We were in a bad car accident on September 4. This is the story from my perspective- we each have our own. This was a horrible experience, but there are some ridiculous and funny things that happened in the middle of it all, so keep that in mind. I firmly believe humor can be found in most situations. Not all, but most.
It was the Sunday before Labor Day. We got home from church at 11, and I didn't have any meetings. I was feeling really antsy, like we needed to get out of the house and go somewhere and do something. I just needed a change of scenery, I guess.
Nils had bought the Tesla about a week and half before, so I suggested we go to the Salt Flats and drive it around up there. The girls had never been there, and we all thought it sounded like a fun plan. We packed a picnic, and headed to Wendover, where we could charge up the car. Had a delightful picnic while the car charged, and then drove to the Salt Flats.
We got there around 7:30, and the sun was setting. We took some fun pictures and were having a great night. There were a lot of people there that night- lots of Instagram models and brides taking pictures, so we were doing a little bit of funny photography to pretend like we were Instagram models, etc. Once it got dark, we thought we would see how fast we could go in the Tesla before heading home.
We started to drive and got going really fast, over 100 mph. What we didn't know is that there is an earthen berm creating a perimeter around the area. We were driving straight toward it and had no idea until it was too late. Nils only had time to turn the wheel to not hit it head on. I was in the passenger seat and took most of the impact.
I remember hitting to the side, and then hitting the airbags in the front of the car. When we all came to after the impact, we verified that everyone was alive, and then the chaos began. People who witnessed the crash ran to help, and called 911. Nils and the girls all got out of the car, but I was stuck. My left shoulder was dislocated, so I didn't have any leverage. Also, my back was hurting a lot, and I was stuck up against the berm. I don't remember much from this, just being in pain and wondering how I was going to get out of the car. I remember Addie screaming in pain from outside of the car. I remember a man cutting the airbags with a knife so people could access the car. I remember getting a drink from my water bottle, and reclining my seat because my back was hurting so much. I also remember thinking it was taking a long time for paramedics to get there. I have no idea how long it actually took, haha.
Addie was screaming, "It hurts so much!", and I yelled out "I HAVE IBUPROFEN!" like an idiot. She got a really severe seatbelt burn that was hurting her more than her broken rib and sternum. A nice lady was pouring water on her to try to help.
Eventually the police and paramedics arrived from Wendover and got me out of the car. I don't remember how, I just remember screaming a lot and being strapped to a backboard. When they laid me down on the ground, my shoulder made its way back into its socket, which I was grateful for.
The ambulance couldn't drive out onto the salt to get us, because they were afraid it was too heavy and would get stuck. They had to get pick up trucks to take us to the ambulance, so we were all loaded up in the back of those. When we got in the ambulance, I asked someone to knock me out. "Someone please knock me out and put me out of my misery!" I was probably moaning a lot, but I don't remember. I do remember that when I would cry, my sternum hurt so badly, so I had to control myself. The nice paramedics gave me morphine and versed, so I don't remember the TWO HOUR ambulance ride to the hospital.
Poor Addie was strapped to a backboard for the whole ride and was so uncomfortable. If I had had my wits about me, I wouldn't have stood for that, but I did not have my wits about me whatsoever. Aani and Ava were able to sit up in the back of the ambulance, and Nils rode up front.
They took Nils and me to the University of Utah Hospital, and the girls to Primary Children's, which are next door to each other. Once out of the ambulance, it was pure chaos and torture. I remember them cutting off my garments, bra and shirt. They pulled off my bottoms. The rolled me around to assess, and I screamed a lot. They pushed on my sternum and I screamed, they pressed on my back and I screamed. They transferred me from bed to bed using sheets, and I remember at one point saying, "You guys are wizards with these sheets!" Seriously impressive.
But the torture continued! They put me in a CT machine and told me to raise my arms above my head. I told them I couldn't do that with my left arm, so they did it for me. When I was in the machine, my shoulder started to slip out again, and I screamed, "STOP! STOP! I CAN'T DO THIS, PLEASE HELP ME!" It was all very primal and horrible. I was not laughing.
I had to pee really bad in the ER. I told someone this, and they put a little device in my legs and said I could pee. I couldn't do it. I wanted to, I was just quite tense and IN A BED, and couldn't make my muscles cooperate. Remember this for later. It's a theme.
A social worker came and talked to me for a few minutes. I told her we were all going to need counseling and would be given the Darwin Award.
The same social worker told Nils that the girls were going to be discharged from Primary's, and who could she call to come get them. I remember hearing this- I don't remember seeing Nils at all during this entire time in the ER.
