Thursday, October 15, 2009

20 Years Ago Today!

It was October 15, 1989 (20 years ago today). I was 6 years old and had woke up that morning and began to wonder around the house. My mom had gone out with a friend the night before and her son was babysitting my brother and I. They had done this before, but this time it was different….my mom hadn’t come home. I remember pacing the house wondering why my mom wasn’t there. I went and woke my brother and the babysitter up and told them I think there is something wrong. It wasn’t minutes later and there was a knock on the door….it was the parent’s of my mom’s friend coming to tell us that they had been in a terrible car accident. There wasn’t time to comprehend what had happened, we had to pack our bags and leave with them. The next days and weeks were like a whirlwind. Since we lived in Rockport, MO (top North-West corner of Missouri) at the time, we didn’t have our family there to help watch my brother and I since they all lived in Mid-Mo. I did have the support of my Dad who lived in Nebraska and my grandparents who lived in Iowa. Ryan and I were bounced from house to house. We stayed with my grandparents, friends, teachers, etc. Everyone in the community was reaching out to help us.

In the mean time, my mom was in a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska fighting for her life. The accident happened as they were heading home that evening. Mom was asleep in the passenger seat and her friend was driving the car. Her friend fell asleep at the wheel and failed to stop at an intersection. They went thru a fence, struck a tree, and rolled the vehicle multiple times. And that is where they laid for 4.5 hours before they were found. My mom suffered a severe head injury and was in a coma for 4 days. Many people said she was unrecognizable because of all the swelling. Because of the trauma, mom had to re-learn a lot of everyday things. She was almost in a child-like state of mind before she was rehabilitated. I don’t know how long it was before Ryan and I got to see her in the hospital, but it was quite awhile. The first time we saw her they actually wheeled her out into the waiting room, all I could do was cry. Seeing my mom in a helpless state with tubes coming out of her was frightening. I was afraid to hug her…touch her…and even look at her. It wasn’t the same woman I remembered.

My mom was in the Omaha Hospital for over a month before she was approved to be transferred to Rusk Rehabilitation Center in Columbia, MO. Rusk has an excellent reputation for rehab, plus it was closer to our family. Mom worked for a Company called Excel at the time. Excel was kind enough to let us use their private jet to fly us from Omaha to Columbia because mom wasn’t able to handle a long car ride. When mom was transferred to Columbia, Ryan and I moved in with my Grandma Hollis in Vienna. Mom spent over another month in Rusk hospital before she was released just before Christmas to move in with my Grandma as well.

We lived at my Grandma’s house for over a year while my mom continued to recover before we moved back to our home in Rockport. Eight months later, my mom decided that we would move back closer to the family so we bought a house in Jefferson City. Mom said if it wasn’t for the accident, we probably would have never moved from Rockport. It is crazy how life works. One day you’re traveling down a path and then a life changing event happens that causes you to veer in a different direction. I hate that my mom had to go thru such a tragic accident but I am grateful that it has lead me to where I am today.

Mom says she knows she isn’t the same woman she was before the accident, but to me she is no different because she has always been a wonderful mom and I think she did a damn good job raising me. I am grateful she is alive.

3 comments:

Sarah said...

Kelly - now THAT was a tearjerker! I can't imagine going through anything like that - especially at 6! You're so good at seeing the good in things. I'm glad your Mom is still with us. What a gift!

Connie said...

I knew your Mom had been in a car accident but I didn't realize the extent of the injuries. What a tragic time for your family. I'm sure it was very hard for your Grandma Hollis, as she had already lost a son in an accident. Terry and I graduated together. In grade school we were in a music program Lily of the Valley. I was the bride, Chesley Jones was the groom, Barry Nelson was the preacher and Terry was the ring bearer. Such memories. The Class of 1975 was (and still is) a close group. We had a tribute to Terry at our 25th Class Reunion.
Life does take many turns, sometimes we don't understand at the time but later it all comes together. Your life now shows how a tragic accident has put you right where you should be.
Take care,
Connie

Erin said...

I knew none of this! Such a hard thing for you and your family to go through, I can't even imagine. Sarah said it, it is a tearjerker. We are glad your mother is with us today and like you said... it is trouble that she had to go through that but we are glad that you made it here to us.