We (mom, dad and I) arrived at De Paul Medical Center in St Louis about 10:45 this evening. We went to see Caroline in her room in ICU.
Nothing could have prepared me for seeing my sister laying in a bed - bruised, broken, unresponsive; with a mask on pushing air into her lungs. Her right arm was swollen 2 times it's normal size and bruised horribly. They have a sling and a removal cast on her hand to hold the 3 breaks she has on that arm.
The 3 vertabra in her neck are not just broken, they are completely shattered and her spinal cord is hanging loosely and the spinal fluid has poured into her neck area. She has a neck brace on, with the face mask forcing air into her mouth and nose, she has a feeding tube going into her nose - and a body cast made of some kind of composite material strapped around her body to give her support so she won't sever the spinal cord.
Her kidneys have shut down causing extreme swelling over her whole body. She can not speak. Her lungs are filling with fluid. She has had no pain meds since Tuesday and still can not wake up to talk to people.
She said once to her friend Brenda the first day she was here: "I do not want to live in a wheelchair the rest of my life."
She has said hello to Anna and her son Jim. When they had her raised up some yesterday she was able to nod her head yes or no to questions. Then she would wear out and sleep more.
When we came into the room mom went to her and said, "Caroline, it is Mom, I am here with you." She started swinging her left arm and hand looking for mom. She patted mom on the face and held her hand. Then she pushed mom away knowing dad was there too and reaching for him. She patted his face also. I have never before seen my dad lay over his daughter as if she were a small child with a bruise saying, "Sis, Daddy is here, Daddy is here honey." She then wanted mom and she patted her cheek again and held her hand. I held her hand, patted her and told her I loved her. She was then tired and went back to sleep and calmed down.
Anna said that is the most excited she had seen her since she got there on Tuesday. She had never waved her arm around reaching for anyone before. She knew her folks were here.
As we understand it - her kidneys have failed completely, she is paralyzed from the chestbone down. She will never walk again. She would have to be kept on life support and a breathing tube for as long as she lives. She would also have to be fed by the tube in her nose. She would wear the neck brace for 6 months to a year. She would go to a rehab hospital for that 6 mos to a hear, then to a care home. She will never be able to care for herself again, to feed herself, to walk - to go to church or go visit with friends and do her Stampin' Up cards she loves to do.
Along with the kidney problems her lungs are filling with fluid - her body can not pass the fluids in her system. They have quit giving her fluid to keep her hydrated because the fluid stays in her body.
This is my sister that doesn't like anything tight on her and she has things all over her that are tight. When she can she pulls on them trying to take them off.
I don't know what is going to happen tomorrow, they are to take her to a "comfort level of care" which means unhooking all the meds, montiors and she is wearing a DNR bracelet. I pray that when they remove the mask, and all else that she can at least talk to us for a little bit and we can all share our love for her and that we are willing to let her go, that it is okay. Heaven is waiting for this gentle, giving, loving woman so has done so much for so many and expected nothing in return.
So many times in my life I have seen her bruised up but this time it looks like someone beat her with a ball bat.
Please pray that when the "comfort only care" is given that God will let her to go sleep peacefully and then she will be with him and will no longer be sick or hurting like she has for months and months.
Jim has a bad stomach infection where his dailysis line is in his stomach. He needs your prayers also, as he is close to being in the hospital himself.
I will keep you posted.
