We talked to Jenn today, she is still in Pretoria in the guest house. She has had a pretty rough week, a couple of bad days (from pain and discomfort) and a couple of good ones. After stitches, staples, and everything was removed, she was very uncomfortable, her stomach where her spleen was removed hurts a lot, she can't sleep on her stomach, left side (because of her shoulder) and it is uncomfortable to lay on her back (where her four broken ribs are).
She is still very hoarse, and her voice is weak - she says it doesn't hurt to talk, but it does take some effort. The docs say her voice should come back in a month or so. The biggest problem she has is clearing her throat - coughing hurts her stomach and her ribs, so it is a real effort. That could become a problem because of her lung injuries.
Jenn has been able to check e-mails, but hasn't written much, because it is hard to do so. She also is limited in how long she can sit at a computer - she is still very weak, and can't go very long without resting. She spends most of her time sleeping - which is a good thing.
Looks like Tim will be discharged back to Malawi on Monday, the other girl in the house that was in a wreck has already been discharged. We don't have any idea how long it will be before she can come home - she says that Tuesday was the earliest possible date, but doesn't think that is going to happen.
Jenn is very aware of everyone's thoughts, wishes, prayers, e-mails and calls - she just doesn't have the strength to do much yet, and is still sorting things out. Your e-mails and calls are a lifeline to her. By the way, she is having problems making outbound calls, but inbound calls work well, and are very welcome.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Pretoria Update 1-15-09
I received a brief e-mail from Jenn this morning - she had "everything removed" at the hospital yesterday, and, apparently, it was quite painful. Her e-mail was sent at about 8:30 am her time, and she stated "I am in quite a bit of pain. I am sorry that this is so short, but right now, all I want to do is go to bed".
She is very glad to be coming home - no date is set yet, but she indicated it would be "soon".
We will probably talk to her again on Saturday, will post an update then.
She is very glad to be coming home - no date is set yet, but she indicated it would be "soon".
We will probably talk to her again on Saturday, will post an update then.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
1/13 Quick update
No new news from Jenn today - and from what we understand, no news is good news.
I asked Jenn about mailing things to her, she said "I'm not going to be here that long. If anybody wants to mail me something, please send it to the house - I want to be sure I get everything"!!
If you want to mail Jenn a card, letter, etc., please send it to her at:
821 Coxboro Dr.
Brentwood, TN 37027
Thanks again for your thoughts, prayers and support. They have pulled us through.
I asked Jenn about mailing things to her, she said "I'm not going to be here that long. If anybody wants to mail me something, please send it to the house - I want to be sure I get everything"!!
If you want to mail Jenn a card, letter, etc., please send it to her at:
821 Coxboro Dr.
Brentwood, TN 37027
Thanks again for your thoughts, prayers and support. They have pulled us through.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Pretoria Update 1-12-09
Nothing new from Jenn today, talked to her late yesterday evening - she is in some discomfort, but healing, bored and ready to get on with things. She went back to the hospital today to have 35 staples removed, and I haven't heard how that went.
They are provided breakfast at the house, but have to provide other meals for themselves - they can either order in, or go to the mall - which they do usually, to get out of the house. Jenn still has a very strong sense of humor, the four in the house have all sustained injuries, and she said "we make quite a sight at the mall - one of us is using a walker, I scare them to death, and Tim doesn't know where he is".
As I hear stories from her and her mom, it seems more and more that what she has accomplished is remarkable. At the crash site, Tim and the driver were pulled out first, as they thought they were the most badly injured - when they pulled her out of the car, Jenn told her mom that Tim and the driver were laid out on the grass, and looked dead. As badly injured as she was, she said to herself "we are not going to die here - not here, not now" and went over to Tim and started screaming at him to wake up, knowing that sleeping with a head injury could be fatal. She kept after Tim to stay awake, and even in the ambulance on the way to Lilongwe, on oxygen, she helped the doctor with Tim.
