Wednesday, about 10 pm, Don got a brief text message from his longtime friend Adrian. If you remember, Adrian had a heart transplant two years ago. Two years ago on Wednesday. Don immediately called him back. Adrian was crying.
Adrian and his lovely wife Margaret were going to the theater Wednesday night. They were celebrating the two year anniversary of his transplant. By the way, Margaret had open heart surgery about 3 months ago. She had recovered and was doing well. As Adrian and Margaret used the crosswalk, a car came down the street at a fast speed and hit Margaret. As Adrian watched in horror, her body flew about 10 feet in the air and landed on the hood with her head smashing the windshield. The car ended up several feet down the street. (There was a crowd of people on the sidewalk in front of the theater who witnessed the accident.) Adrian ran to Margaret who was now lying in the street, her face covered in blood, eyes open. He thought she was dead. He couldn’t find a heartbeat. But, thank God, she wasn’t. A nurse who was in the theater crowd ran over to help. EMS got there very quickly and rushed her to the hospital. And that was where we were when we first talked to Adrian, who was sobbing and in shock. We talked to him for a long time, doing our best to reassure him, but, of course, in shock ourselves at what had happened to our dear friend.
After a scan, it was determined that she has fractures on both her legs, her left leg had the most damage. She was going to have to have extensive surgery on that leg. She has five fractured ribs. Pieces of glass were embedded in her face. No damage to the skull or brain, thank God. Later in the day, after performing initial surgery on the left leg, the doctors discovered there was damage to one of the neck vertebra, so she has to wear a cervical collar. The first surgery was to insert a pin in her leg, but they won’t be able to do more surgery until the swelling goes down, which will be about 10 days from now.
She’s will have a long, long recovery.
Adrian kept repeating “She was taken from me” and “Everything can change in an instant.” He couldn’t sleep because he kept seeing her body fly through the air. Over and over and over again.
This happened at almost the exact minute that Adrian was wheeled in the operating room two years ago.
Obviously, this horrific accident has been our focus for the past two days. We are in contact with Adrian throughout the day, and thankfully, his son and daughter-in-law have come down from the San Francisco area to be with them.
I can’t do the egg cups today, but I’ll post about them tomorrow.
Please send prayers for Margaret. And Adrian.
They have been through so much in their time together. Years ago, Adrian and his son were in a car accident and Adrian had to be airlifted to a hospital where he went through a long, long recovery process. He almost died then. Then came the heart problems which lead to months spent in the hospital awaiting a transplant. Then Margaret’s open heart surgery.
Haven’t they been through enough?
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
Yes…your dear friends have been through enough. My heart goes out to Adrian and Margaret. Positive healing vibes are enroute as well as prayers. You and Don take care as well…you need to be strong for them. ;)
Yes, we are conserving energy today so we can be there for them.
Thanks, Donnamae.
Stay safe.
prayers said and will continue for margaret and adrian, the medical staff helping them, you, don and everyone else.
may God help us all. (i know He does).
stay safe in every way, everyone.
kathy
Thank you, Kathy.
The accident was horrific.
Stay safe.
Prayers for Margaret and Adrian. They certainly have been through more than their share of bad luck. The stress of it all won’t be good for Adrian either. They are fortunate they have you and Don for friends.
Take care
I hope Adrian got some rest last night. He had been going on a couple of hours of sleep.
Thanks, Marilyn.
Stay safe.
Praying for Margaret and Adrian. They’ve been through more than anyone should have to endure. They are blessed to have you and Don as friends.
Thank you, Carol. No one should have to endure what they’ve had to endure.
Stay safe.
Prayers for your friends. Truly, our whole world can change in seconds. Miss talking to you.
I was thinking of you yesterday, Judy. I was thinking of emailing or calling you. I will do that next week.
Stay safe.
Prayers ascending. <3
Thank you, Betsy.
Stay safe.
Prayer for Your dear friends. It’s just beyond understanding.
It truly is. Thanks, Judy.
