Scott’s accident, according to Sami:
Wednesday April 18, 2007 started out as any normal day would for me. I was pretty busy that morning. I was making food for the homeless shelter while trying to get my children dressed and ready for a day in Brentwood. My friend, Erika, had just had a baby and we went to visit with her and see the baby. Because of the visit to Brentwood, Scott had decided he’d work late. Our visit in Brentwood went great. We had just finished dinner and I was getting ready to load the kids in the car. I was trying to call Scott to see what he was doing and where he was and what time he thought he’d be home. I had just talked to Scott about 15 minutes before and so when he didn’t answer, I found that very strange. It was a little after 7 pm. I tried calling his cell number many times. I tried his desk phone and even the house phone. Finally the cell phone was answered. I was listening to back ground noise, no one was talking to me. There were sirens and people talking. I was sure I had heard Scott’s voice, but it sounded like the scene of an accident. I gave the phone to Erika and asked her to listen. She said that she thought it sounded like a scene to an accident too. But she said it sounded like Scott was helping someone else out and I should call again in a few minutes. So I did. No answer. 5 more tries. The phone picks up again. More of the same noises, but this time I could make out more of the conversation. Someone asked ‘Do you know your name?’ answer, ‘Scott Thompson’; ‘Do you know where you live?’, answer, ‘No.’. I panicked. I called the highway patrol. They said there hadn’t been a report of an accident and no one by that name had been admitted to any hospital in the area. Kris, Erika’s husband, tried calling the main Google number. I prayed in my heart all would be ok. I tried the cell phone again. 5 more times and I heard Scott’s voice. He said hello then handed the phone over to a doctor. The doctor tried to talk to me but I was unable to hear or understand. Kris took the phone and talked to the doctor and then the police.
What happened? According to the police report…..Scott was walking across the street. A 2004 black VW Jetta entered the intersection and did not see Scott. The passenger of the vehicle yelled ‘Watch out’. The driver thought she was talking about another car and swerved. This maneuver put the car directly heading for Scott. Once Scott realized what was going on, he tried to turn and run. He was not fast enough. The car hit him at about 35 mph. He was thrown on the hood and took out the windshield. Once the car came to a complete stop, Scott was thrown to the ground and skidded some 15 feet, where his body finally stopped. The driver of the car got out. There was one witness besides the people in the car. The driver had a valid driver’s license and registration and insurance. He was 18 years old and driving his dad’s car. He was very sorry and felt really bad. The car had to be towed because of the damage to the windshield. 911 was called and Scott was rushed to Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto. The accident happened about 7:15 pm. I did not find out till 8 pm.
If you ask Scott what happened, he’ll tell you this…..’I was walking in the cross walk with dinner heading back to my desk to finish up some work. The next thing I know I woke up at Stanford’.
As soon as I found out, I went into shock. I could not think. It was a great relief to have my friends there to support me. Finally I was able to think of people I knew in Fremont. I made arrangements for the kids to be dropped off at the Grant’s house and Kris would drive me, I was not in any state to make a 2 hour drive that night. Because of all the confusion and shock, it took us another hour to leave the house. I didn’t get to the hospital till 11:30pm. When I walked in the door, my bishop was standing there. Bishop Fisher did not want me to go in there till I had been briefed, he thought it would make things easier. Actually I was super frightened to see him waiting for me. He told me that Scott looked bloody but that all was fine and things would be ok. After that I went into the waiting room. Chris, Scott’s boss, Kris and 3 other men from the Elder’s Quorum were there. It was nice to know that Scott was not alone, even though I couldn’t be there right away. It took some convincing but finally I was able to get back and see Scott (since Stanford is a trauma hospital, visitors are very limited due to privacy issues). He looked awful I was almost mad that everyone tried to tell me he was fine. He didn’t look fine. I wanted to wash him up. They wouldn’t let me, but sent in a nurse to do it. I wanted to talk to a doctor and find out what was going on, they couldn’t find his chart. I was confused and upset, but at the same time felt very peaceful and full of the knowledge that all would be ok. I went back out to the waiting room for a few minutes while they were cleaning him up to let the guys know that they were transferring him up to a room and that they could go home. None of them wanted to go, they were all so supportive. Kris went home to be with his wife and new baby. Chris and two of the Elders from church left to get Scott’s car and take it home to Fremont. Kevin, an Elder from church, stayed till Scott got to his room. He took some pictures (I know it seems random, but it’s amazing to look at them now. I’m grateful that he did that).
Once Scott was in his room a doctor came in and cleaned him up some more, stitched up his eyelid and glued some places on his head. It was after 1 am by the time they left and we were alone. Scott insisted that I call his mom and dad. So I did. It was an amazing thing. His mom picked up on the first ring. She was very calm while I told her all I knew at that time. After I was done, I asked her if she already knew what happened. She seemed as if she did. She said ‘No, but I knew all day that someone was going to call and tell me something terrible had happened. I’ve just been up waiting for the call.’. It was an amazing conversation She said they would leave in the morning right after dad taught seminary.
I spent the night in the hospital just wanting to touch and hold Scott but the very brush of a hand would just send pain through his poor beat up body. His injuries were, three broken ribs, a cracked sternum, the L2 vertebrae broken, both bones in his right arm VERY broken, bruising from the middle of his back to almost the bottom of his bum and road rash on his head and back(the sores on his back blistered and popped, leaving open wounds, ouch!!). His legs were untouched, aside from some minor bruising. He was told at least three times that he is lucky to even be alive.
