Nicki, you have your work ahead of you without the benefit of a crystal ball. You are being asked to predict the future and we both know you can't. Even her doctors who are familiar with the case are cautiously mum on the subject as they continue to monitor her progress. Physical support is the best you can be at the present, while you hope the person has enough insurance to cover the costs of the present and future of both her and her children. These situations are rarely easy or cut-n-dry and you don't want your words and actions used against you should the results be less than good. You remember how you felt. Start with that and make it about you and what happen with you. Let them know that no two cases are the same. A good family support is a must. Please keep us informed with your progress. Best Wishes.... as we both know it won't be easy. W In a message dated 6/23/2008 2:34:36 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Dear friends on the list I received this msg from a friend - what would be your advice to this young woman? Nicki C5-6 I need your help. I have a very dear friend that was in an auto accident a month ago and broke her back in four places. Amanda is 29 years old and has two children and is divorced. Amanda was in a coma and on a ventilator for two weeks, but has come out and is breathing on her own. She has an arm that is broken in two places and her airway was damaged by the ventilator and she will be on a feeding tube for several months. She has no feeling from her belly button down. Amanda also suffers from a bipolar disorder, which is not helping her cope with this situation. She has resorted to text messaging since her voice will not go above a whisper due to the throat damage. I receive about 40 messages a day from her and I am running out of ideas of how to help her. Amanda was told today by her doctor that she has a 1% chance of ever gaining feeling in her legs. I have asked her if she would be willing to talk to you so you could shed some light on how life is still totally possible, but she is not ready to talk to you. I just wondered if you had some ideas on what I can do to help her. I feel so helpless when she sends me messages of how bad she is hurting or that she spent the entire day crying and I try to distract her, but I do not know how much help I am giving her. Her daughter, Caitlin, is Bridgette's best friend and she is a dance at DCDC. Her son, Benjamin, is 6 years old. The children are staying with their father and are in great hands. Amanda is an only child and has very little family so she sits in ICU alone at OU Medical Ctr a lot. Do you have any advise to offer me to help her with this? She sends me messages saying it would have been better if she would have just died and I get onto her and tell her that those kids do not care if her legs do not work, but I feel it is not getting into her head. I just want to help her, if I can. I feel so helpless. **************Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)
