"The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) provides comprehensive, no-fault personal injury cover for all New Zealand residents and visitors to New Zealand."
That includes the Shuster-Tucker Family.
Each of us has been well-cared for during our hospital stays, rehab work and follow up visits. The doctors seem to know what they're doing and the nurses and therapists have been bloody fantastic.
I know the doctors make the big bucks but when you're flat on your back in a hospital bed looking for comfort there's nothing better than seeing one of your favorite nurses come into the room. I was fortunate enough to have two favorites during my stay in Nelson. Only rarely did I have to ask for anything. They just seemed to know what I wanted and/or needed before I could ask. Lesley cared for me during the afternoon and evenings. She's from England and had recently returned from an extended visit back home to see her elderly Mum. Cheena took care of me during the morning and early afternoon. She's a native Kiwi a bit younger than me. The two of them were as caring and compassionate as one could ask for.
I know LuAnn loved the nurses that cared for her. I'll let her describe her experiences when she has time.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Survivors
Sarah was the only one with no broken bones. Her's were all soft-tissue injuries caused by the seat belt and air bag. She spent three days recovering in the Nelson Hospital. Even now, two-and-half weeks later, she's sore and moves gingerly. Steps are still a problem too. I do offer a special thank you to the inventors of seat belts and air bags.
Dave broke his jaw (in half they say), has a 'hairline' crack in his left cheek area and suffered some trauma to the brain. He also had cuts around the face that required 30-40 stitches altogether. He spent a night at Nelson before being transferred to the Lower Hutt Hospital for surgery. They used some high-tech nut-and-bolt thing to put his jaw back together. A few days after surgery they sent him to a rehab facility that specializes in brain trauma injuries.
My lower-right leg was broken (a nice clean break) and I have seven broken ribs. I had surgery to put the leg back together about 12 hours after the accident. My next seven days were spent in the Nelson Hospital. I'm doing pretty well as long as I don't have to move fast. Nights are getting better as the ribs slowly heal. I'm waiting patiently for the opportunity to lie down flat without experiencing pain and/or dizziness.
LuAnn took the worst of the beating. Her injuries were mostly confined to the area around her eyes and nose. She was helicoptered from Nelson to Wellington to Lower Hutt during the first 24 hours. Lower Hutt has the plastics specialists ... they say some of the best in the world. She spent seven days heavily sedated while waiting for the swelling to go down. Her surgery went well and ever since then her recovery has been remarkable. She was released on Friday the 10th.
Those of you who know LuAnn well are already familiar with her mental and physical toughness. When she's fully recovered, ask her about the days she spent waiting for her surgery.
Dave broke his jaw (in half they say), has a 'hairline' crack in his left cheek area and suffered some trauma to the brain. He also had cuts around the face that required 30-40 stitches altogether. He spent a night at Nelson before being transferred to the Lower Hutt Hospital for surgery. They used some high-tech nut-and-bolt thing to put his jaw back together. A few days after surgery they sent him to a rehab facility that specializes in brain trauma injuries.
My lower-right leg was broken (a nice clean break) and I have seven broken ribs. I had surgery to put the leg back together about 12 hours after the accident. My next seven days were spent in the Nelson Hospital. I'm doing pretty well as long as I don't have to move fast. Nights are getting better as the ribs slowly heal. I'm waiting patiently for the opportunity to lie down flat without experiencing pain and/or dizziness.
LuAnn took the worst of the beating. Her injuries were mostly confined to the area around her eyes and nose. She was helicoptered from Nelson to Wellington to Lower Hutt during the first 24 hours. Lower Hutt has the plastics specialists ... they say some of the best in the world. She spent seven days heavily sedated while waiting for the swelling to go down. Her surgery went well and ever since then her recovery has been remarkable. She was released on Friday the 10th.
Those of you who know LuAnn well are already familiar with her mental and physical toughness. When she's fully recovered, ask her about the days she spent waiting for her surgery.
The Crash
Sarah was driving and Dave was beside her in the front seat. I sat behind Sarah and LuAnn was behind Dave. The Constable quoted in the news story assured us that Sarah was not responsible for the accident. This was comforting because they drive on the left-side of the road here and they expect drivers from the States to be at fault whenever a car ends up in the wrong lane. Furthermore, the Constable is absolutely sure there was NOTHING Sarah could have done to avoid the accident.
There was a car following the one that hit us and the driver was an eyewitness to it all. That driver reported the other car went off the road (just barely) for about 100 ft before coming back onto the road surface. The transition off and back onto the road was smooth and gradual. Shortly after returning to the road surface, the car made a hard right turn directly into us. The investigation continues but we've been told they may never know the cause.
As for us, only Sarah recalls the accident and the scene that followed. Dave, LuAnn and I never saw it coming and recall very little about any of it.
We had a single moment of the worst luck imaginable, followed immediately by nothing but good luck. The four of us survived and we'll all be returning to the States as soon as we get medical clearance for air travel.
There was a car following the one that hit us and the driver was an eyewitness to it all. That driver reported the other car went off the road (just barely) for about 100 ft before coming back onto the road surface. The transition off and back onto the road was smooth and gradual. Shortly after returning to the road surface, the car made a hard right turn directly into us. The investigation continues but we've been told they may never know the cause.
As for us, only Sarah recalls the accident and the scene that followed. Dave, LuAnn and I never saw it coming and recall very little about any of it.
We had a single moment of the worst luck imaginable, followed immediately by nothing but good luck. The four of us survived and we'll all be returning to the States as soon as we get medical clearance for air travel.
Let the Vacation Begin
Today is Sunday, July 12th. I'm starting this blog today to simplify the task of keeping everyone updated. I will continue to respond to individual emails as best I can but lately I find myself having trouble remembering what I've written to whom. I seem to end each email with an apology for any redundancies.
I'll try to post something each and every day but when that doesn't happen you'll have to trust me ... NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS.
Please don't hesitate to post your thoughts, comments and questions. We love hearing from everyone and we'll all do our best to respond as quickly as possible.
Let the journey begin ...
After several travel days, we found ourselves in Nelson NZ on the morning of Wednesday, June 24th. We set out around 10am for what should have been the beginning of a fantastic family vacation. Unfortunately, we didn't get far before we were involved in a horrific head-on crash. A car traveling in the opposite direction swerved across the center line into our lane with NO warning and for no obvious reason. Unfortunately, the driver of that vehicle did not survive the crash. The story made the front page of the local newspaper. You can read about it at http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/2534635/Crash-claims-woman.
I'll try to post something each and every day but when that doesn't happen you'll have to trust me ... NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS.
Please don't hesitate to post your thoughts, comments and questions. We love hearing from everyone and we'll all do our best to respond as quickly as possible.
Let the journey begin ...
After several travel days, we found ourselves in Nelson NZ on the morning of Wednesday, June 24th. We set out around 10am for what should have been the beginning of a fantastic family vacation. Unfortunately, we didn't get far before we were involved in a horrific head-on crash. A car traveling in the opposite direction swerved across the center line into our lane with NO warning and for no obvious reason. Unfortunately, the driver of that vehicle did not survive the crash. The story made the front page of the local newspaper. You can read about it at http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/2534635/Crash-claims-woman.
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