The Call A Parent Fears

Fathers day started out with my walk. I walked a new route this day & noticed how growen up the area was along the road & just how far down the drop was from the edge of the road. No guardrails. I kept thinking of Laken driving by her self. This has been such a worry for me. She just got her drivers licenses June 2nd. My mind kept going to the what if she would run off the road & over the bank. No one would know where she was. I had a sick feeling. For weeks I have had such a feeling of dread & biding time before something would happen to one of my kids. After taking Lucas to work & back home to prepare our meal. Laken had been upset for a few days due to her relationship with her boyfriend. A mother can only give advise on these matters but it is their childs decision in the end. Before lunch was completely prepared she told me she was leaving. I asked her to take my cell phone. I walked around the jeep just to give the tires a check. I had a bad feeling as she drove off. I prayed she come home safely. I went inside & finished preparing our meal. Right after we sat & started to eat the phone rang. The caller id was from a cell phone I did not know. I answered & received the call a parent fears. A voice I did not know said my name asking if I was she. I was then told there had been an accident. I just knew it was one of my kids. I knew it was Laken. As I was told the news I could no longer stand. He was telling me the accident location. I had to hand the phone to my husband who got the accident location. I started to pray. A place many call eagles erie on the mountain. A location known for accidents. Placards placed their with the names of two I know of that have went over the guardrails & not survived. I did not know if she was alive or what shape she was in. Grabbing shoes & keys & having Sam get ready I heard my husband asked if she was thrown from the vehicle & what where her injuries. He repeated abrasions & we are to meet the ambulance at the hospital. He handed the phone to me & the man on the phone said he was going to give the phone to Laken now. All I could hear was loud screaming. I told her it was me & please talk to me let me know how you are. Nothing but screaming. I knew she was alive thank God. I was then told she was being treated but was hysterical. We left for the hospital stopping for gas. I could only wonder what shape she was in while remembering those screams & praying. I needed to get there. On the way I told my husband they wont really tell you how bad it is knowing you will be driving. There was no ambulance at the emergency room entrance when we arrived. I saw the man that called & then remembered I did ask who he was when he called. He asked if I was
Lakens mother as I approached him & his wife. I said yes & is the ambulance not here. His wife & him had come on to the hospital to wait & meet us there. They explained they were giving her medical treatment & stabilizing her before the transport but would be there soon. He explained this was procedure. I asked them if she was thrown from the jeep. No she was not & she was wearing her seat belt but was cut up from glass. I asked if they found her & they had seen the jeep starting to slide & his wife said she also started to slide. It had rained & the oil was coming out of the road from the heat. They stayed with her & called for help. It took awhile due to no physical address. This was the same case a few weeks ago when I called 911 when the truck rolled behind Lucas & I. The ambulance arrived & asked if I was Lakens mom. A medic handed me my cell phone. I was told I could get in the ambulance. No one can prepare for the initial shock when you see your child strapped to a board & a neck brace on their neck. Her leg twisted the sight of areas covered with blood & gravel from her toes to her forehead. I felt like I could not go on but knew I had to let her know I was there & loved her. I assured her they would get her inside & fix her up. Tears were streaming down her checks & she was in pain. As the gurney was stopped in the treatment room the same feeling of I cant go on & the wave of all drain from me with fear for my child. Something kicks in & you know you have to hold together for your child as you pray & assure them it will be ok. Laken told me she was sorry about the jeep. I explained I was not worried about the jeep & all I cared about was her. She said She thought I would be mad at her. My oldest son Atlee called my cell phone to let me know there was an accident & asked me where I was. I was at the hospital & Laken had an accident. He knew. He had been stopped in traffic coming down the mountain & knew my jeep. He got out & told the police officer it was his mothers jeep. The police officer told him it was his sister. Atlee his little girls & his girlfriend were almost to the hospital by then. When he got inside he asked me to step out of the room. He asked who was killed. We were told it was just