Jenn's mom is in Pretoria, and was able to spend some time with her tonight (8 hours time difference) - she is doing amazingly well, good blood pressure, no fever, on 30% oxygen (everyone keeps asking me about this) - Brenda says the hospital is amazing, the doctor is very impressive, and Jenn has a 24-7 nurse beside her bed, constantly monitoring her. They did have her up and walking today, and started some light exercises.
Tim is doing fine - is still having difficulty remembering events, and still somewhat confused. He had a chance to visit Jenn today, and they both fell asleep.
At this point, it appears that Jenn will be in ICU for another week, then will move to a "High Care" room for a week, and then to a regular hospital room - and if she progresses adequately, she may be coming home in about three weeks, for further surgery (plastic) and other care.
So, in spite of this being a very scary time, and being way off balance, everything seems to be working out.
Most likely, from what we can determine, because removing the spleen reduces her immunity, she will not be posted back in Malawi - South Africa is an outside chance. But that's for another day.
Now it's time to celebrate the end of an incredible year, full of about every emotion and experience a family can have, and to welcome the dawn of a new year - hopefully less traumatic, but eventful, fun, and full of celebration and joy. Happy New Year to all of our friends and family!!!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Dad's thoughts about Jenn
Going through all of this has brought out a new perception of Jenn - many of you may have seen this differently than a Dad, having been through different events with her, by now I see an incredibly strong, level headed, cool headed young woman with a strong presence of mind. Yes, her body is badly broken, but she is still Jenn.
Thinking events through, at the crash site, SHE called us - as badly injured as she was, and as traumatized by watching her effects being stolen as she was fighting to get help - she called and said "Mom, I've been in a bad accident, and am hurt - call the Peace Corp. I am in Mzima". I also understand that she was concerned about Tim and his head injury, and kept after people to keep him awake - again, inspite of her own injuries.
Talking to the acting country director, who was with Jenn all night the first night, he said it was a great experience to talk with her and get to know her - again, in spite of her condition.
And in Pretoria, she called us as she was going into surgery, and told us "This is an anesthesia surgery, but it is something that I have to do. I love you".
And the PC medical director in Pretoria told me today that, after the transfusion, it was apparent that she was doing better - she greeted him with a big smile!!
What an incredible, strong, intelligent young woman!!!
Thinking events through, at the crash site, SHE called us - as badly injured as she was, and as traumatized by watching her effects being stolen as she was fighting to get help - she called and said "Mom, I've been in a bad accident, and am hurt - call the Peace Corp. I am in Mzima". I also understand that she was concerned about Tim and his head injury, and kept after people to keep him awake - again, inspite of her own injuries.
Talking to the acting country director, who was with Jenn all night the first night, he said it was a great experience to talk with her and get to know her - again, in spite of her condition.
And in Pretoria, she called us as she was going into surgery, and told us "This is an anesthesia surgery, but it is something that I have to do. I love you".
And the PC medical director in Pretoria told me today that, after the transfusion, it was apparent that she was doing better - she greeted him with a big smile!!
What an incredible, strong, intelligent young woman!!!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday Update to Jenn's Status
We have just talked to the Peace Corps medical officer, and Jenn is doing fine after her surgery. She had to have a blood transfussion (the doctor assured us that they screen the blood for hiv, malaria, hepititas, etc. by the same standards as American hospitals) and that helped her alot. She had a big smile for him when he arrived, and is able to sit up for short periods at a time.
She will be in intensive care for several days, and then in the hospital, eventually moving to an apartment near the Peace Corps headquarters, where they will set her appointments for her and take her to them.
Her mom, aunt and uncle are planning to leave Tuesday afternoon and go to see her, so they should be there on Wednesday some time and we will have more information. Jenn's throat is sore from the tube inserted for anasthesia, so she won't be able to talk to us for a couple of days.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers - they mean a lot to us and Jenn.
She will be in intensive care for several days, and then in the hospital, eventually moving to an apartment near the Peace Corps headquarters, where they will set her appointments for her and take her to them.
