This is what Margaret Blackwell, the lay leader of Wadley UMC sent me: Thanks for calling about Martha last evening. Bob and I drove Jim to UAB. She is in “Step down” room 9320 in the trauma unit but don’t know the phone #. I will probably get it later today and when I do I’ll email it to you. She has a broken wrist, some broken ribs, one lung collapsed so she has a chest tube. She had several cuts, scratches and bruises on her faced and head, one was a gash about 3 to 4 inches long that they were stitching up while we were there. She was lucid, remembered what happened, and was concerned about the car and next Sunday’s services at Wadley and Almond so there didn’t appear to be any major head trauma. We had been told that she possibly had some leg injuries but when Jim asked about her legs none of the people in the unit at that time seemed to be able to tell him anything. They just said that they had no knowledge about her legs and that Jim would need to talk to the orthopediAbout about that. Her daughter and son-in-law got to the hospital as Bob and I were getting ready to leave. I surely was glad to see them because I didn’t want to leave Jim alone. He has some pretty serious health problems and I was just worried about leaving him there alone. Martha looked pretty beaten up but we are all extremely thankful that her injuries are no more serious than what we do know about. I’ll keep you updated as I get new information.
Thank you for your prayers, keep them up she needs them for healing, her family for their anxiety and the church for their concern for her.
I had another phone conversation this morning with my DS: He had spoken to her husband. She has 100 stitches in her face and head. She also has a broken knee cap. Apparently a pulp wood truck pulled out in front of her, and she plowed into him. She really ate the wind shield. They had to cut her out of the car.
I am trying to decide if I need to go down and see her or just to phone her later today. The other thing I feel is this intense urge to run down and take care of the church members, as if I could do something for them. They are quite capable. When my husband came down with Gillian Barre, and almost died, they were there loving supporting and caring. And they were able to keep the church going. without me.
I got another email that gave me the link to the Randolphleader, which has pictures and story about the accident. Be sure to click on more of the story or here to see another picture. Turns out it was paneled freightliner that she met with. It was at a bad intersection, and it is a wonder she is alive.
2 comments:
Abi, this is one of the most challenging pastoral boundary scenarios I can imagine! You've just left, she's barely arrived, and now a terrible accident!! I understand the urge to fun there. Did you talk about this with your DS?
Hugs and prayers all around as you work through this.
Martha, Thank you for your concern, and questions. No I did not talk with my DS. I didn't even think of it. I spoke to my husband, and wrote in the NA clergywomen's listserve. I am not going down there. It helped just to write it out loud. Bob was very helpful as always to concur with me about this church is quite capable of rising to the occasion.
Thanks Martha.
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