Laken involved in the accident. That was correct. Someone had called him & said the monitor reported a death. He said they knew it was my jeep when they were left through. I was told it was on its roof. I did not want to hear any more. It had not been removed & my husband had to leave & go to the accident location. When he returned it was being taken care of & told me it was a really bad wreck & the jeep went up over the guardrails & something must have caught under the jeep because it flipped over landing on the roof & spun around stopping facing down the mountain she was going up. Laken was returned from xray. Thank God the board could be removed. There was alot of broken glass under her. Her leg was in pain & she was having chest pains. Later the neck brace could be removed. Again thank God. Hanging skin was cut from her leg. The glass was being removed & the cuts were being cleaned. Your heart sinks & you become sickened as you pick broken slivers of glass from your childs skin. When we knew Laken was stable my Husband went to pick Lucas up at work. I feared he would leave once he heard his sister was in an accident. I was afraid he would get a ride from one of his friends. I did not want him in a vehicle with another young driver. I had text him but at the time I did not know the text had failed. It came through later that night at 11:57. Way to late. Laken was released but would have to come back Monday for an ultrasound. They thought she had embedded glass or metal & may need surgery. I was so thankful we were taking her home. We had to make a stop for meds & neosporan. Laken wanted her things from the jeep. Not a trip I really wanted to make. I had heard more about the accident & really did not want to see the jeep. We took her. When I seen the jeep I knew why the medics said they did not know how she ever got out or survived. The roof was smashed down where the drivers & passenger seats are. The windshield was gashed back into the jeep cab. All the glass was shattered or completely gone from all but one door window & the back hatch windows. None of the doors nor the hatch could be closed. A tire was completely off the rim hanging. The hood was smashed & paint scraped. Doors dented in. She remembers being upside down spinning & glass shattering & seeing guardrails. She was hanging upside down smelling gas & had trouble getting the seat belt to release. When it did she hit the smashed in roof. She crawled through the broken glass & out a very small opening in what was the passenger window. This is haunting her thoughts & sleep. She woke last night screaming. I know in my heart God put his angels around her & pulled her out & spared her life & spared us the loss of a child. I can not give God enough thanks. It is never ending. Laken is upset her boyfriend did not come. She text him letting him know we were trying to reach him & she had been released. He never came called or text ed her. I really did not want to contact him & I do believe my husband was right that we should not. Her boyfriend has not been treating her right. But when you see your child laying there & begging you to please get him. I did what I could to easy things for her. The doctor said she needed to calm down & bring her blood pressure down. I prayed that she would not need surgery. The ultrasound today showed nothing. Thank God again. I dont believe she would have been going to the park to walk & clear her head that day if he had not upset her. To top it off he text her & broke up with he today. He has no compassion. Between the stress from the boyfriend lately & the trauma of the accident she is emotionally in need of help. I am taking her to our family doctor tomorrow for a referral for counselling. If you will remember her in your prayers I thank you. I am grateful the man & his wife were the ones to be there for her. The man is with the fire company less than a mile from the homestead ( but not in the company that responded but both companies do work together in some emergencies ). He knew what to do & how to get help. The mans wife comforted Laken as she prayed for her. They went to the hospital to meet us. I thanked them both as we all hugged. There are still good people in this world who care enough to help & even pray for you. I continue to warn my kids they need to be saved & ready for eternity. I continue to pray also. I jump with each ring of the phone & each sounding of the fire whisle. It went off while typing this post. I text Lucas to check on him as I prayed for all my kids. Thank God he is ok. I did not want Laken to leave the homestead tonight but she wanted to be with some friends. Girls she had went to school with. They were going to the movies. I stopped the car & checked to see if they all had seat belts on. I thought it was way to soon for her to go out even if she is 20 years old. I just want them all home safe. I will not sleep until they are all home. Maybe not even then.

Blessings Til next Time!
Lara