HELLO. IM A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO. MELINDA IS MY 21YR OLD DAUGHTER, MY SON MICHAEL IS SOON TO BE 14.WHEN I WRITE THERE AGES I REALIZE HOW OWER LIVES HAS CHANGED. ON OCT 5TH 97 MY DAUGHTER WAS RIDING WITH HER FRIENDS. THAT I TOTALLY DISAPPROVED OF.THE DRIVER HAD BEEN DRINKING LOST CONTROL AND HIT A PICKUP HEAD-ON .IT WAS THE WORST ACCIDENT HERE IN 20 YEARS. THE DRIVER, JAMIE,DIED A COUPLE HOURS LATER ,16YEARS OLD. CARRIE THE PASSENGER AND OWNER OF THE CAR WAS KILLED INSTANTLY 18 YEARS OLD.JOASH BEHIND CARRIE WAS THROWN OUT OF THE CAR 70 FT. SUSTAIN AN OPEN HEAD INJURY . PUT ON VENTILATOR FOR 4 DAYS. SEVERAL SURGERIES. WILL ALWAYS BE TBI. MELINDA WAS NOT SO LUCKY. SHE WAS TRAPPED HALF IN THE CAR HALF OUT BEING DRUG. SHE SUSTAINED FACIAL LACERATION, COMPOUND FRACTURE TO LEFT ARM AND CLOSED HEAD INJURY. SHE WAS PUT ON A VENTILATOR [MEDICAL INDUCED COMA]. SHE DIDN'T RESPOND TO ANYTHING EXCEPT WHEN I WOULD COME INTO THE ROOM HER HEART RATE WOULD SLOW DOWN. SHE WASN'T BRAIN DEAD. SO I NEVER HAD TO MAKE THAT CHOICE. FROM THEN ON THINGS DIDN'T GET A HOLE LOT BETTER. SHE WAS ON THE VENTILATOR FOR 4 WEEKS. DOCTORS SAID SHE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE A TRACK. SHE HAD TO STAY IN THE HOSPITAL FOR TWO MORE MONTHS FOR SEVERAL SURGERIES. IN THAT TWO MONTHS SHE WOULD LOOK AROUND, BLANKLY. STILL IN A DEEP COMA. SHE LEFT THERE SHE WENT TO REHAB. IT DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP, PUT ON SOME MEDICATIONS THAT WILL HELP. MY LEARNING PROCESS HAS BEGUN.I HAD TO FACE THAT I WOULDN'T GET [MY MELINDA] BACK. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE ON THE INSIDE, I HAVE TO A POINT. I MISS HER SO MUCH IT HURTS. SHE IS AT HOME WITH US. SHE CANT SPEACK, EAT JUST SMALL AMOUNTS, SHE CANT WALK OR DO ANYTHING FOR HERSELF, SHE WEARS DEPENDS. SHE TRIES TO SPEAK, THAT IS THE ONE THING I MISS THE MOST, OUR TALKS JUST BEFORE BED. MY SON FEELS VERY CHEATED. THEY WERE SO CLOSE .THEY TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING, THINGS I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT. SHE WILL STAY HERE WITH ME ALWAYS. I GAVE UP ANY CHANCE FOR A RELATIONSHIP. NO MAN CAN DEAL WITH THE RESTRICTIONS IN MY LIFE. MELINDA HAS WENT FROM A YOUNG GIRL TO A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN..THERE IS SO MUCH I WANT TO SAY. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TELL A LITTLE.

Email Elaine