Ribs and smiles make Lura famous!

Lura has become quite the celebrity in this hospital.
Staff from all over the hospital have come in to see the woman who has more broken ribs than they have ever treated before. But more than that, she is known for her smile in spite of the pain and the frustration she is experiencing. I know her smile ever so well, and she has always had that smile for me, but other folks aren't used to someone who smiles in spite of misery.
Today I made her smile with an Orange Julius I brought her.

Today Lura was really smiling because John came into the hospital for a complete checkup, head-to-toe, and other than his bumps and bruises, and getting some medication for pain and sleep, he is doing fine! Lura worried about him, because he had been released from the hospital in Nephi without a complete work-up, so now she feels much better.
Lura is getting fancy little gifts that she loves, and her smiles are like sunbeams because of her sweet little granddaughters Emma and Gracie, here with their Auntie Erin, Lura's daughter that lives in Lehi, just up the road from the hospital.

The mail lady has become fast friends with Lura, thanks to all the wonderful cards and letters that have come from her friends. She has beautiful handmade stamped cards, stitched cards, handdrawn cards, and interesting drawings from her grandchildren.
She so appreciates all the loving thoughtfulness and prayers that come from all of you.
There is another specific thing that you can pray for. The epidural that is in her spinal column that keeps her rib cage numb and allows Lura to breathe, is scheduled to come out tomorrow. Her doctor that is the anesthesiologist has said that if there are no signs of infection, then they can keep it in longer, maybe even up to a week. Since that has been allowing Lura to take deep breaths and do her breathing treatments, we can pray that she has no sign of infection and that they keep the epidural in longer.

Love, Sil

Difficult Procedure Over!

Lura had quite a day today! Bless her heart. She was probed, and pinched, and bled today. Her lungs were filling with fluid, and there was fear that the fluid was blood, and blood can harden and then become scar tissue. So they went in and drained over 700 ml from her lower lobe of her left lung.(See bottle above) It wasn't as much blood as they thought, but it looked like dark red kool-aid. The procedure was difficult but Lura was a trooper and came out of it just fine. I held her hands during the procedure, while they had her bent over a table with a pillow on it. I can't sing worth a bean, but I sang her a funny song, and that took her mind off what they were doing to her. She feels better now because the lungs are working better. The part of her lung that had collapsed from all the fluid is already filling with air again, as the chest x-rays they took immediately afterwards showed. Considering her chest was crushed, it is amazing that Lura keeps breathing. I am so grateful for everyone's prayers. I was not ready to lose my precious lifelong friend! Keep your comments coming. Lura reads them at 3:00 in the morning when she can't sleep. They comfort her and take her mind off all her pain.
Love, Sil

Amazing Progress

The accident happened Friday evening at 6:00 p.m.
This is how Lura looked on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

Do you know what has gotten Lura from looking like this...

...To this today???

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday...

Lura says it is our love, support and prayers.

I got here this morning and Lura was having kind of a rough day,
but tonight she is breathing deeper and working through the pain.
Her spirits are better and she appreciates the good nurses and staff here.
I think the hospital is wonderful, and I am glad to be here with her now.
One of her doctors came in with her chest x-rays, showed her all her broken
ribs, and the fluid and phlegm accumulating in the bottom of her lungs.
He told her she had to work harder at coughing and her breathing treatments
or pneumonia could kill her. That was very motivating to her,
and she works hard at her breathing treatments.
Mostly, I am so happy to see her smile.
She so appreciates your phone calls and texts and all your prayers.
Your comments are so helpful to her. When she's awake at 3:00 in the morning,
she rereads all your comments and it helps her get through the night.
She tries to read all of your blogs, but she is just not up to making comments.
Lots of love, Sil

Crash photos and cards

Here are more pictures of the car that Lynell took of the accident.

Lura knew they they had two head on collisions
but did not know that they got hit from the back until
Lynell showed her this picture.
The rear end collision must have been what propelled
them across the freeway into on coming traffic.

View from inside the car.
Lura said one of the most frightening parts of the crash was
after the first crash when the airbags deflated
and she saw they were headed across the freeway towards another collision

Everyone said it was a miracle they both were not killed.

Yesterday Lura had lots of family visit her which helps her keep her mind
off of the pain.

