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Let me apologize up front for the wall of text.

Neal, I normally try to protect my identity to some degree, but I think my daughter's needs outweigh those concerns at the moment.

My daughter, Caitlin, was in a horrible car accident Monday morning. Neither driver was impaired. Caitlin had called a friend to come and drive them to breakfast, as they were in no condition to drive. And it was her car. Ok, technically MY car, but hey...

Caitlin and Jacob were critically injured. Jacob is on the road to full recovery, though with over 100 stitches to his face, nearly every bone broken in his face as well, and many reconstructive surgeries ahead.

When we arrived at the hospital at 6:00 AM we were informed that Caitlin had suffered a massive closed head injury and was brain dead. No higher brain function, minimal, and rapidly declining brain stem activity. The machines were the only thing keeping her alive. Both the attending physician and the neurologist agreed.

They'd do another round of testing, get a 2nd opinion, but there was no hope. She was gone. Come back in 2 hours and sign the paperwork. (No, they were not that blunt, that's me)

When we got back, the docs met us and we were informed that they could not pronounce her dead as her heart had resumed beating, strongly, on its own and she was breathing above the ventilator. Not strongly enough to breathe on her own, but breathing.

It is Day 3, and she has been showing slow, but important signs of improvement. Yesterday she started responding to pain stimuli, more importantly, she started localizing. turning her head toward the source of the pain as if searching it out. Indicative of higher brain function. Reflex pulls away from pain, not search it out to stop it. She has begun making small movements, fingers, head, etc. As if her brain is restarting the circuits to test them out. Paralysis does not seem a serious concern, assuming any recovery is possible.

We are day-to-day, even from a survival standpoint right now, but I finally have some hope.

The outpouring of support from friends and family has been overwhelming. I had no idea our little Catybug had had such a positive impact on so many lives. Truly, we are surrounded by an overabundance of riches.

I ask only this of my Subsim family.

If you are a believer, pray, hard. I do not care if you pray to the Flying Spaghetti Monster to swoop down and touch her with his Noodly Appendage! :rock: Pray for recovery for Caitlin, strength for her family and friends surrounding her with love, and wisdom for the incredible medical team in whose care she as been placed. She already has prayer circles going from Spain to Austrailia, Costa Rica to Manitoba, but circling the globe couldn't hurt. :yep: We've already felt His grace settle on us.

If you are not a believer, then any thoughts or vibes you are willing to send her way are greatly appreciated. I know not all of you believe as hard as I.

Assuming she survives, it is going to be a long slog to whatever recovery she may achieve. Just goes to show, even the best doctors are only making their best guess as to what the body is capable of. Keep fighting.

All my best,

Os