The Call!

Well Saturday afternoon we got one of those dreaded phone calls announcing that Benjamin had been in a wreck. While the lady was saying he was basically okay and not for us to go crazy, getting up there, all kinds of things run through your mind, especially when you have 2 hours to drive and think about it the whole way. She was telling us that the car was totalled, but that Bug was okay, but that they were taking him in an ambulance . . . so your mind plays pretty weird games.

Anyway we got to Nac and the hospital and they let us in to where they had been working on him, but he was gone to get Cat Scans and Xrays. While we were waiting I noticed that the floor was covered in pine needles and leaves and stuff, so I figure he definitely did some time in the dirt.

Finally they bring him back and he is still strapped on the board with the neck collar and his head all immobilized. But the xrays showed his neck, back, & head were all okay, so they were able to get him off the board and remove the collar and untape his head. When I first saw the MD said he was doing okay, but had a serious case of MVT. I looked sort of puzzled and he said "you know, Man vs Tree". He was really a nice Dr. After all the tests were back and he managed to go wee wee in the cup, they released him. The EMTs had cut his clothes off except his jeans they pulled off (we later found out they were all female, so that explains that), so he left the hospital in jeans and a hospital gown with mom's fleece jacket on to keep him from shivering.

Then we got a bite to eat and decided to drive to Tyler to get the lost wallet which was the start of the whole mess in the first place. It was a very long way up and back on dark dark Deep East Texas roads, but we made it and were back at the apartment by 12:00 including the time change. On the way out there we drove past the site, it was pitch dark so we couldn't see much, but there were some serious skid marks going across the blacktop right out into the grass and then trees. Evidently from what we can figure his right tire edged off the pavement onto the soft shoulder and in the process of getting back on the road, he over-corrected and crossed the oncoming lane and went off the other side. The lady that called us was coming the opposite way and had passed him, but saw him go off in her rear-view. He has no recollection of the actual event, and really can't separate what he remembers from what people have told him.

We feel very blessed and know that we are all protected each and every day in answer to those simple words uttered each morning and evening. The church is a pretty amazing organization. While driving up, I called our Bishop -- he goes on line and gets the Bishop's name and phone in Nac. We call him, but he is conducting a baptism at the moment, but sends the EldersQ Pres and another guy over and they get him a blessing before we are even there able to see him. By the time we left Bug's cell was ringing non-stop with people checking up on how he is doing and how they can help etc.

Other than all that, we are all fine here in Beaumont. Hope you have a good week!