Brenda believes that her dedication to helping Tim kept her adrenalin going, and gave her the strength and desire to save herself.
Great story, there is so much more but that will be up to Jenn to share at some future point.
She will be coming home in the next 2 - 4 weeks, don't have a definite date yet. She is quite anxious to come home, but dreading being "unemployed again at 24". She still needs your prayers and support to help her get through this.
They are provided breakfast at the house, but have to provide other meals for themselves - they can either order in, or go to the mall - which they do usually, to get out of the house. Jenn still has a very strong sense of humor, the four in the house have all sustained injuries, and she said "we make quite a sight at the mall - one of us is using a walker, I scare them to death, and Tim doesn't know where he is".
As I hear stories from her and her mom, it seems more and more that what she has accomplished is remarkable. At the crash site, Tim and the driver were pulled out first, as they thought they were the most badly injured - when they pulled her out of the car, Jenn told her mom that Tim and the driver were laid out on the grass, and looked dead. As badly injured as she was, she said to herself "we are not going to die here - not here, not now" and went over to Tim and started screaming at him to wake up, knowing that sleeping with a head injury could be fatal. She kept after Tim to stay awake, and even in the ambulance on the way to Lilongwe, on oxygen, she helped the doctor with Tim.
Brenda believes that her dedication to helping Tim kept her adrenalin going, and gave her the strength and desire to save herself.
Great story, there is so much more but that will be up to Jenn to share at some future point.
She will be coming home in the next 2 - 4 weeks, don't have a definite date yet. She is quite anxious to come home, but dreading being "unemployed again at 24". She still needs your prayers and support to help her get through this.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Update from Pretoria 1-10
Quick update - Brenda (Jenn's mom) and Micki (her aunt) arrived back home Friday morning, and are really glad to be back. Jenn called me Thursday morning from the guest house, and I received the e-mail below from her. That is the last update I have received - I think the e-mail explains why.
Thank you again to all of you who have been following our "saga" - and for your wishes, thoughts, and prayers.
Hey there, Just a quick note b/c internet is expensive here, but my phone died, and I don't have the right adapter for here. I hope mom and micki made it back alright; tell them thank you again--it's not enough, but it's all I've got for now. The guest house is beautiful; kind of like a 5-star very boring vacation, but it's weird to be staying somewhere so nice right now. The other volunteers are nice, and things are going well. I've got some pain, but I'm trying not to take any pain meds. At any rate, thanks for everything; I'll keep you posted when there's more to say and more time to say it.Love you lots,Jenn
Thank you again to all of you who have been following our "saga" - and for your wishes, thoughts, and prayers.
Hey there, Just a quick note b/c internet is expensive here, but my phone died, and I don't have the right adapter for here. I hope mom and micki made it back alright; tell them thank you again--it's not enough, but it's all I've got for now. The guest house is beautiful; kind of like a 5-star very boring vacation, but it's weird to be staying somewhere so nice right now. The other volunteers are nice, and things are going well. I've got some pain, but I'm trying not to take any pain meds. At any rate, thanks for everything; I'll keep you posted when there's more to say and more time to say it.Love you lots,Jenn
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Update 1-8-08
Jenn was moved out of the hospital early this morning, to a guest house where Tim and two other PCV's are staying. Yesterday, the doctor asked if she could walk, so she got up, and walked from one end of the hospital corridor to the other, then went down a flight of stairs. They did convince her to take the elevator back up. I talked to Brenda at 11:00 local time last night, Jenn wore them out trying to keep up with her.
The woman in the bed next to her gasped, and said "I don't believe my eyes". All of her doctors concurred that they couldn't find any reason to keep her in the hospital any longer.
Tim will be in the halfway house another two weeks, then returning to Malawi - Jenn will be there at least 5 weeks, it turns out - the docs said "are you kidding? Two weeks? Don't you know we just removed a tube from her lung yesterday, and just took her off of oxygen?" Perhaps we were a little overly optimistic.