The next morning started early. He was scheduled to have surgery on his arm. He was suppose to go in at about 1 pm. They came in and told us that at 7 am. I decided I needed a drink of water and a little air. I was gone maybe 10 minutes and when I got back he was gone. They had taken him to surgery. I was very upset, I didn’t want him to feel as if he were abandoned or alone. I went down to surgery and they let me see him for about 2 minutes before they wheeled him away. During that time though, the anesthesiologist talked to me about how they were going to put him under. Because he had a small hole in his lung (most likely caused by the broken ribs) they did not want to do regular anesthesia. So they basically put an epidural in his shoulder and then they would give him enough pain medication to put him to sleep. That way, he would be able to breath on his own, he would not have to have a breathing machine.
Scott was suppose to be in surgery for 3 hours. I went out to the car and said my morning prayer a much needed time of solace I called a few people to let them know what was going on. I checked in on the kids. I gave the ok for a few friends to “break†into my house and get things for the kids. I killed all of the three hours it was suppose to take. I went back and he still wasn’t done. I needed a breast pump (I’m still a nursing mother and now it had been 16 hours since I had nursed). One of my friends reminded me that a member of our stake works at the hospital. I asked at a volunteer desk if they could contact Evelyn Naylor. They were able to get her on the line in a few minutes and we met up 30 minutes later. She found me a pump, a quiet room and even sat with me and talked. It was a refreshing break from the stress of the day.
I went back to the nurses station again to check on Scott. He was still not done. I started to get worried. The three hour surgery was now 5 hours. About 30 minutes later, I got the all clear, he was in recovery. The doctors came out to talk to me about the surgery and give me the details. They said he was fine. They were able to get the work done and it took longer than they thought. He has two plates, one 6 hole and one 9 hole (the hole’s refer to how many screws it takes to put the plate on). He did fine with the method of pain management that was used and he didn’t need a blood transfusion.
He was to be in recovery for a few hours and then back up to his room. I was going to go out and get some fresh air again and bumped into Holly, my Relief Society president. It was nice to see her. She took me down to the cafeteria and we ate and talked. It again was nice to have some conversation to take my mind off the immediate situation. She said all was good with the kids, they were enjoying the time at the Grants and were not asking about us at all. After our wonderful conversation, my in-laws arrived. It was nice to see them and talk to them. We finally got back up to Scott’s room and his parents brought a smile to his face. He was pretty much out of it due to the surgery, but tried hard to be sociable.
Around 9 pm it was decided that dad would stay with Scott that night and I would go home and shower and sleep (it had been almost 48 hours of no sleep). I was very reluctant, but went. I left the kids at the Grants one more night so that I could actually get some sleep. I was afraid that I would not be able to sleep. I kept thinking awful thoughts about Scott having trouble in the night and I wouldn’t be there to help him. However, the Lord blessed me once again and I was able to sleep quite well.
The next few days were touch and go. They were mostly spent catering to Scott’s every need all day and catering to the kids’ needs all night. Scott’s dad stayed at the hospital at night and Scott’s mom took care of the kids in the day. Dad had to leave after 4 days and so Scott had to spend the nights alone after that.
Scott was in the hospital for 2 weeks. It was a long two weeks, but we had TONS of help. When my friends “broke†into the house, they cleaned it and stocked it with food. It was so nice to come home to that. My mother in law kept the house clean and the kids happy. Ward members picked up the kids for play dates and took them to their various activities. My sister in law, Torry, came to help for a week with the kids. She was a God send. She was able to help get the kids back onto some kind of schedule.
Scott got home on May 1. It was nice to have him home but everyone had to be super careful with dad. The kids have done a great job. Once Torry had to leave, my friend Cathy and her daughter Brittany came and helped for a week. It was amazing to have them here. It was like having three adults. Cathy and I accomplished a ton with finishing the moving in, organizing and we even planted the garden. Brittany took care of the kids and cleaned the house over and over.
So here we are. Three and a half weeks later. Scott is doing SO WELL. He is getting around really good. He has a physical therapist that has come to the home a few times. He had a week of physical therapy while in the hospital and he does tons of self exercises here at home He is trying really hard to kick this thing without getting depressed or discouraged. He has endured this well. I am so pleased with him.
The kids seem to be handling it well too. They have their moments of acting out and ask tons of questions, but for the most part have been angles. I am so pleased with their maturity in all of this. I love them very much. Scott is suppose to be out of work 6-8 weeks. After that he will be on light duty for a few more weeks. Right now he is pretty good at doing most things on his own. I do have to help him up and down the stairs, help him in and out of bed, and help him in and out of the shower. He is not suppose to lift, push or pull more than 5 pounds, that makes life interesting. But he does all he can. He tries to read the kids books. They take turns taking dad for a walk. Jaime is his official shocks and shoes puter oner. All in all we have been very blessed through this whole thing. We have been given many things that would never have been had this never happened, and we have grown closer to the Lord and to each other I love the Lord. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that He lives. What a blessing this life is. May I one day be worthy to kneel at Christ’s feet and thank him for all he has done for my family and I. May God be with you and bless you as he has so abundantly blessed me. Love to you all.
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