The granddaughters taped get well cards up in the room
Lynell reads her your comments each day.
Lura says it is the get well wishes, love and prayers that are getting her through this.
Family can not stay with her during the week so I am flying to Utah tonight and will stay at the hospital with her. I will update you again tomorrow when I get there.
Thank you for your love and prayers for Lura.
Sil

Breathing is difficult

Hello friends, Lura is having a tough time breathing and is getting phlegm in the bottom of her lungs. So another specific to pray for. She has a breathing apparatus that she is using once an hour, but she needs to use it more to move that phlegm out of there. Needless to say, with all those broken ribs, that isn't easy to do. Pray that she can fight her way through the pain and make herself breathe deeper and cough more. Lynell reads all your comments to her, and she so appreciates your care and love. Lynell got her laptop from the car, and tomorrow she will have it, and will be able to read them for herself. I will still probably be doing her posting, as she isn't up to doing that, but she will love reading all you have to say. Love, Sil

Sunday update

Hello friends,

I talked with Lura about 10:00 (California time) this morning, and she is taking strides in her improvement. I mean that literally, as the hospital staff got her up and she walked 4 steps from the bed, and then 4 steps back. David and Lynell were there visiting, so her spirits were way up from yesterday. She loves getting phone calls, as this takes her mind off all her broken bones. The phone number for the Adult Intensive Care Unit is 801-357-2288. They will transfer the call to her if she is not sleeping. For those of you who have her cell number, she has her phone and is able to take calls in her room.

We have something more specific we can pray for in Lura's behalf. Her red blood count is dropping, which means internal bleeding or infection. She has spit up some blood, and the nurses tell her that is to be expected with all her injuries. But if the red blood count keeps dropping, they will have to do a blood transfusion.

I'm not very good at blogging, as I don't have a blog myself, but I am going to try to add a photo of their car after the accident. Lynell went to the wrecking yard to see it. After seeing it, she is amazed that they survived!

Thanks to all of Lura's friends for your prayers. She says she feels them and appreciates all your love!

Sil

address and phone # of hospital

Thank you Jan for leaving me the information about the hospital to post for those who would like to send her a card. It is:

Utah Valley Medical Center
1034 North 500 West,
Provo, UT 84604.

From Jan: "She is in intensive care and can't receive flowers there. She thinks she will be in ICU for at least several days. She says she's liking phone calls...keeps her mind off her pain. The phone number is (801) 357-7850."

Thanks to all of her fellow bloggers. You really lifted her spirits!

Sil

Lura is doing better

I spoke to Lura just a few minutes ago, and the epidural is helping with the pain. "It is tolerable now," Lura said. However, it also made her itchy all over, so they had to give her a shot of Benadryl. She is hoping that will make her sleep. Her collarbone is very sore, and her neck, so she's certain that she has a severe whiplash. She thanks all her blogger friends that have commented on my post, and thanks you for your prayers. Lynell read her your comments, and it made her feel good to know that she has friends all over the world praying for her.

I will keep you posted.

Sil

Hello to Lura's blogging friends from Silvija,

I just talked to Lura, and her pain is better because she is on an epidural to control her pain. She hadn't slept all night, and was quite worried about getting an epidural, since she had to get into a fetal position for them to admisinster it, but that went better than she expected and now hopes to be able to sleep. She has considerable pain in her neck now as well, but I suspect that new pains will show up all over as the muscles stiffen. John is at their daughter Erin's house, and he is having to stay in bed, but he will be all right. John's head wound, which caused Lura quite a fright, thinking that he was dead, has been stitched, but his chest hurts. He is resting the best that he can. Please remember him as well in your prayers. I am a bit concerned that the air bag deploying, which puts out that chemical dust, may complicate his asthma.

Thank you for all your prayers. Lura is my closest friend. We have been friends since childhood, and her sweet loving nature has borne me up through many trials. I feel I need to be with her, but since she has family with her right now, I will restrain myself from flying up there right now, and will wait until I can really be of help to her.

Silvija

We need your prayers!

To all of Lura's dear blogging friends:

This is from her long-time friend Silvija.

Lura and John were involved in a serious car accident on Friday, March 25th, in Nephi, Utah. Lura and John are going to be OK, but Lura is in Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, where she was transferred from Nephi. They were travelling on the freeway at about 75 miles per hour when the car in front of them lost control on the ice, spun around and hit them head-on. They were then knocked across the freeway into oncoming traffic and hit by a semi-truck. John suffered a head injury multiple bruises and contusions and lost a lot of blood. Lura has 15 fractured ribs, broken sternum, and serious bruising, and many injuries they are still diagnosing. They are concerned about her developing pneumonia because people with broken ribs don't take deep breaths.

I would like to ask all of you to pray for her, and if you can, please call your local temple and put their names on the prayer roll.

As I get more information, I will post it to her blog.

Silvija

For Sunday Smiles look at Supergram post

Dear Blog Friends,
I actually had 21 reasons to smile this past week.
... 18 Superman capes, 2 quiet books and 1 baby dress almost finished.
I posted pictures of those smiles for you on my post last Friday.
Please look at those pictures for a visual of my smiles.
...
To go along with those smiles, I am thankful
that God gave me ability to sew.
...
I am thankful I have eyes that can see
and hands that are nimble to do detailed work.
...
I am thankful to have a sewing room to work in...
and good sewing machines, sergers and equipment to use.
...
Most of all I am thankful to have grandchildren
to sew for.
...
I have to stop blogging now and hurry to make dinner.....
Mindy and Family will be here soon and want to eat....not read my blog.
...
If you haven't done so already, please look at my post below to
see the 21 reasons I was smiling last week ...
...and tell me if you think I earned the title of
Supergram.
...
I hope you have a happy week ahead.
As always, I am sending you hugs and best wishes.