Her mom, aunt and uncle are planning to leave Tuesday afternoon and go to see her, so they should be there on Wednesday some time and we will have more information. Jenn's throat is sore from the tube inserted for anasthesia, so she won't be able to talk to us for a couple of days.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers - they mean a lot to us and Jenn.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Sunday late afternoon update
Jenn is out of surgery, the doctors had to remove her spleen and insert a tube in her lung, which turned out to have small holes in it. She is stable, the surgeon has gone home for the night. We will talk with the Peace Corps medical officer in the morning, and will know more overall then.
We are lucky that she is still with us. It looks like she will have a long period of recuperation, once she is past the immediate danger.
If you would like more information, you can call her parents at (615) 373-2822, or e-mail at bhcjr@comcast.net.
We are lucky that she is still with us. It looks like she will have a long period of recuperation, once she is past the immediate danger.
If you would like more information, you can call her parents at (615) 373-2822, or e-mail at bhcjr@comcast.net.
Medical Update
We have just heard from Jenn's doctor again, a new scan showed that her spleen is damaged and bleeding - they are prepping for surgery, to go in and find out how bad the damage is. We will know more in a few hours, after she wakes up from surgery. The doctor says " she is quite an amazing young woman, very strong. She has been through a very bad ordeal, but is still relatively upbeat". Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
Sunday Mid-morning update
We talked to Jenn and her doctor today - she is in Pretoria, and is doing ok. She has a cut over her eye, that they are going to clean up and re-stitch, multiple glass cuts, a broker collar bone, a broken bone near her nose, chipped teeth, at least four cracked ribs, bruised lungs and a bruised heart. She will require very little surgery, but will take some time to recuperate. She is on oxgen, so she could not talk for long. The doctors are going to run some more tests, we will know more tomorrow, Monday, late afternoon. Tim has a concussion, and is sleeping alot, but is up and moving around. Jenn is not able to walk around yet.
She and Tim lost everything they had - if someone has a way to get to her belongings in Chitimba and secure them, that would be extremely helpful, as we feel that as soon as word gets out that she is not there, everything there will be stolen also. She has no clothes with her, other than what is on her back.
We will have a hospital room number later today.
She and Tim lost everything they had - if someone has a way to get to her belongings in Chitimba and secure them, that would be extremely helpful, as we feel that as soon as word gets out that she is not there, everything there will be stolen also. She has no clothes with her, other than what is on her back.
We will have a hospital room number later today.
Jenn Update Sunday Morning
We have heard from the doctor in Pretoria, Jenn and Tim have landed in Johannesburg and are being transported to the hospital in Pretoria, Unitas, a first class hospital - the largest private hospital in Africa, highly accredited. We won't know more about their condition until later today, and will post an update then. Jenn will be in Pretoria for some time during recuperation, staying in an apartment near Peace Corps headquarters and the hospital for follow up treatment.
More later, Jenn's dad.
More later, Jenn's dad.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Jennifer update Saturday Night
We heard from the Peace Corp - Jenn and Tim are in an ambulance right now, being moved from Mzuzu to Lilongwe, where they will overnight in a hospital near the airport - where they will be medivaced at 10:00 am local time to Praetoria, South Africa, for evaluation and treatment at one of the best hospitals in Africa - a new facility. It is the primary facility for the Peace Corps for all of Africa.
She and Tim are both stable, the medivac is just a precaution, because of the type of some of their injuries, and the PC wants to make a state of the art evaluation.
We probably will not hear more from Jenn / about Jenn until some time Sunday or Monday, and will post additional information as we get it.
She and Tim are both stable, the medivac is just a precaution, because of the type of some of their injuries, and the PC wants to make a state of the art evaluation.
We probably will not hear more from Jenn / about Jenn until some time Sunday or Monday, and will post additional information as we get it.
Malawi Update
I have asked my dad to post this update on my blog. After a nice Christmas with friends, Tim and I were on the way to Lilongwe the Saturday afternoon when the car we were travelling in blew a tire, spun around and flipped over. We were pulled out of the windows upside down, and taken to Mzuzu Central Hospital, Rumphi District.
