tintedpane.com

From The Trenches

I've been down here in Temple City, Texas since Sunday due to a horrific accident that my sister and three of her close friends were the unfortunate victims of.

During the rainy hours of the afternoon as they were traveling back from Austin, a driver lost control of his truck and began to spin out of control across the median right where there was a lapse in the concrete barriers. It crossed over from the opposite-bound lane and struck the vehicle that my sister and her friends were riding in head on. Preliminary reports said they flipped three times before coming to a stop. A kind samaritan who happened to work in the hospital where they are recovering quickly stopped to help and got in contact with some of the parents. The jaws of life were then brought in to cut away the roof of the car because the damage sustained was enough to prevent the doors of the coupe from opening. My sister and her friend who were riding in the back seat of the car sustained the most serious injuries and were taken by Careflight to the local Scott and White hospital. The driver and the front seat passenger were taken by ambulance.

At the hospital, it was revealed that the two people in the back sustained serious internal injury to their kidneys, spleen, liver, and lower intestines. My sister's friend also had a fractured vertebrae (T11) and a lung that was collecting blood due to a burst vessel. Both had to undergo operations to repair holes in the intestines and my sister's friend also had her vertebrae fused together with stainless steel plates and screws.

The driver sustained the fewest injuries with cuts from glass shards and a bruised hand from the steering wheel. She was discharged on Sunday. Her front seat passenger had a bruised back and minor knee injuries along with several cuts from the glass fragments. She was able to go home on Tuesday.

Fortunately, my sister and her friend's operations were all 100% successful and they will be able to go home in a few days.

Here on the family side of the victims, we were treated to the gracious hospitality of the Ronald McDonald Charity House. These houses provide a “home away from home” for those families with children undergoing medical treatment at hospitals away from home. We were provided for with private suites with showers and TV. The house itself was chocked full of food and amenities including this computer where I am entering this entry. They request (and don't even expect) a very modest donation of just $10/day. It's weird finding out in person just what the RMCH is all about. I'm very appreciative of the efforts of Ray Kroc, McDonald's founder.

But more than that, I'm thankful that God has provided so abundantly in these times of tribulation:

• that Scott and White is a renowned hospital with the latest in treatment techniques
• that their injuries did not maim or scar anyone for life
• the fact that there was no loss of life — even the driver of the oncoming car was released the same day
• that the families were treated to the hospitality of the Ronald McDonald House
• that so many people came to visit and pay their respected to the victims
• that the church came together to pray and provide for us

We are indeed very blessed by God's grace and mercy.