From: Velma (Dale)
Hi Everyone,
One Friday night my family and I decided to go bowling. Little did we know it would change our lives forever!!
As we were heading home, we were hit head on by a teenage girl, drunk and on drugs. Our five year old was killed instantly, They found my husband in the street by the girl’s car, they aren't sure why he was there.
My baby, 18 month old, was in my lap. I was holding her so tight, they said that I bruised her back. I refused to turn her over to anyone. Finally an "Angel ", which I truly believe, came and I just handed her over. And to this day I don't know who this woman was.
I was trapped in the vehicle for over two hours before they were able to get me out. Every bone in both legs was broken, and the calf of my right leg was missing.
After 35 surgeries, 51 pints of blood, and a year in the hospital, I was finally able to go home. My right leg had been amputated 4" below the knee. My lower back was injured, I had a collapsed lung, broken tail bone, hepatitis from some bad blood, and also a staph infection in the lower left leg.
After 5 years, we were able to see the girl who had hit us, in person. The sad part was : She felt no guilt at all. Or if she did, she certainly didn't sound like it or act like it. She was slapped on the wrist and told not to do that again. We received a judgment, (which you can't eat ), and to this day not have not received a penny !!
Anyway.....After all this time, (that was 1979), in February, 2002 I had to have the left leg amputated above the knee because of the infection that I had gotten in the hospital. It had eaten the bone in my leg beyond repair.
Oh, my husband was ok, after surgery to weave his skull back together!. No Brain damage, He was so " Lucky."
After 30 years of marriage, we were forced to get a divorce, in order for me to get the medical help that I needed. We may be divorced , but we still talk daily and still feel the same about each other. It's just a sad thing.
Well there is one more part of my story that I haven't touched on, but will later. It was the "O.O.B." experience I had while in critical condition. I not only have the normal, or not so normal pain, but Phantom Pain as well!!!
Thanks for your time, Velma