Family friends wife injuries

[PurpleRain-87]

Hì

12 days ago my family friends wife, who is only 32, was admitted to the ICU

She was involved in a hit and run, on her way to work, that left her with brain, skull, spinal & leg injuries

She is still in a induced/natural coma

[Leaf100]

So sorry to hear this, PR.It's a tragic and tough thing.

Big hug to you

Leaf

[Hermother]

My daughter aged 35 was in a car crash 14 months ago. Similar injuries: many breaks (broken neck, both legs, arm amputation, brain injury, lucky to be alive). Six weeks in coma followed by six months residential rehab then three months rehab at home. The NHS could not have done more to help us. We are now planning her future going forward; she’s made a miraculous recovery in fact. Having both a brain injury and physical injuries puts you into two camps: neuro and orthopaedic. People tell me we should write a book about how we have got through the maze and coped. If there’s any help or information I can share, please just ask.

[CanisLupus]

so sorry to hear such dramatic news, being a family friend your role of support will come in strongly. Don’t always ask if there is anything I can do, people are polite and tend to say no, they are also trying to cope with everything - doing the washing, making meals, transport just, being there to listen or the visit to the hospital and if able get the family to go leave and rest whilst you ‘cover’, or just take them to the hospital cafeteria to buy a meal or take them in sandwiches to eat. Big hugs stay strong x

[Teazymaid]

omg !! I’m so sorry to hear about your wife .. Sue

[Hermother]

Start taking photos. We were encouraged to do it by ICU staff who kept a daily diary for her and the photos went in it. It sounds a weird thing to do but when she comes round she will want to know who did what and when and how you all felt about it. It will help her come to terms with the memory gap.

[Graceissufficient in reply to Hermother]

This is true, even with my vv minor injury I needed to fill in the memory gap. I had to question everyone and examine the scene like a detective.

[MrsW69]

I am so sorry to hear this. There is very little that can prepare you for what is going to happen next. Every case is different and even the very best outcome for her will be a long, hard road for the family. All you can do is be there for her, pray and wait. Concentrate on each day as it comes and never give up hope. My 26 year old daughter was hit by a speeding van and also in a coma with similar injuries two years ago. It has been the hardest two years of our lives but luckily she does not remember a lot of it. At the moment for you, the next steps are that she comes out of the coma and can breathe on her own. This is what you need to pray for. Be prepared for some things that might frighten you but are not that unusual in these circumstances…she might need a tracheostomy performed for her to come off the ventilator, it sounds worse than it is. I panicked when I heard this but then found that two of the other families in a similar situation in ICU had been told the same about their family member in a coma and both their tracheostomies happened before my daughters and went well as did hers. She might not wake up immediately, sometimes they try to wake them and then put them back under, this can happen several times over days and it doesn’t mean she isn’t going to come out of the coma so don’t panic. I look back and realise that ICU offered excellent care, they are monitored constantly with all the machines and it is one to one so action is taken immediately if anything changes. Information from other peoples journeys can sometimes really help at a time when you are practically helpless, so keep asking questions as things progress. I pray for her recovery x