Every Teen is a Miracle
(I apologize for all typos and misspelled or misplaced words in advance, but I don't feel like proofreading this emotional post.)
On September 22, 2007, an alleged drunk driver going more than 100 miles an hour in the middle of two interstate lanes rear-ended my daughter Mary's Honda Accord, pushing them 411 feet into the guard rail, where it bounced off and hit the guard rail again before landing in the median. My younger daughter Anna was critically injured and had to be airlifted by helicopter to the hospital. Mary broke a rib and suffered a bad cut on her head, which resulted in blood on her brain.
It's now been more than 10 days since the accident and Mary's already home. She's doing really well, although she tires easily and her head tends to bleed mysteriously but not in any way that's dangerous, according to the doctors. She's chatting with all her friends on line, getting text messages from boys, and doing just about everything she used to do before the accident. It's terrific to see.
Anna has amazed all the doctors and nurses in the hospital with how strong she is. Many people who were injured like like she was (broken ribs, smashed mouth and mandible, lacerated liver and spleen, broken back, and a hole in her lung) don't live. Well, she has not only lived, but she's completely herself. 100% Anna. If you know her, you'll know what I mean. She got to keep her spleen, her liver's fine, her lung is staying inflated, and today she walked up and down the hospital hall with her back brace on. The doctor told her today that if her physical therapist gives her the okay, it's possible that she could come home as early as tomorrow.
The girls' dear friend Taylor also had a visit to the ICU where a problem with his lung and pneumonia caused him to flatline at least once. Well, he too has surpassed all expectations. He's home now and doing just fine.
My sister Emily wrote about how wonderful teenagers and young people are. She couldn't be more right. For anyone who has a teenager and been irritated by the seeming self-centeredness or the arguments, stop and think, "Suppose this teen almost died today." It makes a big difference how you view them. I don't know if this 47-year-old body could have lived through what Anna, Mary, and Taylor lived through. I credit the zest for life, the passion, and the feeling of invincibility that is part of the nature of teenagers as the reason these three young people have made such excellent progress and continue to do so.
So, I dedicate this brief post to all the teenagers out there. Y'all are an inspiration and bless you all for being yourselves--lost or found, good or bad, straight or high, sober or drunk, smoking or organizing anti-smoking campaigns, praying to or cursing God, singing hip hop or neopunk or country. You are truly miracles.
On September 22, 2007, an alleged drunk driver going more than 100 miles an hour in the middle of two interstate lanes rear-ended my daughter Mary's Honda Accord, pushing them 411 feet into the guard rail, where it bounced off and hit the guard rail again before landing in the median. My younger daughter Anna was critically injured and had to be airlifted by helicopter to the hospital. Mary broke a rib and suffered a bad cut on her head, which resulted in blood on her brain.
It's now been more than 10 days since the accident and Mary's already home. She's doing really well, although she tires easily and her head tends to bleed mysteriously but not in any way that's dangerous, according to the doctors. She's chatting with all her friends on line, getting text messages from boys, and doing just about everything she used to do before the accident. It's terrific to see.
Anna has amazed all the doctors and nurses in the hospital with how strong she is. Many people who were injured like like she was (broken ribs, smashed mouth and mandible, lacerated liver and spleen, broken back, and a hole in her lung) don't live. Well, she has not only lived, but she's completely herself. 100% Anna. If you know her, you'll know what I mean. She got to keep her spleen, her liver's fine, her lung is staying inflated, and today she walked up and down the hospital hall with her back brace on. The doctor told her today that if her physical therapist gives her the okay, it's possible that she could come home as early as tomorrow.
The girls' dear friend Taylor also had a visit to the ICU where a problem with his lung and pneumonia caused him to flatline at least once. Well, he too has surpassed all expectations. He's home now and doing just fine.
My sister Emily wrote about how wonderful teenagers and young people are. She couldn't be more right. For anyone who has a teenager and been irritated by the seeming self-centeredness or the arguments, stop and think, "Suppose this teen almost died today." It makes a big difference how you view them. I don't know if this 47-year-old body could have lived through what Anna, Mary, and Taylor lived through. I credit the zest for life, the passion, and the feeling of invincibility that is part of the nature of teenagers as the reason these three young people have made such excellent progress and continue to do so.
So, I dedicate this brief post to all the teenagers out there. Y'all are an inspiration and bless you all for being yourselves--lost or found, good or bad, straight or high, sober or drunk, smoking or organizing anti-smoking campaigns, praying to or cursing God, singing hip hop or neopunk or country. You are truly miracles.
posted by Froshty | 4:14 PM
3 Comments:
I am so, so, so glad that your girls and their friend are out of danger. And you're right, every teen IS a miracle. I think THEY suffer from OUR stereotyping, and that isn't fair.
It has been amazing watching Anna's and Mary's recoveries, albeit from a distance. Most of us parents of teens forget that teens are "works in progress" and that our job is to help them become self-sufficient adults. In time, most of them become just that. Thanks for sharing your blog with us and for the gift of your friendship! Sandy
I am glad you had the courage to share this. This is a real relief for me. Tell your daughters that a complete stranger from the other side of the Atlantic was impatiently waiting for any encouraging news.
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