Meet Supergram

I know that you've all heard of
Superman

But have you met
Supergram?

Two weeks ago Mindy asked me if I would make
Superman capes for Austin's birthday party.
...
I said sure.... how many do you want???
....5????......6?????

NO????

.... HOW MANY DID YOU SAY???... !!!!

Did you count them???
I made 18 Superman capes.

The material was thin and I had to serge
each one with tissue paper to get rolled edges.
I made enough confetti for New Year's Eve on Time's Square.
In fact , Buttercup, why don't you let me know who I should
call to donate it to NYC. lol

However, it was worth all the work when I saw
how cute and happy all the little Supermen were today
at Austin's party.
...
However, you may not think me being a mass producer of
Superman capes qualifies me to
get the title of Supergram.....

.... but what if I tell you that while I was making
all those capes I was also finishing up...

....two quiet books that I'm making for Calan's and
Evan's 2nd birthdays....

...and..
I also cut out and...

got Ellie's Temple/Blessing dress about 3/4 of
the way done.

What do you think?
Does getting all that done
in 12 days
earn me the title of
Supergram???
(Actually is was really in less time than that.
I didn't sew on Sunday, I was gone much of Wed.
interviewing applicants for scholarships and most of Thur.
working at the temple.)

Ha.... well ... even if I'm not Supergram...
at least it explains why I haven't
had time to even sit down at my computer for days at a time.
I've been sitting at a sewing machine or doing handwork
from early morn until after midnight almost every day.

I hope to finish Ellie's dress in a day or two and then
I'll get back to visiting you.
Even when I am too busy to drop by and say "Hello"
I think of you often with love and wish you well.
Hugs, Grammy (AKA Supergram???)

Sunday Smiles Again

Thanks to all of you who responded to my last post and

remembered Lexi and her family in your prayers.
The funeral was yesterday.
Suicide is very hard for family and friends to understand
and deal with....
but a loving spirit was strong at the funeral
which brought peace to troubled hearts.
Please continue praying for this family.
We are also praying for those who are suffering in Japan.
May God bless and comfort all of those who mourn.
...
1. My biggest smile came this week
when I learned my son and his family....
are moving from eastern US to Utah.
David and Marla were both raised in CA...
... but...
every since Dave got his Masters
in Organizational Behavior
at BYU,
they have lived across the US in one state or another.
We just learned he is being transferred to Utah.
They will only be about 700 miles away
so we can drive to see them... and will often.
They will be near our two daughters and
their families who live in Utah.
We are thrilled....thrilled...thrilled!
...
Now I want to share with you the smiles
I put on hold last week
because of Rocky's death.
...
Late Friday night, March 4th,
John picked up Lynell and Johnny at LAX

2. Having our daughter and Grandson visit from Utah
always makes me smile.

Johnny came to CA to compete in the
Peter Vidmar Invitational Gymnastics Meet.
I made sure he got a hearty breakfast to start his busy day.

Grampy contributed oranges, avocados and honey from
his trees and bees to make a perfect breakfast.
...
Before leaving for the gym in LA we all
went over to Austin's little league game.

3. Little boys in Little League make me smile

Austin got 2 base hits
and on one made it all the way into home.

It is nice to have an aunt who is a professional photographer
take pictures at your game..
(It is obvious that I'm not the one she got her photography skills from.)

It is even nicer when sisters.....

and cousins love each other so much.
4. Having such a loving family makes me smile.

Of course Austin chose to walk to the car with Grampy.
They are buddies.
...
After the game.... we were off to LA

Once again, Johnny did his personal best.

(No, an Eagle did not land on his feet... It just looks that way. lol)

I won't put in pictures of each event since they look just
like the pictures I put in a few posts ago from the
Las Vegas meet.....

But I will put in these.... which make me smile...
He got.... First place on rings...

....First place on pommel horse...

...First place on vault...

...And... First Place Overall!!!

5. Our Peter Vidmar Invitational Champion makes me smile.
...and this score qualifies him to go on to Nationals in May.

After the meet Johnny's team had fun goofing off with
teams from Australia, Mexico and all over the USA.

This Aussie traded his t-shirt with Johnny....
so he flew back to Australia wearing a USA gym shirt.

Johnny and his hole team were jumping for joy....

And so were we...even though it was midnight before we
left the gym.
By the way, these are the same awards boxes that were used
in the 1984 Olympics when Peter Vidmar won the gold.
We hope that one day Johnny will be standing on
Olympic award boxes for real.

We didn't get home and to bed until nearly 2:00 a.m.
...then we were up early to get them back to the
LAX airport....

...and they were off...
6. This busy 36 hours with them went way too fast..
but it surely made us smile.

Next week I will share my smiles from
this cutie pies 6th birthday.
...
Until then, I hope you have a great week...
full of smiles.