Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Life...........and a Level One Trauma........the Details Part 2



Part 1

There were no answers as to how this had happened. The only one who knew was Lindsay and she wasn't talking.

Dave had found her face down in the dirt of the small paddock right next to the barn. Heiress, not wearing a halter, was in her stall with the door still open. Bey Aana who was wearing a halter and dangling a lead was right outside that door in between Lindsay on the ground and Heiress in the open stall.

Every time that Heiress tried to look out or come out of that stall, Bey Aana pinned her ears and forced her back into the depths. Aana was clearly protecting the downed, unconscious girl who had befriended her and won her trust when she first came to live at this Arabian breeding farm.

Dave had had to close Heiress's stall door to secure that horse. Then he had to catch Bey Aana and put her back into the field behind the paddock before he could even attend to his unconscious daughter.

Once both horses were securely away from Lindsay, Dave carefully rolled her over just like he'd been taught in one of his many first aid classes at work. Then he checked to see that see was breathing.

About that time, Lindsay began to stir. She weakly cried out, "Mommy............Mommy" and that's when Dave ran off to get me. From that point on to when the emergency crews arrived, Lindsay didn't speak another word. She just laid there softly crying.

That's how she was when the paramedics arrived. For the longest time they couldn't get any kind of answer from her. When they finally did get to respond to some questions she didn't know where she was, what had happened, her name or even what day it was. It was clear that Lindsay was disoriented and very shook up. There was no question that Lindsay needed to be taken to a Class One Trauma Unit.

I wasn't disoriented at all but things got kind of confusing for me as well. Even though I knew what to expect from my own encounter with a horse related head injury Every time I turned around it seemed like someone new was asking me the same questions about what had happened and Lindsay's previous brain trauma. I must have answered those same questions at least four times and I wasn't the one with the head trauma. We weren't getting anywhere near being ready to leave the farm.

As the firemen worked at getting her stabilized and secure for transport, Dave asked if they were going to take her to Good Samaritan in Puyallup. Before I could get the words out of my mouth that I wanted Lindsay to go to a class one trauma unit (like my friend, Jean, had drilled into my head), at least three firemen beat me to it. It seems I've not the only one to have learned since my last encounter with the fire department. Lindsay was going to go somewhere they knew how to deal with a horse related injury to the head. There wouldn't be any mistakenly sending her home without even being checked out like had happened with me.

Once the decision was clear Lindsay was going to a trauma center things started to get hectic. It turned out that all of Pierce County's traumas were being diverted. How you can have three major trauma units and all of them too busy to accept anymore patients when there wasn't a full moon or a major catastrophe was beyone me. But that's exactly what we had.

Next thing you know they were talking about helicopters and transporting Lindsay to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. I started to panic. Dollar signs and the already mass confusion about my horse business because of Dave losing his job whirled around in my head. Add to that transport to a place a helicopter could land so we could fly to Seattle made it seem like that much longer before Lindsay would even get TO a trauma center mad this whole thing even more terrifying to me.

The only other consideration was the military trauma unit at Madigan Medical Center. For that to be available we have to be connected to the military. They asked us if we had any military affiliations at all. Dave didn't even hear the question but I responded that he was a veteran. They asked me what war..................I responded Viet Nam. Someone said that's a connection and before you know it the approval came to transport Lindsay to Madigan.

To be continued..............

Part 3

Lindsay came home from the hospital late this afternoon. She has an assortment of prescriptions including an anti seizure medication and something for her headaches. She also needs follow up care with a neurologist. She tires easily and must be closely monitored but she's really happy to be home..........because she missed her cat.........and, of course, Bey Aana.

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20 comments:

  1. Wow. I am stunned by the photo of these two. Just excellent.

    Patty and I will be celebrating 53 years of marriage on July 12th. Think of it as a long-term relationship.

    I have invited bloggers to offer suggestions on a gift for me to give Patty and the list would not be complete without your ideas.

    Abraham Lincoln
    Brookville Daily Photo

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  2. I am so glad Lindsay is home! I can't imagine how you held it together through this whole thing! Tell her that she has lots of us out here in Bloggsville praying for a speedy recovery!!!

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  3. Good lord MiKael. What a terrifying story and you aren't even done telling it. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

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  4. Wonderful that Lindsey came home. Bey Anna's protectiveness made me cry.

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  5. Dear MiKael,

    I am so glad to hear that Lindsay is home.

    Y'all continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.

    Please let us know if you need anything at all.

    Mary, Mike and Aidol

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  6. Glad she's home! What a nightmare. I hope she feels better and gets better very soon.

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  7. I am so relieved she seems to be doing okay. Tell her we're thinking about her (and you!!) over here.

    Hugs

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  8. abraham, this is Bey Aana with her first foal, Chase. He looks much like his mother. It is one of Lindsay's favorite photos.

