ONE NEVER KNOWS WHAT LIFE HAS INSTORE FOR THEM
On June 30th, 2012 Angie was hit by a speeding pickup truck at the corner of 3rd St. and 12th Ave. SE in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The impact sent her flying through the air about seventy five feet and caused great body and head injuries. She was taken to Mercy Hospital by ambulance and then immediately transfered to The University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. The first 4 or 5 days after the accident Angie was unconscious most of the time but when she was a wake she was delirious and thought she was at work.
Although she has shown much improvment now, she still has a long, long row to hoe.
We pray for Angie every Day!
Although she has shown much improvment now, she still has a long, long row to hoe.
We pray for Angie every Day!
Click on each Picture to enlarge
Up Date on Angie
Angie has improved so fast that she was dismissed to her parent's home last Tuesday and this week end was with her husband, Darrin. She called Her mother on Sunday saying that Darrin is going to drop her off when he goes to work Monday at 2:30p.m. and then he will pick her up on his way home at 12:30 a.m. When Angie was working, they both went right by there on their way to Amana as she worked the second shift also.
Angie is getting outpatient therapy two times a week with physical, occupational and speech therapists. Physical therapy, at this time, is basicly for balance. Occupational therapy is problem solving of which she seems to be very good at. Speech therapy is for remembering. Her long term memory is good, but her short term memory has a ways to go.
As for now, Angie is to do crossword puzzles, play games, do exercises two times a day, walk as much as anyone will take her for walks and rest.
Her eyesight hinders her from reading. She wears a patch over one eye at a time. She rotates the patch so that she doesn't get a lazy eye.
Of course, the eyesight hindrance bothers her and is a concern to her, but of greater concern is the seriousness of her remembering to double swallow. She needs to strengthen the swallowing muscle because her mind works faster than her brain is sending messages to her throat for her to swallow. If the food or drink should go to her lungs it would cause pneumonia.
But all in all Angie has recovered much faster then any one ever thought she would. If she keep doing as she has she should be back to work long before she is expected to be now.
Angie is getting outpatient therapy two times a week with physical, occupational and speech therapists. Physical therapy, at this time, is basicly for balance. Occupational therapy is problem solving of which she seems to be very good at. Speech therapy is for remembering. Her long term memory is good, but her short term memory has a ways to go.
As for now, Angie is to do crossword puzzles, play games, do exercises two times a day, walk as much as anyone will take her for walks and rest.
Her eyesight hinders her from reading. She wears a patch over one eye at a time. She rotates the patch so that she doesn't get a lazy eye.
Of course, the eyesight hindrance bothers her and is a concern to her, but of greater concern is the seriousness of her remembering to double swallow. She needs to strengthen the swallowing muscle because her mind works faster than her brain is sending messages to her throat for her to swallow. If the food or drink should go to her lungs it would cause pneumonia.
But all in all Angie has recovered much faster then any one ever thought she would. If she keep doing as she has she should be back to work long before she is expected to be now.
2nd UPDATE ON ANGIE'S HEALTH
It has been 12 weeks from today Sept 15th, since Angie has been dismissed from St. Luke's Hospital. She is still in her parents home while Darrin is working, and she is still getting outpatient therapy. She is given homework and exercises to do at home. While she is improving, The double and blurry vision hinders her the most on steps, and when she is reading, but that is improving. Her balance seems to be improving, but what is slow is the short term memory and she doesn't get headaches or as tired as she did at first.
Angie had a CT scan done and the surgeon showed Darrin and Angie the scarring on the brain.
The doctor at St. Lukes out patient therapy informed Darrin & Angie that the Amana leave of absence release was extended to January 1st. Angie's range of motion moving her head from side to side isn't good and when bending down she gets dizzy. The outpatient therapy seems to be continually working on new and different developments. She keeps a journal writing down whatever she does and experiences. Still she is one miraculous gal.
At the time of Angie's being discharged from St. Luke's Hospital, 7/24, the neuropsychology doctor said that she would see Angie again on Oct. 25, and Angie was given things she could do and things she could not do.
Her brain works harder than usual now just to do the normal things - Angie does not have the stamina she was used to, and her condition gets worse if she is tired. If she does too much she gets frustrated. She needs to rest before she gets tired, even if she doesn't want to sleep. So, going back to work too soon, could be a dangerous set back.
She has been doing some cooking in her home, and when fixing something on the stove, she stays right by the stove, so that she is sure to turn it off, and she is walking two miles a day probably three times a week with her mother and father. The occupational therapist said for her to write down everything she does in a day to help her with the short term memory. She is diligent to do what she is suppose to do.
One entrance of the Cedar River Nature Trail is near Darrin and Angie's house and Angie and Darrin take advantage of it. Before the accident Angie was walking three miles a day with their dog.
Darrin takes Angie to outpatient therapy on Monday and Thursday mornings. If he thought he was busy before the accident, he certainly is now. The dog has become his responsibility but the dog has cancer and supposedly has approximately two months to live. Losing him will be hard for both.
Angie had a CT scan done and the surgeon showed Darrin and Angie the scarring on the brain.
The doctor at St. Lukes out patient therapy informed Darrin & Angie that the Amana leave of absence release was extended to January 1st. Angie's range of motion moving her head from side to side isn't good and when bending down she gets dizzy. The outpatient therapy seems to be continually working on new and different developments. She keeps a journal writing down whatever she does and experiences. Still she is one miraculous gal.
At the time of Angie's being discharged from St. Luke's Hospital, 7/24, the neuropsychology doctor said that she would see Angie again on Oct. 25, and Angie was given things she could do and things she could not do.
Her brain works harder than usual now just to do the normal things - Angie does not have the stamina she was used to, and her condition gets worse if she is tired. If she does too much she gets frustrated. She needs to rest before she gets tired, even if she doesn't want to sleep. So, going back to work too soon, could be a dangerous set back.
She has been doing some cooking in her home, and when fixing something on the stove, she stays right by the stove, so that she is sure to turn it off, and she is walking two miles a day probably three times a week with her mother and father. The occupational therapist said for her to write down everything she does in a day to help her with the short term memory. She is diligent to do what she is suppose to do.
One entrance of the Cedar River Nature Trail is near Darrin and Angie's house and Angie and Darrin take advantage of it. Before the accident Angie was walking three miles a day with their dog.
Darrin takes Angie to outpatient therapy on Monday and Thursday mornings. If he thought he was busy before the accident, he certainly is now. The dog has become his responsibility but the dog has cancer and supposedly has approximately two months to live. Losing him will be hard for both.
3rd And Final Up Date
Angie,has been released to begin work on Monday Oct. 28 2012, and in the department that she was in when the accident happened, and she is now permitted to drive a car. She got the news last Thursday and she is excited. Although she might find that she will tire alittle at first, she will with the grace of God be able to do
it again. She has always been a hard worker, and she makes things happen and she doesn't hesitate to tackle a job and will get it done.
it again. She has always been a hard worker, and she makes things happen and she doesn't hesitate to tackle a job and will get it done.
Hang In There
Hello, my friend; You’re on my mind,
Because you're somehow
ailing,
But your response to any challenge
Has always been
unfailing.
So I’m confident you’ll win again;
Hang in there, and you’ll
see;
You’ll be back on top in no time,
Tackling life
courageously.
By Joanna Fuchs
Because you're somehow
ailing,
But your response to any challenge
Has always been
unfailing.
So I’m confident you’ll win again;
Hang in there, and you’ll
see;
You’ll be back on top in no time,
Tackling life
courageously.
By Joanna Fuchs