We are very lucky to be alive, as the car was being driven too fast when the tire blew. I have a broken clavical, glass cuts, chipped teeth, cuts on my eye and head, and some trouble breathing. Tim has a concussion, and I don't know what else.
I feel very safe here, it is a good hospital. My mom and dad have been up all night (8 hours time difference) working with the Peace Corps and American Embassy, and an embassy doctor has just arrived with three cars to check us out. If we are stable, we will stay in Mzuzu tonight, and then be driven to Lilongwe tomorrow (Sunday). It is very difficult to drive at night here, and even in the day time it is about a three hour drive.
One disappointment - the villagers stripped everything from the car almost before we were gotten out, and took everything. The traffic officer told me that he had my passport, but at this point, I don't have a cell phone. If you want to keep in touch, you might want to call my parents at (615) 373-2822.
I will keep you posted as I know more about our situation. Please keep us in your thoughts.
We are very lucky to be alive, as the car was being driven too fast when the tire blew. I have a broken clavical, glass cuts, chipped teeth, cuts on my eye and head, and some trouble breathing. Tim has a concussion, and I don't know what else.
I feel very safe here, it is a good hospital. My mom and dad have been up all night (8 hours time difference) working with the Peace Corps and American Embassy, and an embassy doctor has just arrived with three cars to check us out. If we are stable, we will stay in Mzuzu tonight, and then be driven to Lilongwe tomorrow (Sunday). It is very difficult to drive at night here, and even in the day time it is about a three hour drive.
One disappointment - the villagers stripped everything from the car almost before we were gotten out, and took everything. The traffic officer told me that he had my passport, but at this point, I don't have a cell phone. If you want to keep in touch, you might want to call my parents at (615) 373-2822.
I will keep you posted as I know more about our situation. Please keep us in your thoughts.
Monday, December 15, 2008
My New Address in Chitimba
Hi, I have a new address. I LOVE to get mail - it's almost the only way I can communicate with the outside world! A letter costs about a dollar to send, an envelope the size of a fedex package about ten dollars. and a U.S. Post office box about $40.00. I LOVE packages - see my list of things below that I could use. And, thanks for writing.
Jenn Christian, PCV
Box 34
Chitimba, CDSS
Chitimba, Rumphi
Malawi, Africa
Jenn Christian, PCV
Box 34
Chitimba, CDSS
Chitimba, Rumphi
Malawi, Africa
E-Mail from Jenn 12-7-08
Hey there,I'm sorry; we had a storm here, and I'm not sure whether it was the storm or a lack of units on my phone which wouldn't let my call gothrough.
Things are pretty hectic here with swearing in tomorrow, and I'mleaving for my site first on Wednesday morning, so it's good, scary, sad, etc. right now. I have sessions all day today and swearing in / no time to buy my buckets for my house tomorrow. I would love to talk to you guys and if you want to chat briefly tonight (like after 5 my time), that would be fine, but when I'll really want phone calls is probably more like Thursday through the weekend when I'll be all alone for the first time here. (Well, alone and surrounded, I'm sure by neighbors,etc.)
My address (but don't use this one yet) I think is Box 34,Chitimba, but I don't know how to write it on a package, and I'm not sure whether I also need to get my own box in addition. Really, I'llknow a lot more once I get to site, as I didn't address the address issue while I was at site visit. I'm very near the post office andwill drop by as soon as I can on Thursday to figure it out.
Some things I've thought of that I'd like to have (but don't need; just for anyone who wants to send something): (I have a list, but I don't have it with me; this is off the top of my head; I can be more specific later.) Spiral notebooks (which excite me to no end at this point; I won't even write in the one I have here because I'm saving it up), Pens (one that fell in the box you sent me last time has really saved me for the past month).
Food! Easy to eat, no-heat, spicy, tasty, delicious, nutritious (you know how I love Whole Foods) food! (I can get peanut butter here.)Things like olive oil, spices, granola bars, junk food, candy, tea, etc. are not available here.Aveno face wipes (remember the green and white canister I brought here? Rough on one side, smooth on the other--great for scrubbing the grime out of my skin.) They require water, but it's so worth it; it's one of the only things that can make me still feel like a girl sometimes--I've been rationing them out. anything that smells good--lotions are also nice for the same reason as above--like the body butter in my room from Micki would be great.
