Our holidays were a blur going from one family party to the next. We enjoyed Thanksgiving with my family this year, and Christmas Eve with the Dorius clan. It was nice to have all of our siblings in town and we enjoyed spending time with them.
Grandparents
Quinn and Ian
"Christmas Chaos"
We started off this year with a bang- literally! Matt and I invited my parents to go snowmobiling new years day up to Monte Cristo. The day started off well and we had an enjoyable time riding to the top of Monte in the 3 degree weather! As we were just about to reach our lunch/rest spot my parents hit a rather large bump that was hidden in the shadows. My mom was on the back of the sled and was jolted upward. As she came hurling down, the sled came rising up and they collided rather hard. Matt and I were behind them and watched them get bounced around, amazed that they stayed on the sled.Little did we know that that "collision" came with a large consequence. My mom had hurt her back and we knew she needed to get off the mountain quick, although we had no clue as to the extent of the damage. After a 45 min ride going 2mph (taking precautions) we made it back to the car. An hour later we had my mom at the ER where she calmly walked with the help of my dad and waited her turn. After a quick evaluation they sent her into fast track (meaning "we'll get you in and out as fast as possible") were she received a shot of muscle relaxer and waited for x-rays... "just to be safe" as the doctor put it.
Two hours later my mom got the new that she had a broken back (T12) and would need a CT scan. Two hours later she got the CT scan and found out her break was not stable and surgery was needed immediately. Yet another three hours after that she got her MRI results that her back was indeed very unstable. Bone fragments were pushing into over 50% of her spinal column. At around 10pm that night we met with her neurosurgeon and were informed that she now had to wait 3-4 days for surgery because there was too much blood and swelling in her back. 
Talk about a domino effect day. Things went from bad to worse in a matter of hours. It was so surreal getting more bad news after another- I don't know how my mom held herself together! Four days after the accident my mom had massive surgery to remove her vertebrae, disk, and rib. Yes she lost a rib in this whole process. Because of the location of her break the surgeons had to do what they call an anterior approach to surgery. The surgery began with her cardiovascular-thoracic surgeon going in her side taking out her 10th rib, cutting her diaphragm, deflating her lung, and moving her heart and kidneys. Then the Neurosurgeon was able to go in and remove all of her bone shards. Seven and a half hours later my mom was a new women! They replaced her vertebrae and 2 disks with screws and a titanium mesh box that they filled with a paste consisting of her 10th rib and all of the back bone fragment. Eventually the bone paste will grow over her box and cover the metal.
What a miracle! The surgeon was amazed when he saw my mom's first set of x-rays. The doctor informed us that 50% of patients with this type of break are paralyzed immediately and some become paralyzed over the next day or so. Everyday the doctor came to check on my mom, expecting to see her state go downhill. This whole experience has shown me how prayers can go a long way! I have been amazed and overwhelmed by the support, generosity, and kindness shown to my mom through family and friends. She is getting better everyday and glad to be home and out of the hospital!
After getting the news of needing surgery
Post surgery close-up
walking the halls of the hospital after 7 days of being bed-bound
Mom's new sweet set up in the family room
5 comments:
Oh my heck, that is crazy. Your poor mom. I hope she's having a quick recovery.
We need to catch up! Call me!
-Michelle Butler
Wow what w whirl of events! Your poor mom! I cant believe that :( it made bryson sick looking at the x-ray, he couldn't even listen to the rest. I hope she is healing fast.
So where will matt be working for pwc? Bryson's brother works for the company in portland. That is exciting to see the light at the end of all this schooling! And you are doing nursing? That is awesome! Thanks for the update, I love reading your blog:)
Brooke and I just read your post again. We are thinking about you and your mom and will continue to keep our prayers with your family!
Hi Kiera, it is your cousin. I found your blog and I am so sorry to hear your moms back problems. I can't believe that her and Aunt Michelle had surgeries so close together. I am so glad she is doing better and hopefully recovering soon. I had to change to a new blog at whitbysblog.blogspot.com tell your family hi.
Oh my gosh! Last October we invited my in-laws to ID with my parents and my mom in law rolled a four wheeler over on her. (she wasn't very experienced and it was probably a bit too hard of a trail) anyways she ended up in the ER with broken back and ribs. I felt horrible! still do. I am so glad your mom is okay! I'm sure Matt felt horrible, nothing worse then mom in law getting injured on your planned adventure. Lets get together soon!
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