I did visit Gina in the hospital today! She seemed happy to see me. She was awake when I walked in, and started crying as soon as she saw me. Besides the flowers and the little stuffed Eeyore, I brought her copies of all of the responses to my posts about her and all the P.M.s I received about her. I read some of them to her, and left them for her to read when she feels well enough to do that. She was very touched by the well wishes from all of you! I want to thank you on her behalf for your kind words and prayers. She really apprecaiates the friendships she has made.
I had been told on Friday that Gina was in unit 9200 at the hospital, so that's where I went. When I asked at the nurse's staion for her, they said she was no longer there, and since I wasn't a family member, they couldn't tell me what happened to her! That scared me to death! I went to admissions and asked about her and they said she had been moved to unit 6200. I breathed a big sigh of relief and took the elevator to the sixth floor, where I found her. The nurses there couldn't tell me much about her condition, but one assured me that that move was a sign of improvement. So Gina is getting better, but she has a long way to go. Both of her legs are broken and in casts. Her neck was broken in two places. Her back is full of abrasions. All of those things will heal, I'm pretty sure. Her skull was crushed, which caused some brain damage, which affects some of her motor skills. For example, she can't move the fingers of her left hand. There could be some other paralysis, which neither Gina nor I are aware of. (Nobody at the hospital will talk to anyone except family about her condition. I talked to her mother again today and she doesn't know much more than that either.) Those problems might heal. Only time will tell. Her mind is sound as far as I could tell, and I think she has a positive attitude. She said she was sorry it will be a few months before she can go back to work. That sounded positive to me. The word "never" has not ever occurred to her, I think.
She is heavily sedated, of course, so she could only talk to me a few minutes at a time and then she needed a five or ten minute nap. But she always said before she fell asleep "Please don't leave! We can talk some more in a few minutes." So I would either sit and watch her sleep or go outside and smoke a cigarette and make phone calls and then go back and talk to her some more.
Gina's mother has read the police report of the accident, but said she couldn't make sense of most of it. What she does know is that no other vehicle was involved, it happened around the Razor Road exit of the I-15 northbound, which is south of Baker, CA, and that Gina was driving alone. She went onto the median for a reason nobody knows, the car flipped over numerous times, and Gina was thrown fifty feet. It happened at about 11:30 a.m. on July 19th. I assume that Gina was med-evac'ed (Sp?) to Loma Linda from there, probably via helicopter.
When I talked to her Friday, Gina couldn't remember why she was even in California. Today I told her what Bumpnrun said in his reply to my first post about her, and she did remember having a photo shoot there. Later I talked to Lv2Daty and he remembered that she posted on the L.A. board about being in the L.A. area on July 17th. So she might have had some dates in California too, I guess, but she doesn't remember. She also remembers nothing of the accident.
I will visit Gina again tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., which is when visiting hours begin, before I return to Las Vegas. I have high hopes for her complete recovery. I think Gina is strong in mind and spirit, and she had a very healthy body before her accident, and I think she is already improving dramatically. But I also think our thoughts and prayers should not end yet. Gina could use all the help she can get!
I asked if I could take a picture of her, and she said "Yes!" Then I asked if I could post it and she said "Let me look at it first!" I showed it to her and she approved of it being posted. So I am trying to add that picture to this post, but I've never done this before, so I'm not sure it will work. Anyway, I think it shows a beautiful young girl who is worn out from an ordeal that most of us have thankfully never had to endure, but who is determined to get through it and be the same Gina that we all know and love, attitude or not. (I saw no hint of attitude today! Gina was humble and as sweet as she usually is [when she is asleep, lol, JK]!)
T.L.
-- Modified on 8/21/2006 12:16:35 AM
-- Modified on 8/21/2006 12:48:18 AM
-- Modified on 8/21/2006 12:53:01 AM
-- Modified on 8/21/2006 1:35:12 AM
-- Modified on 8/21/2006 1:43:05 AM
Great job TL and thanks for keeping us informed. A lot of us have Gina in our prayers!!
Thank you for keeping us informed. It is good to hear she is recovering.
