car wrecks and grandbabies

[grannyjean]

Hi, I'm Jean and I'm new to cafemom.

I have only one daughter who is 24 and she is bipolar. I have been raising her children, who are 3 and 2, boy and girl, respectively. My daughter does not stay on meds, and I have probably "saved" her too many times in the past - she hasn't "straightened out" yet. I know that she has an illness and I didn't cause it, but hindsight is 20-20 - what we'd do different if we had to start over. If you have any mentally ill people and/or people with addictions in your life, I'm sure you know what I mean.

And speaking of starting over - I love raising her kids. Of course, we have a long way to go. In just a few years, I guess I'll be going to ballgames and swim meets again. Already, my life was moving along at full speed in November.

That's when I got in a wreck, with the children. In my Mustang, I hit a city garbage truck. My car, of course, was totaled and I almost was as well! John had only an abrasion on his shoulder from the seatbelt. Aleysia suffered a broken bone at the base of her skull and bleeding on her brain. But she was hospitalized for a couple of days and the bleeding stopped on its own. She seems to be fully recovered, and she is supposed to be part of a study that Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston is doing with small children and head injuries. So I believe she will get excellent follow-up care.

However, I broke bones - I don't know exactly how many bones and how many times, but this is it approximately: right ankle; right lower leg in about 3 places, one which was a compound fracture; left kneecap (dashboard); left ring finger, hand and wrist (from the airbag but I'm not complaining), left collarbone (seat belt), and ribs on both sides.

That was November 14th and I have had 3 surgeries. Less than a month ago, I was able to start putting full body weight on my right leg, so I am working on walking again. I can walk short distances without a walker. And now I can drive, although I no longer have a car!

I haven't been able to work for 5 months now - I am starting over in many ways.

This post may seem like a book to some but it is only the beginning, the background, of what I'd like to express here. I will follow up as the days go by!

[kaysha]

Apr. 11, 2007 at 6:08 PM  

[maunie]

Apr. 27, 2007 at 8:32 AM Hi Jean,  I do hope you are getting along ok.  My youngest daughter and her 2 (at this time she was preg with #3) was in a MVA, which totalled the car.  No one was hurt, but, i sustained broken ribs on the left side, huge contusions left breast and right leg.  I've had 4 back surgeries and none hurt as bad as those darn ribs.   Bless your heart.  Hope this finds you doing well and Take Care.  Talk to you soon.    Margo

[MomandNana]

May. 26, 2007 at 5:49 PM

Oh God,

You poor thing I hope that you are doing better. how are the children doing now? and your daughter is she back on the meds? I will be thinking of you..........

[tressa260]

Nov. 9, 2007 at 6:31 PM Such a sad story. How are you doing physically now?  God bless your heart for taking on the role of parenting your grandbabies.