Saturday, September 20, 2008

Where did he go?

As most of you know we have been dealing with a head injury from a car accident in July. Jimmy was rear ended on the 17th of July while the rest of us were in Montana. He called and told me he was just fine and so I didn't worry. Two days later he called me after I had just talked to him and said, "I haven't talked to you in a couple of days and I thought I would call. " That is when I began to panic inside. So I called his sister and told her that no one loved Jimmy more than me and her and of course his mom and dad. Could she please call and check on him several times a day. Long story short he has had a MRI and it showed that he had no big contusions but, the neurologists said that there were probably a lot of small contusions which is a result of all the things we have been dealing with. We have dealt with twitching, anxiousness, headaches sleeplessness ,depression, emotionless/al, agitated by noise or , chaos, lethargic from medications and loss of who I married.
I sat and cried one day thinking I should be grateful that the accident wasn't worse and I didn't lose him or that he didn't lose his memory from the past. I thought what if he didn't know who we were or about our wedding day or the day each of our children were born. I am grateful for him and that it was just small contusions on his brain. Also that there is a time when he should be back to normal. I worry that the medications that have made him better will not have to be permanent. They have changed him. He is still my sweet sensitive husband. The happy joking guy is not quite all there. I never realized how much I loved that about him. When things are tense, kids are grouchy, moms grouchy, sad or hard,  Jimmy is always there to crack a joke or just make everyone laugh. I miss that. I feel like I have been walking around on egg shells for months. Telling the kids to be quiet and don't fight in front of your dad. All these things that I was used to him helping me conquer I am conquering on my own. I feel like everything I do normally is like tripled. I have relied on my Heavenly Father many times just to help me to understand what he is going through. How can you possibly understand a brain injury? Its such a complex part of our body that controls and regulates everything we do.
I think last week we turned a corner and found that doubling the medication on one seem to diminished the headaches and the twitching. My concern is when the "time" is up for the healing what will happen with the medications? Will he be on them forever or are they just a temporary help? I guess only time will tell. That is where faith comes in.
Thank you for your prayers and everyone who has taken me to lunch to get a break from it all.Thanks for the phone calls, thank you for letting us escape to your house for ice cream and just those that ask It means so much to me and to Jimmy.

4 comments:

Melissa said...

Nicole, I am so sorry. What a horrible thing to face. I couldn't even imagine how hard that must be for all of you. I will keep you both in my prayers!!

Missy said...

Hi Nicole! I had no idea that this happened to you guys! We'll definitely keep you in our prayers. How scary to see how something so minimal can change someone so much. Hopefully you have the best doctors and the best meds and that Jimmy will be his good 'ol self soon! If you need anything let me know!

Stephanie said...

You are the strongest woman I know and you have such strong faith and a strong commitment to your family. You will pass this test and I know Jimmy will be fine. If there is anything I can do you know I'm only a phone call away. I love you and your whole family so very much. Always in my prayers.

Regina said...

Wow, I had no idea this was going on. Jimmy is always so fun and outgoing, and I am sure he will be back to normal. In the meantime, I will definitely keep you all in my prayers.