The accident phone call

Jan. 14, 2009; approximately 10:30am

My cell phone rings; my sobbing daughter Tonya tries to clearly inform me that Kris has been in a serious vehicle accident at about 8:30am this morning. It sounds like she has crushed legs, face and head lacerations and who knows what all. They are taking her to Richland's Kadlec hospital.
Tonya says they are just going out the door to drive up there. As she talks, I scream, "NO, NO, GOD, NO." I'm crying, shaking and trying to hear. I hung up and called Gwen and told her I'm going. I call Ken to let him know and he says he'll be by to pick me up. Tonya calls again and asks how long it will take me to meet them. I woke up Bill and had him take me to Fishers Landing bus transit center to meet Pat, Tonya and Greg.

Traveling quietly, crying and waiting for the phone to ring from Clint with more information on the accident and how Kris's doing. Clint calls and reports that Kris has three broken bones in her neck, a large laceration on her head and possibly fractured left wrist. She is on a respirator for the time being and is only allowed brief visits.

We arrive at the hospital and see the tear filled eyes of Emily, Kailah and Isaac. At this point I don't remember who else is here.

Pat, Tonya and I go in to see Krissy; sobbing begins over her, almost unrecognizable, bruised face with tubes coming out of her mouth and nose and what seemed like hundreds of tubes in her arms. Arms wrapped in bandages and her hear with dried blood all on the right side of her head. The hair pulled back, I saw the metal staples from just in front of her right ear extending up to the top of her head and back into her hair on her neck. We sob more and say "I love you Sis" then leave the room.

Shortly Ken calls and we meet him down in the parking lot, Tina walking with him with tears in her eyes. We go up to see Krissy and the sobbing begins again. We go to the waiting room and join the others.