They admitted me to the trauma floor. I still had to pee. I had to lie flat on my back, and had a neck collar on. I told my nurse I had to pee. They gave me a female urinal. Couldn't pee. They gave me a bed pan. Couldn't pee. I said, "My bladder hurts worse than all of my other injuries right now." They put a straight catheter in me (a one-time use catheter, blech) and I overflowed the bag. I told them I had to pee and they underestimated my seriousness.
I was told my injuries: 2 broken vertebrae, 2 broken ribs, a broken sternum, and they knew my shoulder was super messed up but didn't have a clear picture of what exactly was wrong with it. I had to lie flat on my back until the neuro team determined whether I would need back surgery. I had IV fluid just pumping through my body, creating more pee.
The accident happened at 8:38 pm. By the time I was up on the trauma floor, it was probably 3:00 am. I don't remember much from the first day. I woke up at some point and asked where my family was. No one could tell me anything because we were all given trauma code names to protect our privacy. After a few hours, I had a spunky nurse who wouldn't stop until she found Nils for me. My phone got left in the wrecked car, so I had no way of contacting him. It was probably around noon that I was able to talk to him and find out how everyone else was doing. He had been stuck in the ER for the entire time. His mom had picked the girls up early in the morning and taken them to her house and back home. He was finally released and came up to see me. His only injury was a gash in his head from hitting the windshield, which they stapled shut. Since they had cut his shirt off, he had on some weird plaid button-up with a Mickey Mouse emblem that they gave him to wear. It was really good to see each other. We probably cried, but I honestly don't remember much.
At some point later that day, they gave me a pillow, took off the neck collar, and disconnected my IV's. The neuro team determined that I wouldn't need back surgery, so I got to start eating and drinking, and not having to lie flat. Nils eventually left so he could go home and be with the girls.
The next 2 days were a full time job at the hospital. Trying to pee and failing- they wouldn't let me get out of bed and go to the bathroom. It was very frustrating, so the straight cath happened 4 times total. I hated it, and my nurses hated it. At one point in the middle of the night, my nurse was like, "I would love it if you could just pee the bed." I said, "I would love to pee the bed, but I'm telling you, my body will not let me pee in this bed." I continued: "My fondest wish, my only dream right now, is to get up and sit on a toilet. That's all I want." He relented and compromised, allowing me a bedside commode. I immediately started to pee, and we all celebrated. I was really scared for awhile that I had forgotten how to pee. Turns out I just can't pee while lying in a bed!
I was disturbed constantly with getting vitals checked, doctors making their rounds, getting taken to have x-rays, having an MRI (yay Valium!!). Physical therapists and occupational therapists coming and making me get up, sit down, and taking walks around the hospital floor. I had a CNA named Roo. She's an older woman from Persia. She put my hair in a pony tail on top of my head at one point. She gave me a sponge bath at one point. She would cheer for me when I walked around the halls. She wiped my tears. I love Roo. She was firm and compassionate.
That's Roo walking toward me, cheering for me.
I had so many friends come visit me! My family came to see me, too! I looked like a troll after being in bed for 3 days, and everyone lied and said I looked so good. Mmmkay.
On day 3, I got to take a shower with the help of an OT. They told me I could go home that night. With lots of prescriptions in hand, Nils drove me home in the trusty Telluride.
I've had about a million people come visit me and keep me company over the last couple of weeks. We've had meals galore brought in! So much food! Flowers in abundance! I've had so many people give me books to read, and I've only made it through one so far! People have been so very generous and have helped lighten the load, indeed.
So, here's the situation as of now: They say 6-8 weeks for all my bones to heal. We're a little over 2 weeks out, and I'm feeling 1000 times better. I can take care of myself, walk like a pro, and I've made dinner for the last 2 nights. I still have to take ibuprofen at regular intervals for pain, but it's fine. My back hurts if I stand for too long or sit in a straight back chair.
I'll have surgery on my shoulder in November after everything else is healed. I tore the labrum, some ligaments, and chipped some of the bones. Lame shoulder.
Addie is recovering well. She's still sore, but is back at school. Aani and Ava only got seatbelt/airbag burns and were back at school within a couple of days. Nils feels good, too. Our bishop is a PA and took the staples out of Nils' head last week. His back has been a little sore, but nothing serious.
As for how we escaped this without dying? Every cop, paramedic, doctor, and nurse said that if it were any other car than a Tesla, we would have had a very different outcome. Nils coined the term "Teslamony". We feel strongly there were angels involved as well. There's no logical reason why we came out of this accident without more severe injuries or death.
We're so thankful for all the good people who have helped us and shown us love and support.
Next time, I'll tell the The Miracle of Pip. Pip was with us when this all happened, and had her own set of miracles.
Also, Anders was in Mexico with friends when this all went down, so he missed everything. Luuuucky!