I'd love to have my black and white going out shirt just b/c I like it (even if I only get to wear it like once in Lilongwe sometime). Ziplock bags, the hair clips (I think they're called something like alligator clips with the interlocking prongs--I've lost all of mine, and I really like them). Keep the books coming--they're fantastic. Clothing: Keep it cool, keep the skirts long and hippie-ish (thebrown tie-dye is my favorite), t-shirts (I love the ones fromFranklin), tank tops with wide straps (no spaghetti straps or even thin straps, whole top of the shoulder coverage is best), short-sleeved collared shirts for work, etc.
TOILET PAPER!!!! nice soap is nice but not as important. Anything ziplock or tupperware is brilliant. Pictures for my walls would be excellent. Ugh, I know I'm forgetting important things, but I just can't remember right now; it's early.
I guess the most important thing is to note that none of these are necessities and that, for the most part, I can get everything I need here in country. The luxuries from home are things like real shampoo and easy food which are way outside my budget, but there isn't anything I need, so don't worry on that front.I love you lots and really have to go!
Talk to you soon!
Jenn
Things are pretty hectic here with swearing in tomorrow, and I'mleaving for my site first on Wednesday morning, so it's good, scary, sad, etc. right now. I have sessions all day today and swearing in / no time to buy my buckets for my house tomorrow. I would love to talk to you guys and if you want to chat briefly tonight (like after 5 my time), that would be fine, but when I'll really want phone calls is probably more like Thursday through the weekend when I'll be all alone for the first time here. (Well, alone and surrounded, I'm sure by neighbors,etc.)
My address (but don't use this one yet) I think is Box 34,Chitimba, but I don't know how to write it on a package, and I'm not sure whether I also need to get my own box in addition. Really, I'llknow a lot more once I get to site, as I didn't address the address issue while I was at site visit. I'm very near the post office andwill drop by as soon as I can on Thursday to figure it out.
Some things I've thought of that I'd like to have (but don't need; just for anyone who wants to send something): (I have a list, but I don't have it with me; this is off the top of my head; I can be more specific later.) Spiral notebooks (which excite me to no end at this point; I won't even write in the one I have here because I'm saving it up), Pens (one that fell in the box you sent me last time has really saved me for the past month).
Food! Easy to eat, no-heat, spicy, tasty, delicious, nutritious (you know how I love Whole Foods) food! (I can get peanut butter here.)Things like olive oil, spices, granola bars, junk food, candy, tea, etc. are not available here.Aveno face wipes (remember the green and white canister I brought here? Rough on one side, smooth on the other--great for scrubbing the grime out of my skin.) They require water, but it's so worth it; it's one of the only things that can make me still feel like a girl sometimes--I've been rationing them out. anything that smells good--lotions are also nice for the same reason as above--like the body butter in my room from Micki would be great.
I'd love to have my black and white going out shirt just b/c I like it (even if I only get to wear it like once in Lilongwe sometime). Ziplock bags, the hair clips (I think they're called something like alligator clips with the interlocking prongs--I've lost all of mine, and I really like them). Keep the books coming--they're fantastic. Clothing: Keep it cool, keep the skirts long and hippie-ish (thebrown tie-dye is my favorite), t-shirts (I love the ones fromFranklin), tank tops with wide straps (no spaghetti straps or even thin straps, whole top of the shoulder coverage is best), short-sleeved collared shirts for work, etc.
TOILET PAPER!!!! nice soap is nice but not as important. Anything ziplock or tupperware is brilliant. Pictures for my walls would be excellent. Ugh, I know I'm forgetting important things, but I just can't remember right now; it's early.
I guess the most important thing is to note that none of these are necessities and that, for the most part, I can get everything I need here in country. The luxuries from home are things like real shampoo and easy food which are way outside my budget, but there isn't anything I need, so don't worry on that front.I love you lots and really have to go!
Talk to you soon!
Jenn
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