On December 27 we made our way home to Columbus, stressed-out brain-injured daughter and all her comfort items in tow…
Her release from the acute care ward of the Neurosciences floor was nothing short of miraculous…her lack of understanding of the severity of the injury, however, a troubling side effect of severe head trauma.
December 28th…
A pleasant evening…and then an odd morning. She was slow…her walk…her speech…her mental accuity…and then there was the troublesome nasal discharge…CSF? We called the neuro surgeon on call in Kentucky.
“Take her to OSU…”
And here we are. Back again. IVs and CAT scans…scary words like brain surgery, rehabilitation, long 
term implications, neuro-recovery…these are the new vocabulary words that fill our conversation.
She wept when she saw the CT scan…but it was the only way the neuro surgeons could convince her to stay and not leave. “My head is so broken…” Like a caged animal, she paced and raged in the small room that seem to close in on all her hopes and dreams…
And my heart breaks for her. Because she wants to be gone. To run away. To be done with all this. She’s so terrified of what’s ahead. Everyone seems to be an enemy and every setback an insurmmountable obstacle. Tomorrow: another contrast CT to see if she’s leaking CSF or if there is a continuing bleed in an artery adjacent to the sphenoid sinus.
Her team of doctors and rehabilitative professionals are doing all they can to encourage her to stay here, in Columbus…but she doesn’t want to.
She fears dependence like nothing else right now…and she needs to be able to lean in and be held up for awhile. Please pray for her comfort. For peace of mind. For enough cognitive function to make good decisions. As an adult trauma patient, no one can force her to do even what’s best. We want nothing more than her independence and good health…it’s so hard to feel that she sees her parents as supporting the “enemy…”
Oh, that my heart were lighter…that my faith were greater…but it is only grace that is carrying me along right now. I’m spent…right to the last nickel. But I do know that it’s usually when things are darkest that we see the Light.
Light of Christ…illuminate me! Dispel the darkness…drive out despair…guide us to that perfect understanding of your holy will…
Blessings,
Kimberly
Dear Kimberly, I will continue to pray for Meredith and all of you. I woke up in the middle of the night and offered prayers for her continued recovery. This must be so very difficult to deal with, especially for such a young woman. May God continue to bless you!
Oh Kimberly, I’ve been praying, and will continue the fervent prayers for Meredith, that she see how you, and the doctors, only want what is best for her, and indeed have her long-term independence in mind. It must be such a horrible thing to be going through, for all of you. Praying the Lord guides the medical team’s thoughts, decisions and hands as they care for her. I pray the Lord wraps His arms around Meredith and gives her the peace and comfort only He can give, that she rests in that, and in lets you and the medical team do what is necessary for her to recover completely from this. ((((Kimberly))))
Still praying here, and now more than ever… If this injury threatens your daughter’s mental competence, doesn’t the law allow you as parents to act as guardians ad litem? Obviously, that still doesn’t lessen the pain of your being forced into such a contentious position when all you want to do is provide comfort and care for your daughter…but if it’s in the long term interest of her health? God bless you.
Kimberly: I feel you are about to witness a miracle as you see her healing. Hang onto that grace and pray, pray, pray, as I will also. Immediately i will be praying the Devine Mercy Chaplet/…In the Name of the Father, The Son and The holy Spirit – The Devine Mercy Chaplet….for those reading this blog,please join in…..Sister in Christ, Anita
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I am just finding out about this. We will pray for you. Myself and a couple of my kids recieved Art trading cards from you and your children. We’ll put them out tomorrow in a special place so that we remember to pray often. God bless you.
Kristen! It’s so lovely to see your name in the combox! I’ve been meaning to put those lovely cards on “display” on the blog…perhaps as things wind down a bit. Thank you so much for your kind words and prayers!
Praying hard for your daughter and family now. God bless you for keeping the faith through this dark time. He will indeed shine His light on you.
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