel and the older ones stayed to take care of the younger ones. I stayed with Josh in his hospital room and shuttled back and forth between his room and Nancy's two floors up. Nancy's sister and her family arrived the next day to help.
Little Sadie was unscathed by the accident. She was secure in her car seat and Alyshia, who was sitting next to her, covered Sadie with her body as the Suburban rolled.
But Sadie wouldn't stop crying. No one back at the hotel could console her.
Nancy was concerned and told her nurse that she was worried something was wrong with Sadie. The nurse said, "She just needs her mother". Nancy replied, "You don't understand. We just adopted her two weeks ago." The nurse again said, "She needs her mother. Have her brought over."
We did just that and what do you know, Sadie settled right down and slept for the first time in two days.
A mother's love.
In the meantime, Josh wasn't doing well. He had actually been revived at the scene of the accident. He wasn't very responsive. He had very little of his usual spark and he just wasn't getting any better. Nancy and I were very concerned.
Nancy wasn't able to leave her bed, so I got permission to bring Josh up to her. I struggled to get him into a wheelchair and took him up to see Nancy. He crawled into her bed and they cuddled. Almost immediately he began to do better. He was able to be released the next day.
A mother's love.
There's no substitute.
