On Apr 4, 2010, at 1:01 PM, Dickson Dabell
wrote:
Both Rachel and Garett are stable.
Rachel and Garett were in an accident on friday the 2nd around
midnight. They were driving to Utah for my wedding. While driving in
the 4 runner they hit some black ice. The car was going about 55 mph
when the back end of the car went sideways. The car flipped a number
of times throwing Rachel out. Rachel remembers everything until she
hit the ground. The car was upside down when Garett got out. Garett
circled the car several times looking for Rachel. He found her accross
the freeway unconscious. They were about ten miles outside of baker
city Oregon when the accident occured. The er doc at the hospital was
lds, garett and the doc administered to rachel. After a few hours they
were flown to Boise, saint alphonsis hospital.
Their little dog moody was also thrown from the car. The state patrol
found moody running away from the accident. He was taken to the baker
city firestation where they took really good care of him. He has no
injury.
Robyn and Dave arrived Saturday morning and I arrived Saturday
afternoon.
Injuries:
Garett has a skull fracture. He could feel his head on the pavement as
the car was rolling. Part of his ear was torn in half but has been
sewen back together. Garett was wearing his seat belt. His parents,
Jake and Shelleth, drove up and his father gave him a blessing late
last night. Garett is moving around in a wheel chair for short periods
of time. He will likely be discharged tomorrow.
Rachel is in the intensive care unit. Her main injury is a number of
fractured portions of her spinal column. She was in surgery for about
4 hours. She had a number of metal braces and rods installed in her
neck to provide support. She is not allowed to eat or drink because
they are worried she will throw up. The sacral area of her spine is
fractured. The doctors have not yet determined what to do about that
injury. Her right ankle is fractured and may also require surgery.
She has dark blue bruises on her hands, fingers, and feet. She has a
large red bruise on her forehead along with cuts on her eyelids. she
has chest tubes which make it difficult to breath deeply because both
of her lungs collapsed. She is breathing on her own and made progress
last night when they took her off oxygen. She is surprisingly funny
with the nurses and with us. She jokes about being thirsty and about
her dog Moody. She is in obvious pain and suffering but she is alive.
She will go in for x-rays later today. Rachel will probably be here
for another week.
My parents seem to be doing well. It's stressful and at times
emotional. However, there is a feeling of gratitude and hope. Garett
shared a very strong testimony of the protection he and rachel have
gotten. There is tremendous power in prayer and we have had many
families praying for us. Garett expressed amazement at the miracles he
has experienced over the last couple days. It is just remarkable that
rachie and Garett are still alive, a miracle.
Thank you for the prayers and phone calls. Please continue to kneel
and pray for us.
Dickson
509 720 7517
On Sun, Apr 4, 2010 at 6:04 PM, Dickson Dabell
Garett: pooling blood behind the ear. His dr intends to discharge him
tomorrow. The blood is draining well. Garett is standing on his own
and is spending time with rachie.
Rachel: the nurses love rachel. Rachel continues to make everyone
laugh despite her pain. At 8pm tonight dr little, the neurosergon,
will come look at Rachel. If things go well she will get her neck
brace off.
The # 1 ankle specialist in the nation just happens to be at this
hospital. The ankle specialist will come tomorrow or the following
day. After that visit we'll get a better idea of when she'll be able
to walk again. She has a knee length cast on her right leg.
She has another 24 - 48 hrs before they'll consider taking out the
chest tubes.
She can move both knees and she can push and pull with her feet. This
is a really good sign that she'll walk again.
The nurse says the lungs sound good but the volume of air her lungs
take in needs to be better
Rachel is going to get a "turtle shell". It's basically a large body
brace to protect her back. She has finally gotten some sleep today.
It might be possible to take the rods in her neck out but they'll wait
a year before deciding.
On Apr 5, 2010, at 1:08 PM, Dickson Dabell
Rachel is doing better. She is still tired from all of the drugs and tubes in her body. She is really cute with her husband Garett. It's quite amazing how this experience and pain are bringing the two of them closer together. I think their relationship is growing to a new level of kindness and love.
You can send Rachel a free cheer card if you want. They wont give you her room number in the ICU so just put ICU where they ask for a room number. http://saintalphonsus.netreturns.biz/CheerCards/
There has been some talk of taking her out of the ICU. Her chest tubes may come out as early as tonight or possibly tomorrow afternoon. She is really looking forward to getting those taken out. They are painful.
I was wrong about the placement of the rods. The rods are in her lower back, not her neck. Rachel has gotten some good sleep over the last few hours.
Dr. Little came last night around 8:30 pm and removed the neck collar. This is a great sign and Rachel was very glad to have one less item attached to her body. He also showed us pictures of the spinal x-rays. Her spine was broken in at least two places. He explained that the lower half of her spine (lumbar/ thoracic) literally broke in half. The upper portion of her spine actually separated from the lower portion. The two portions "fell" back together. They just happened to fall back together correctly. This means that everything below the break still works correctly. This is where they installed the braces and rods. She has good sensation in her lower body and he thinks that once the swelling in her pelvis decreases she will regain all sensation.