Micki and Brenda are on a plane over Africa as I write, trying to make it home tomorrow - they may get bumped in Dakar at 3:00 am local time, bummer, but they thought this was their best chance - and they are ready to come home.
If you ever have to go through this ordeal, stay at the Centurian Forever Hotel near the hospital - they have treated Brenda and Micki like queens, a very nice experience. I am jealous - my Raz dog is the one that gets treated like a queen here, I am the cup bearer - as in a cup of dog food.
Jenn will have computer access at her guest house, if she feels up to it she may answer some e-mails, and, hopefully, she will take over her blog. Dad's blogging days are about to come to an end - hurray!! Jenn is much more interesting, and can give you a lot more insight into what has happened / is happening.
Thanks again for your support. Couldn't have done this without you.
The woman in the bed next to her gasped, and said "I don't believe my eyes". All of her doctors concurred that they couldn't find any reason to keep her in the hospital any longer.
Tim will be in the halfway house another two weeks, then returning to Malawi - Jenn will be there at least 5 weeks, it turns out - the docs said "are you kidding? Two weeks? Don't you know we just removed a tube from her lung yesterday, and just took her off of oxygen?" Perhaps we were a little overly optimistic.
Micki and Brenda are on a plane over Africa as I write, trying to make it home tomorrow - they may get bumped in Dakar at 3:00 am local time, bummer, but they thought this was their best chance - and they are ready to come home.
If you ever have to go through this ordeal, stay at the Centurian Forever Hotel near the hospital - they have treated Brenda and Micki like queens, a very nice experience. I am jealous - my Raz dog is the one that gets treated like a queen here, I am the cup bearer - as in a cup of dog food.
Jenn will have computer access at her guest house, if she feels up to it she may answer some e-mails, and, hopefully, she will take over her blog. Dad's blogging days are about to come to an end - hurray!! Jenn is much more interesting, and can give you a lot more insight into what has happened / is happening.
Thanks again for your support. Couldn't have done this without you.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
You ABSOLUTLEY won't believe this!!!
Jenn just called me from the hospital - she has progressed so rapidly, she will be discharged from the hospital tomorrow - Dr. Cedric, the PC Medical Officer, said it it almost unbelievable. She is extremely excited, they took the stitches out of the area around her eye today, there will be some scarring, but that should be easily fixed with plastic surgery.
Brenda and Micki went to see her in the hospital ward today - and she wasn't there! They had to hunt for her, and found outside enjoying the sun.
She will be staying in a halfway house with Tim for about two weeks, until they are well enough to fly, then Tim will be returning to Malawi, and Jenn will be coming home.
Jenn asked me to tell everyone how grateful she is to you for your support, your prayers, your calls, your e-mails, your text messages - she told me she would get back to each of you as soon as she could "get my head around all of this - it is pretty overwhelming, getting back into the world is going to be hard". She loves and appreciates you all.
Final note - Brenda and Micki will be trying to return tomorrow night, or Friday night - which means they will be home by mid-day Friday or Saturday.
Thank you all for everything you have done to support us during this time - you can never know how grateful we are that we, as a family, have friends like you. There are not sufficient words to express our appreciation.
Brenda and Micki went to see her in the hospital ward today - and she wasn't there! They had to hunt for her, and found outside enjoying the sun.
She will be staying in a halfway house with Tim for about two weeks, until they are well enough to fly, then Tim will be returning to Malawi, and Jenn will be coming home.
Jenn asked me to tell everyone how grateful she is to you for your support, your prayers, your calls, your e-mails, your text messages - she told me she would get back to each of you as soon as she could "get my head around all of this - it is pretty overwhelming, getting back into the world is going to be hard". She loves and appreciates you all.
Final note - Brenda and Micki will be trying to return tomorrow night, or Friday night - which means they will be home by mid-day Friday or Saturday.
Thank you all for everything you have done to support us during this time - you can never know how grateful we are that we, as a family, have friends like you. There are not sufficient words to express our appreciation.
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