Stay safe.
What a sad, sad story. Prayers for Adrian and Margaret. I’m glad they have you and Don to lean on. Life just isn’t fair, it seems. Love and hugs, Elaine
Life is definitely not fair, Elaine.
Thanks so much.
Stay safe.
Dear Claudia and Don,
This is shocking and horrid news. I wish your friends the very, very best in their recovery, both have suffered. May her body heal and rehabilitation be swift and successful.
Take Care,
Kaye
Thank you, Kaye.
Prayers are appreciated.
Stay safe.
I am keeping your friends in my prayers. They have been through so much. Wishing all of you some peace and healing.
Yes, not only for them, but everyone.
Thanks, Linda.
Stay safe.
Absolutely dreadful event. Will pray for a speedy recovery for Margaret and healing for Adrian too.
Thank you, Dee Dee.
It still seems unreal.
Stay safe.
Oh Claudia….shocking! Was what this car did intentional? This poor couple have been through a nightmare. We will definitely keep them in our prayers. A horrible way to remember every day is a gift. My thoughts are with you and Don.
No, not intentional, I don’t think. Just driving too fast and recklessly.
Thanks so much.
Stay safe.
Oh Claudia, how shocking and how sad. They truly have been through enough. I will keep them in my thoughts.
Thank you, Fiona.
Much appreciated.
Stay safe.
Praying for your dear friends❤
Thank you, Debbie.
Prayers are most appreciated.
Stay safe.
Unimaginable. I’m so sorry for your friend… I’ll be thinking of her and her husband, as well as you and Don.
Thank you so much, Barrie.
Stay safe.
I am so sorry to hear what happened to your friends. I am praying for them. After witnessing something so horrific, I hope Adrian has the opportunity to speak to a member of the clergy or a therapist to help him process this. Bless you and Don for providing him with much needed support. ❤️
His father was a minister, so I’m sure he’ll seek out support.
Thanks so much, Denise.
Stay safe.
Oh, what a horrible event! I sure hope she will be all right and I’m glad that the doctors are able to help her. What a long recovery it will be. They will both need help for quite a while and I am glad they have family and friends to help them.
Thank you, Ellen.
It’s simply horrific.
Stay safe.
So sad to hear of this awful thing which has happened to two people who have gone through so much. I know you and Don are helping as much as you possibly can. I was thinking that perhaps Don needs a large hug since it must be so distressing to see his friend since they were children suffering like this. Like other people here my husband and I will pray for all of you. Megan. X
Thank you, Megan. (I give Don big old hugs several times a day.)
Thank you for your prayers.
Stay safe.
You and Don are wonderful friends to so many , especially lately. Staying stong for them, please take care of yourselves. As they need you, you need each other and we who care about you send our prayers for all.
Thank you for your kind words, Barb.
And your prayers.
Stay safe.
I just saw Don, playing a lawyer on Law and Order! Episode “Personae Non Grata.”
I still think Don could be Sheriff Walt Longmire.
Seeing Don made my day!
Take Care,
Kaye
Glad you saw him, Kaye!
xo
Thinking of Margaret and Adrian. Get some rest yourselves too! Sometimes it just seems like the world needs to push Pause on all of the heartache, tragedy, and stress for at least just a day so we can all have some peace for just a bit.
Agree. Peace would be nice, wouldn’t it?
Thank you, Cheryl.
Stay safe.
How awful and so heartbreaking her husband had to witness it and relive it over and over. Life can indeed change in the blink of an eye. Holding your friends in my thoughts.
Take care,
Kay
Thank you so much, Kay.
Stay safe.
Praying for your dear friends. I’m so sorry this has happened to them! Beyond horrible!
Thank you, Lily.
It’s utterly heartbreaking.
Stay safe.
Oh Claudia, you’ve had a world of hurt and worry in the friendship department these past days, and I join the others in sending prayers of recovery out there. Isn’t enough ever enough?
I wish it was, Jeanie.
Thank you.
Stay safe.