The spine also broke in the sacral area. A portion of her sacral spinal column is separated from the rest of the spine. This will probably be left alone as many people can function with broken tail bones. From the first assessment to her current condition they have indicated she will be able to have children.
They are going to perform surgery on her ankle and we are very lucky to have an ankle specialist here. Rachie gets kind of mad when Garett doesn't come by her room often enough. Its so sweet to see how much she loves Garett. He is trying to take care of her and also take care of details like military insurance. Rachel is disappointed that she might not be able to continue her school program and she cries when she talks about not being able to attend my wedding. We are all so glad things are progressing and I'm just happy she'll be around after the wedding. Rachie and Garett will likely go back to Bainbridge, WA in 2 weeks. My parents are planning on being present for the wedding on Friday but returning to Rachie on Saturday. Garett is having a hard time with headaches but he is on track to be discharged.
after the wreck moody took off running down the highway. The state patrol guys were trying to catch him. One of the officers took off his coat and hat in the cold night because he though the badge and hat were scaring the dog. He was able to pick up moody and take him to the fire station.
Garett expected the 4 runner to roll on top of Rachel. He told us that the car seemed to stay in the air longer than it should have. It's also very surprising that Rachel was thrown to the other side of the highway. She remembers being thrown from the car and going up up up. It seemed like she wouldn't return to the ground. The fact that she and Garett are alive is a miracle.
Noah called a random LDS bishop who came by the hospital with his wife. They were spiritually warm with us and shared a message of love and support.
Things are progressing surprisingly well. We want to thank all of you who have prayed for our family, for Rachel, and for Garett. With tremendous gratitude and humility that we thank God for this miracle of life. This is not the miracle that everyone is blessed with. Too often good righteous people die in accidents that are less traumatic. Our faith in the Lord and in the priesthood he has given us, is a source of great comfort. We are grateful to the EMTs, doctors, nurses, family, and friends who have gathered to support and lift Rachel & Garett.
The Dabell & Jacobson Families
On Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 2:46 PM, Dickson Dabell
Rachie is out of the icu! Im just amazed she has gotten out so soon. She's in room C-4214 at saint alphonsis in Boise ID.
Dickson
509 720 7517
On Apr 6, 2010, at 10:07 AM, Dickson Dabell
Feel free to forward the emails on Rachels progress to people who know her.
She is at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center | 1055 N. Curtis Road | Boise, Idaho 83706 | 208-367-2121. Room 4214. We think she will be here for another 2 weeks at most.
You can send Rachel a free cheer card if you want. She is in room 4214. Just click this link and the staff will print and deliver your message. http://saintalphonsus.netreturns.biz/CheerCards/
One of the dangers of laying in bed for so long, without much movement, is getting blood clots. This morning Rachie had a special filter placed in her body to prevent blood clots from forming. My mom has been giving her physical therapy which has been helping. This will be the last update for a while as I am leaving to be with my bride. The next major steps will be removing the chest tubes, getting her in the "turtle shell" brace, fixing the broken ankle, and helping her to walk.
drive safely,
Dickson
509 720 7517
On Apr 8, 2010, at 1:16 PM, Dickson Dabell
Rachel is doing well. She just got out of surgery for her ankle. The doctor said it went very well and that they used as many biodegradable pins as possible. Robyn says Rachel has more flowers than the room can hold. Rachel is so strong. She has a goal to walk on the day of my wedding, tomorrow. This is a very lofty goal and yet her persistance is helping her to recover. We are all so proud and amazed at her recovery.
she was measured for her back brace a few days ago and she will be fitted for her back brace soon. then we can see about getting her sitting up. She will love that since she has been flat on her back since the accident. Rachel has a good attitude and a positive outlook. She is anxious and nervous but who wouldn't be under these circumstances.
Email Updates
Just an update on how Rachel is doing. She is moving to the rehab floor today! We are excited but she is anxious because she still has a lot of pain in her back where they put all the rods and screws in. She is getting much stronger. It used to take 3-4 people to help her turn to her otherside in bed. Now is can almost do it herself. Medical language would be 50% assist of 1. She still needs maximal assist of 2 to try to sit up in bed however and trying to stand is very precarious. She only has one IV line in but still needs a lot of pain medication.
She has always been so kind to her nurses and jokes about how inept she is. When she has used all available pain killer and the nurse says that's all we can fo she says. "I guess I just need to toughen up little buckeroo"
Thank you all for your constsnt love and support. It has made all the difference! XO Robyn
Dix is off honeymooning!
Sent from the iPhone of
Robyn Dabell MSPT
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