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.

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

Herr-Berbunch · 09-05-12, 08:12 AM

What Steve said!

Thoughts with you and your family at this time.

McBeck · 09-06-12, 01:15 AM

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear of this. I hope she pulls through...I guess its one day at a time..

joea · 09-06-12, 05:43 AM

So sorry Osmium, I will pray for Caitlin and your family, the fact she has made some progress shows there is hope. Stay strong.

Jimbuna · 09-06-12, 08:45 AM

My hopes and prayers for a steady recovery.

frau kaleun · 09-06-12, 10:40 AM

So sorry to hear of this, Oz. My thoughts are with you all.

Betonov · 09-06-12, 12:22 PM

Hang in there.

Can't imagine what you're going trough. It's the anonimity and correctness of the members (in personal topics at least) that makes Subsim place to get this kind of things of your chest

Sammi79 · 09-11-12, 07:53 AM

That is incredibly saddening news and a terrifying ordeal for you and your family OS. I do not know how to pray, so humbly I offer my hopes and wishes instead. Just maybe there will be some positive effect from mine and others sentiment be it placebo or otherwise;

Here's hoping with all my heart for a full and speedy recovery for Caitlin and her friends. Sounds like you already had the worst news you could ever expect to hear, but now you have hope and that is no small thing. The recovery signs sound very prompt and promising, place trust as I do in the doctors and in the robustness of youth.

I would also like to express my admiration for your posting here, that must have been very difficult. So here's hoping for you and your family to remain steadfast and strong together, no matter what. My thoughts are with you.

Best wishes,
Sam.

vienna · 09-11-12, 05:54 PM

There are no words to express how deeply I feel for you and your familiy. To have walked out one day and feared the worst and then to find there is hope is a wrenching experience for anyone. Now that there is hope, I wish only a continued recovery for your daughter and better days for your family...

...

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: 42,657 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, 08:13 AM	#5
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	#6
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	#7
Fubar2Niner Silent Hunter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: London. UK Posts: 4,179 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, 08:12 AM	#8
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. __________________

09-06-12, 01:15 AM	#9
McBeck Admiral Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,027 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	Wow, I'm so sorry to hear of this. I hope she pulls through...I guess its one day at a time.. __________________ "I like subcommanders...they dont have time for bull**!" Proud member of the Subsim army of zombies Becks website

09-06-12, 05:43 AM	#10
joea Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: At periscope depth in Lake Geneva Posts: 3,512 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	So sorry Osmium, I will pray for Caitlin and your family, the fact she has made some progress shows there is hope. Stay strong.

09-06-12, 08:45 AM	#11
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,645 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	My hopes and prayers for a steady recovery. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

09-06-12, 10:40 AM	#12
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	So sorry to hear of this, Oz. My thoughts are with you all.

09-06-12, 12:22 PM	#13
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Hang in there. Can't imagine what you're going trough. It's the anonimity and correctness of the members (in personal topics at least) that makes Subsim place to get this kind of things of your chest

09-11-12, 07:53 AM	#14
Sammi79 XO Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Penzance Posts: 428 Downloads: 272 Uploads: 0	That is incredibly saddening news and a terrifying ordeal for you and your family OS. I do not know how to pray, so humbly I offer my hopes and wishes instead. Just maybe there will be some positive effect from mine and others sentiment be it placebo or otherwise; Here's hoping with all my heart for a full and speedy recovery for Caitlin and her friends. Sounds like you already had the worst news you could ever expect to hear, but now you have hope and that is no small thing. The recovery signs sound very prompt and promising, place trust as I do in the doctors and in the robustness of youth. I would also like to express my admiration for your posting here, that must have been very difficult. So here's hoping for you and your family to remain steadfast and strong together, no matter what. My thoughts are with you. Best wishes, Sam. __________________ Gadewais fy beic nghadwyno i'r rhai a rheiliau, pan wnes i ddychwelyd, yno mae'n roedd... Wedi mynd.

09-11-12, 05:54 PM	#15
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,718 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	There are no words to express how deeply I feel for you and your familiy. To have walked out one day and feared the worst and then to find there is hope is a wrenching experience for anyone. Now that there is hope, I wish only a continued recovery for your daughter and better days for your family... ... __________________ __________________________________________________ __