    Wow! 53 years of marriage. That's pretty cool. I will have to think about an appropriate gift.

    midlife mom, I'm really glad that Lindsay is home too. I have passed along your message. She smiled a silly smile in response.

    dressagemom, it really was terrifying. I was so relieved when I finally saw some "normal" behavior from her.

    molly, Bey Aana's protectiveness certainly saved Lindsay from added injury. It gives her a special place in my heart, I can tell you.

    mary, thanks for your support and give Aidol some extra scratches plz! Times like this, I miss those special horses in my life.

    arthist99, she seems to be having a rough morning but other than that I know she's really glad to be home.

    jib, we're relieved as well. For a time there, we didn't know what to expect. Her previous brain injury took so much time for her recovery. The fear of what we might be facing again was pretty over whelming.

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  9. I'm glad to hear she's home, but exactly happened? I hope she's able to fill you in at some point, anyway, hope she's feeling better soon and it's so cool that Bey anna was so protective.

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  10. I'm so glad to hear Lindsay is home and doing better! Bey Anna sounds like a great mare who did right by Lindsay in her time of need. Do you think Heiress knocked Lindsay down (hopefully not intentionally)?

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  11. OK...where have I been all of this time??? I have seen your name on other people's blog, but this is the first time I sat down and took the time to come on over.

    My thoughts go out to you and your family. It sounds like things are going to be back to normal in a few weeks ;)

    I was surprised to see who you are, and where you live. While I have never met you, I go to most of the local Arab shows, such as the Daffodil and Regionals, and have seen your stallion advertised before.
    Waaaayyyyyyy back, I used to take lessons and show with Harlan Blumenthal. Do you remeber, or know, him?

    Again...I am sending lots of positive energy and good thoughts your way.
    Take care!

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  12. My heart has been in my throat as I have read this and the last post. I am so glad that she is home. Has she been able to tell you what happened yet? That is the one thing with horses, as much as we think we know them and canpredict their behaviour, it can take one split second when they panic or something and their instinct kick in and that is when accidents like these happen. It has happened to me many times, no one to blame just a set of unpredictable circumstances and I am sure this is what happened to Lindsay because I can't believe that either horse would intentionally hurt her.

    (((Hugs))) to you and Lindsay and Dave (Bless his heart)

    Lori

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  13. callie, I don't know that we'll ever know exactly what happened. But I have no doubt in my mind had Bey Aana not kept Heiress in the stall that Lindsay would have been trampled on top of having a brain injury.

    dj, we do believe that Heiress is at the root of this. And you're right it wouldn't have been intentionally but dangerous still the same.

    the knutsons, It really is a small world. People claim that I know everyone around the Arab circuit which always makes me laugh because I know there are many, many people that I don't know.
    However, I do know Harlan.

    I am active in Daffodil and he used to be president way back wehn, not to mention we have worked on many shows together. He is retired now. I don't know if he's training any horses or not.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  14. Aiyoh, what a relief/tenterhooks. I'm so glad she's home. I was praying for her all day yesterday to not have any damage and be able to come home. Hopefully these next few weeks go really smoothly for her recovery!

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  15. Mikael,
    So glad to hear that Lindsay is home, I hope she has a speedy recovery. You really held it together during all of this trauma, I'm so impressed by BeyAna protecting Lindsay, and hope someday you can put all the pieces together about what actually happened. We are all thinking of you and wishing you and your family the best during this trying time.

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  16. Gosh I'm glad she is home. Bey Anna protecting her like that just blew me away. They are amazing animals these horses we love.

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  17. Mikael - My heart goes out to you and Dave and Lindsay. I'll pray that she has a quick and thorough recovery. Bey Aana is truly her guardian angel. Lots of hugs for all of you - You're very brave and you did the right thing in a terrifying circumstance.

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  18. I am so glad to hear she is well enough to come home.

    hugs to you and yours, for sure give that wonderful mare who stood over "her person" a scritch and a cookie from all of us here in PA

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  19. Oh MiKael-I was so shocked to come back from vacation and see that your family is dealing with another trauma.

    I hope Lindsey is recovering well and that you and Dave are doing okay as well.

    Hugs and Prayers from the Dakotas:)

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  20. My word but you've had such traumatic and exhausting experiences!

    Glad Lindsay is home and hope she mends quickly.

    I have a young friend in Woodinville who's had two concussions (the second one left his motorcycle helmet scrunched...saved his life). Very scary stuff..and he has all of his thick skull.

    Things can happen so quickly with horses, and the most innocent things can send one to the emergency room. One friend looked up while cleaning feet just as her horse went for a fly. He inadvertantly bit her lip and she ended up in the ER getting stitches. So the strangest things can happen.

    Sending good thoughts up your direction.

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