"He's in my lane..."

Thursday morning started out really well. I woke up and snuggled with Jackson and MacKenzie. I even contemplated staying in bed and going to work later due to the snow. I looked outside and it did not look bad, though, so I got up, got dressed and headed to work. Jackson was also working in Muncie at Ball Memorial so he left the same time that I did in his car. He got off work at 3 so he would head home to let MacKenzie out and I'd be off work around 5.  My favorite podcast, SERIAL, just released a new episode so I was set. The drive was very normal on the interstate. I noticed Jackson behind me at the stoplight and waved to him. We turned onto SR 32 and headed for Yorktown and then on to Muncie. Or so I thought...

It started to snow a bit harder, but the roads were not bad yet. We were making decent time and I started thinking that I may be at work early. Then I noticed a car in the other lane starting to lose control and spin. I couldn't figure out why they were spinning when the roads were not that bad. I assumed they were just not paying attention. Then I realized his car was now in my lane. Uh oh. I did not have time to stop. I was going full speed in the 50 MPH zone. Time both slowed down and sped up. Here's is what I remember thinking:

He's in my lane.

HE IS IN MY LANE.

LORD, HE IS IN MY LANE.

I CANNOT STOP.

MY CAR WILL NOT STOP IN TIME.

JACKSON IS GOING TO WATCH ME DIE.

THIS IS GOING TO KILL ME. 

I CANNOT HIT THIS HARD AND NOT DIE.

OH MAN, THIS IS GOING TO HURT. 

I REALLY DID NOT PICTURE DYING IN RURAL INDIANA ON MY WAY TO WORK.

RELAX, RELAX, RELAX, LET GO AND RELAX

*BOOM*

I cannot remember anything after the initial hit which was just as hard as I expected it to be. The airbag went off and I hit a cement mailbox on my way off the road after hitting the other car. I came to rest in a slippery ditch. I woke up really confused and hysterical because I wanted to know if Jackson (remember he was RIGHT behind me) was hurt. I couldn't breathe until I knew if he was safe. When I heard his voice my sense of relief was so sudden that only then did I realize that I was hurt. I could not feel my legs and that made me hysterical all over again. I got so upset that I started throwing up. A sweet passerby happened to be a nurse at the hospital in Anderson on her way to work. She stopped and made her way down to me to hold my hand until the emergency crews arrived.  I will love her forever for that.

The emergency crews arrived and got me out of the car. I had to be in a neck brace and on a backboard until they knew if I had spinal damage. All of the workers were very kind to me and I just remember being very, very cold and scared. The ride to the hospital felt really long (and very bumpy), but we made it and met my new medical team. I had the best nurse, Tess, who took charge and made sure that I was as well-cared for as possible. I had to have CT scans, X-rays and an EKG. I was extremely fortunate that I broke no bones or spinal damage. All my feeling in my legs returned and my biggest issue was just having to pee!  

The aftermath 

More damage

A bit more damage

My airbag

I was sent home with some serious pain medicine and instructions to take it easy for a couple of days. That was not a problem as I felt like doing nothing at all.

MacK keeping me company on the couch

Family selfie

Taking her nursing job very seriously

It was not my favorite way to get two days off work without questions, but I'm just so fortunate that my car held up to such a high speed collision with flying colors. People have been very kind with the emails and texts. I truly appreciate all the well wishes.

An Edible Arrangement sent by one of my favorites,
Mrs. Susan Davis

I plan to try to return to work tomorrow morning. Let's hope this trip is more successful than the one on Thursday...