There happens to be an OUTSTANDING closed head injury unit here in Las Vegas if they are thinking of moving her when she stabilizes a little more. It is fairly new and they do wonderful work. Post here if you want details.
Thank you, hot search! I will pass this info along to Gina and her mother. Could you P.M. the details to me? Or you can e-mail me at [email protected]. Thanks again!
T.L.
Travelin Lover
got a failure notice on you email
do you have another address, or did you post it incorrectly? I have not been a VIP member in a while so I have to backchannel this.
email me at [email protected]
That's about as good of news as we could realistically hope for. Thanks for the report. It actually brought a tear to my eye.
Thank You so much for keeping us updated.
You are a wonderful friend....
You are forever in my heart.
Nicole xoxo
She is a true sweetheart with so much character and personality, that it's so hard to see her laying in bed hurting like that. Thank you so much for updating us. We still worry, but with your words of hope, some of us will worry a little less now. I've also never heard anyone bring up or produce a list of anything that Gina needs, or will need. Should we be taking up any sort of collection? Is her family financially okay through all of this? Please let us know if there is anything that can be done to help or ease the pain of this..to help cover medical bills, rent, etc. Even if it's sending a new Teddy Bear. I saw in the photo, that the white Teddy was taking her bedside while you were writing to us. Whatever it is, I think most of us here will help this sweetheart of a girl. Just let us know what we can do from this end.
Wow, Jessica, what a sweetheart YOU are! I have been wanting to meet you for a long time, but now I can't wait! I missed the one bowling party you attended, but I heard all about it. Everyone says you are quite the bowler. Gina was there that night too, and I guess she nearly brought down the house, along with her pants, lol. So I have never seen either of you bowl, and I hope to see both of you do that some day!
You are so sweet to think of what Gina might need. At this point, I can't think of anything. As for reading material, I made copies of the posts about her and all the responses, and all of the P.M.s I received about her and left all that with her to read when she is able. But right now, she can't hold anything well enough to read it. She can't hold a phone either, but she can use one if someone holds it for her or lays the reciever by her ear.
Believe it or not, you are not the first person to suggest taking up a collection to help with all her expenses. I'm sure such a thing would be very successful. Gina does have health insurance, but her family is far from well off. And at some point during her recovery, I'm pretty sure she will need more help than her insurance will cover. So I will stay on top of that situation and keep in touch with Gina and her mother, who is really the only family she has that I know of. When I know that she needs help and can figure out how to donate any funds, I will let the community know. Some people have already told me that they would be more than glad to help.
Otherwise, like most girls, Gina loves flowers and get well cards, etc. If anyone is anxious to send that kind of greeting, please P.M. or e-mail me, and I will let you know how to do that, after I get Gina's approval on a case by case basis. You would need Gina's real name and her address at the hospital, or wherever she is at the time, and I don't want to make that information public by posting it on the board. I hope everyone can understand that.
Again, Jessica, thank you so much for this sweet and caring post! I think I can speak for Gina that she thanks you too!
T.L.
TravelinLover I am happy to hear that she is recovering, a strong woman indeed, body and soul. Gina is really fortunate to have a good close friend like you. I thank you for being there for her for all of us. I will galdly participate in a community donation so please keep me updated with that. Once again i thank you TravelinLover for being a true friend to Gina. Looking at the picture brought tears, tears of happiness :__)
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU ALL THE WAY GINA!
The Ozarks???!!! WTF, Spinner? LOL! Well, say hi to Andy Williams for me! You could say hi for Gina too, but I doubt if she knows who he is, lol! (He is still alive, isn't he? Great voice!)
T.L.
-- Modified on 8/22/2006 9:30:49 PM
Gina,
You look like an angel...with a broken wing.
Please know that because you are in the thoughts and prayers of so many of us, your speedy and complete recovery is inevitable.
THanks TravelinLover for your post. I am happy to see that she is doing better and hope that she makes full recovery. Is there an address where us TER people could send her cards or other things to hopefully put a smile on that pretty face?
let's al lhope that she will not have any paralysis and she gets out soon
I know exactly where Razor Rd is, so have a pretty good idea where it happened at. I hate that drive , so I always fly these days.
-- Modified on 8/23/2006 7:47:41 PM
