Soooo I called Mom's cell phone and talked to Dad for a bit last night... he was on his way to a hotel for the night and had taken her phone with him to charge it. He gave me her room # so I called the hospital and got to talk to her for almost an hour, which was great!!
So here's the full story: Dad was going 80 miles an hour on the highway on their drive home from Vegas when the car in front of them quickly swerved to avoid a van that was having engine troubles and going about 15 mph... Dad hit the brakes and tried hard to swerve, which made it hit the passenger side a bit worse. The airbags deployed, obviously, and the windshield shattered and cut Mom's forehead (she's had 19 stitches). She said there was glass in her mouth and hair, and it cut Dad's hands up pretty badly. They both were burned by the airbags, and Mom's knee is hurting and a bone at the top of her shoulder (not the collar bone) is cracked. Dad's ribs are hurting him, but he says he's mostly fine. They are in great shape considering what happened, especially as she didn't have her seat belt on. The door was jammed so Mom couldn't get out of the car, and they eventually had to cut the passenger side door off. Still, the firemen commented that they want a Lexus now because they've never seen a car hold up so well in that big a collision -- I'm more inclined to think that was God, but very grateful for their protection!!
They both remained conscious the entire time, and Dad said Mom started praying out loud just a few seconds after the impact. (The couple in the van are also doing well, under the circumstances.) Two British men who had worked as trauma specialists in Afghanistan were driving right behind them (another "random" thing that had to be God), and they stopped to help. They made sure Mom stayed awake and they stopped the bleeding on her forehead. She was mediflighted to UMC Hospital in Vegas and she said all the doctors and nurses there have been awesome and very attentive! Our family friends, the Lemieux's, are still in Vegas and came to the hospital immediately and have been really helpful. Their car was definitely totaled, but Dad (who hates to fly and loves to buy new cars) has already bought an identical car there in Vegas and is planning to start the drive home later today. He got Mom a first class ticket on a nonstop flight home, and she should be back home around 10:00 tonight! =) I'm driving to OKC to see her, and I can't wait! So that's the story, as least as much as I know now.
*I still adore Vegas, by the way. This accident happened about 80 miles outside of Vegas, and Mom said everyone at their hospital was awesome and helpful! The main reason they did the mediflight was that they were driving in the desert and not close enough to get to a hospital quickly by ambulance - Mom was never unconscious, and knowing that made me feel better. And when I called last night, Mom couldn't reach it, but one of the nurses heard the phone ringing and came in to bring it to her - yaaay God for that! =)
So I guess today's "Tribute Tuesday" goes to God... for being close; for being real; for smoothing things out in my move at work; for a great, relaxing trip to Las Vegas; for an awesome rainbow there at the end; for comforting, encouraging friends; for the Lemieux's, who have been amazingly generous and helpful; for this reminder of what really matters; for keeping my parents alive and safe, and for His provision in all of this!! Yay, God! =)
"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed." ~II Corinthians 4:8,9
"For He will command His angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways..." ~Psalm 91:11
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