My daughter

Osmium Steele · 09-05-12, 07:25 AM

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!

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.

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

Sailor Steve · 09-05-12, 07:35 AM

Oh my god, I am so sorry to hear this. All any of us can do is hope that the recovery continues. My thoughts are with you. While we've never met, realize that you too have had an impact on people's lives, and you have folks you don't even know who care about you and yours.

Tchocky · 09-05-12, 07:51 AM

My heart goes out to you and your family, Os. We're all thinking of you.

Skybird · 09-05-12, 08:06 AM

Be patient, give it time, hold out. Best wishes for you, and her, and your family. Must be a hard time for you all. Hold out.

Herr-Berbunch · 09-05-12, 08:12 AM

What Steve said!

Thoughts with you and your family at this time.

the_tyrant · 09-05-12, 08:13 AM

that is a horrible thing to hear

Arclight · 09-05-12, 08:18 AM

Be assured my thoughts and vibes are with her. "Keep fighting" indeed.

Fubar2Niner · 09-05-12, 08:18 AM

All our thoughts are with you, your poor daughter and your family, from those of us across the pond

mookiemookie · 09-05-12, 09:05 AM

Your family and your daughter are in my thoughts. Here's hoping she makes a full recovery.

Takeda Shingen · 09-05-12, 09:29 AM

You'll have my thoughts and prayers, as well as those of my family. I cannot say that I know what you are going through, but I am deeply saddened by the news.

Penguin · 09-05-12, 09:57 AM

All my best thoughts and wishes from deep of my heart go to your daughter, you and your family.

CaptainHaplo · 09-05-12, 10:00 AM

All (family and victims) involved shall be in my prayers.

HunterICX · 09-05-12, 10:01 AM

Hoping for the best for your daughter and all the best to you and your family.
Keep us posted!

HunterICX

Garion · 09-05-12, 10:56 AM

I will certainly be thinking of your daughter, you and your family. With your permission I will ask my other heathen and pagan friends to do likewise.

Blessed Be

Gary

Schroeder · 09-05-12, 11:14 AM

You'll be in my thoughts.
All the best for your daughter and her friend.

09-05-12, 07:25 AM	#1
Osmium Steele Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Upper midwest USA Posts: 1,101 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	My daughter 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! 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. 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 __________________ In the month of July of the year 1348, between the feasts of St. Benedict and of St. Swithin, a strange thing came upon England... My U297 build thread Last edited by Osmium Steele; 09-05-12 at 07:49 AM.

09-05-12, 07:35 AM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Oh my god, I am so sorry to hear this. All any of us can do is hope that the recovery continues. My thoughts are with you. While we've never met, realize that you too have had an impact on people's lives, and you have folks you don't even know who care about you and yours. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

09-05-12, 07:51 AM	#3
Tchocky Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,874 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	My heart goes out to you and your family, Os. We're all thinking of you. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

09-05-12, 08:06 AM	#4
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,603 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Be patient, give it time, hold out. Best wishes for you, and her, and your family. Must be a hard time for you all. Hold out. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

09-05-12, 08:12 AM	#5
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	What Steve said! Thoughts with you and your family at this time. __________________

09-05-12, 08:13 AM	#6
the_tyrant Admiral Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,272 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	that is a horrible thing to hear __________________ My own open source project on Sourceforge OTP.net KGB grade encryption for the rest of us

09-05-12, 08:18 AM	#7
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	Be assured my thoughts and vibes are with her. "Keep fighting" indeed. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

09-05-12, 08:18 AM	#8
Fubar2Niner Silent Hunter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: London. UK Posts: 4,175 Downloads: 279 Uploads: 0	All our thoughts are with you, your poor daughter and your family, from those of us across the pond

09-05-12, 09:05 AM	#9
mookiemookie Navy Seal Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,404 Downloads: 105 Uploads: 1	Your family and your daughter are in my thoughts. Here's hoping she makes a full recovery. __________________ They don’t think it be like it is, but it do. Want more U-boat Kaleun portraits for your SH3 Commander Profiles? Download the SH3 Commander Portrait Pack here.

09-05-12, 09:29 AM	#10
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	You'll have my thoughts and prayers, as well as those of my family. I cannot say that I know what you are going through, but I am deeply saddened by the news.

09-05-12, 09:57 AM	#11
Penguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Rheinische Republik Posts: 3,322 Downloads: 92 Uploads: 0	All my best thoughts and wishes from deep of my heart go to your daughter, you and your family.

09-05-12, 10:00 AM	#12
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	All (family and victims) involved shall be in my prayers. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

09-05-12, 10:01 AM	#13
HunterICX Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2006 Location: Malaga, España Posts: 10,750 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Hoping for the best for your daughter and all the best to you and your family. Keep us posted! HunterICX __________________

09-05-12, 10:56 AM	#14
Garion Commander Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 452 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	I will certainly be thinking of your daughter, you and your family. With your permission I will ask my other heathen and pagan friends to do likewise. Blessed Be Gary

09-05-12, 11:14 AM	#15
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	You'll be in my thoughts. All the best for your daughter and her friend. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.