They say every face in a crowd has a story to tell, this is my story..

The news shows and newspapers all called it 'Road Rage'. To me that sounded like a disease, an affliction that can make you kill. A sorry excuse to take the claw end of a hammer and slam it repeatedly into the skull of a human being. In April of 1999 my little brother passed away. Doesn't passed away sound so gentle, even normal? David's death was neither. It was murder. He was found lying in a strangers driveway in a pool of blood. He had been punched, stomped and beaten over his entire body. I still have so many questions. I wrote this book at first for therapy and then for answers. I have found a few. I mainly realized l lost a brother tragically and senselessly. Like every other face in the crowd I have a story..and I want to share my story with you! PUBLICATION DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL :)

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Friday Fragments x2

I shopped and packed and filled my car to the brim and headed to the Jersey Shore for 7 days of beach fun and family time. It is very difficult to get all of our children and grand children together in one place for dinner let alone a week at the beach. We did it and it was chaotic; a lot of work and also the best family vacation ever! We celebrated 5 birthday's and a huge thank you to Mrs.4444's mother for the beautiful birthday song!:)
I will say I had computer withdrawal all week and have so much to catch up on.
On the way home last Saturday I drove the car with my 7 yr. old grand son Jimmy. My husband was in front of us on his Harley. We stopped to pay a bridge toll and the front tire of the Harley went flat. How lucky were we that it happened going 5 miles an hour and not 55? Very lucky indeed.
Sunday we were exhausted so we unpacked and chilled for the day watching the Phillie's game. We went to bed very early and on Monday it was back to work :(
We were still pretty wiped out Monday night so again we went to bed early.
Our phone rang at 1:00 am. When you have 5 kids and 11 grand kids a phone call at 1:00 am is never good news. Our first thought was something was wrong with brand new baby Peyton; she had been having some apnea and trouble with her breathing.
It was not the baby. It was the hospital and my 29 year old stepson, Michael had been in a motorcycle accident. They told us he was in surgery. The trauma center is 8 minutes from our house and for 8 minutes I prayed dear Lord please let him have had his helmet on. He did; Thank God. He had a deep gash on the back of his head that required staples to close. He was in surgery because he had internal bleeding from his spleen; a very damaged kidney, torn liver, bowel and just about every other organ. The surgery did not go well they could not even close him up, so they just packed him full of gauze to try to stop some of the bleeding until they could stabilize him. He also had an open fracture on his fore arm and broken ribs. He was critical and unstable. His mother was on a plane and on her way from Ohio.
This blog is about the book I wrote on the murder of my younger brother David. He died of massive head trauma.Today is his birthday, he would have been 38. Once I new Michael had no head trauma I was calm. I new he had terrible injuries but I also knew he is strong (a title holding kick boxer) and very healthy. He does not smoke or drink.
I found it very strange the faith I had that he would be okay. Head trauma kills people, everything else can be fixed, right? We, his father, mother, stepfather and I have not left him. 5 days and 5 surgeries he is still critical and has not opened his eyes. They will try surgery again on Sunday if he is stable. I must do a complete post at one point on the drama of the trauma center in Chester, Pa. In the mean time I will continue to fragment. Baby Adriana who is 13 month's was hospitalized yesterday with 105 temp. and dehydration. Hand, foot and mouth disease. What a stupid name for sores in your mouth and a fever. This was most likely caused by the scrumptious Atlantic Ocean water she swallowed and possibly a mouthful or two of sand. She will be fine but of course my daughter is very upset. I found myself so torn between driving an hour to be with my daughter or staying in the ICU with Michael. My son-in-law answered for me and said I was to stay put. This was their 3rd child and they would all be fine.
I went to work today for a short 3 hour shift to take care of someone else's old person. Her cat threw up the entire time I was there and the washer overflowed. Not quite the diversion I was looking for. I need another vacation. I need Michael to be okay.
Thank you for letting me empty my brain and thank you Mrs. 4444 for hosting Friday Fragments, scroll down for the link. Thank you also to all of my new friends at blogger's over 40. I am going to sleep now for a little bit and when I get up I am going to visit some of my favorite blogs hoping for a smile. Then I will go back to the hospital. If you are the praying type please send a few Michael's way and please all of you drive safely and have a nice 4th of July.

13 comments:

  1. Oh honey, you need more than a vacation! How about a hug? Adding my prayers for speedy recoveries. If you have that calm that everything will be okay, then it will. It's just a matter of getting there and enduring everyone else's worries.

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  2. Prayers to you and the family. Your faith is beautiful and strong. One step at a time.

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  3. Yeah I'm down with the hug idea!! You need all you can get. I am praying for Michael and I hope you have some good news soon.

    Visiting from Friday Fragments (I participate in my Everyday Mommy blog)
    Best wishes.

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  4. Thank you sweet ladies; I feel the hugs!

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  5. Oh Doreen!
    That is a LOT of hard things to happen at once! I will be praying for you and for your precious family!

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  6. Check out my post today if you want to find all the good stuff in one place! :)

    I dropped everything and prayed for Michael and your family--That's horribly scary. I'm so glad he was wearing a helmet~!

    Thinking of you in this anniversary week.

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  7. Praying for Michael and the rest of you. XO!

    Congratulations on your tomato!! :o)

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  8. Virtual hugs and prayers to you, dear. I am so sorry to hear this. Thank you for stopping by and adding my blog and also for your kind words in relation to my passion for starting Bloggers Against drunk driving. I am deeply story to hear your tragic story and offer you a spot in my heart.
    Amanda
    Hollywood Chic

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  9. Thanks for visiting my blog, Smellyann Strikes Again, and leaving your lovely comments about my smiling children. I came over to visit and found your terrible news about Michael. I am so sorry and will be praying for him and your family. Did they know what caused the accident? Is he in an induced coma? I hope he will pull through and be back on the road to recovery before you know it. Big ((((HUGS)))).

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  10. We still have no idea what caused the accident. He is not in an induced coma and does not have serious head trauma just a bad concussion. He had all the correct clothing on including his helmet and is an experienced rider. The police think someone seriously cut him off or an animal ran in front of him...he is having his 6st surgery this afternoon to try to stop the pesky internal bleeding. Thank you all for your prayers..they are working!

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  11. HI...thanks for stopping by my blog. I love new visitors. I don't have a "follower" thingy on my blog. I found myself getting to caught up with it and it was making me crazy.
    You have had your hands full girl. Alot of stress. I hope everyone is doing better and yes, since I am the praying type I will pray for Michael.
    Kinda cool. I have 5 kids too and 10 grandkids.
    Makes for a full life indeed.

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  12. My prayers are with you and your family. I hope you get plenty of hugs! Here is mine (((hug)))

    Warm wishes for a brighter tomorrow,

    CG

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  13. I don't know what to say...nothing is horrific enough.
    I will be praying for Michael, you and your family! That's the least I can do in this situation.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog. I apologize it took me time to come to yours. I'm still working on the over 40 list.

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