Worse before it gets better.

We saw Kendra's doctor yesterday, to follow up after the emergency room visit. She did a very thorough exam and then she sat and talked with us about the physiology of whiplash.

She told Kendra that she will feel worse (usually 72 hours after the accident) before she begins to feel better. Use the medications given to help with the soreness and pain. Warm soaking baths and/or showers. heating pads and eventually (once some of the bruising is gone) massage. She warned of relapses in muscle stiffness and muscles seizing up that could occur over the next year or so. And how to combat these things. It was a good visit and Kendra is now armed with ways to help herself through these injuries.

We found out a bit more about the perpetrator. He is 37 and this is his "first" offense. Here in Alabama, they have a law that prevents them from searching this sort of prior beyond five years back. So if you can keep yourself out of trouble for five years, you reset your misdemeanor clock (eye roll). He suffered a broken nose, arm and a "star" fracture of the ankle. He was taken to the hospital in Montgomery where he is under police watch. Once he is released from the hospital he will be arrested. His other passengers escaped injury.

My brother (a police officer in Phoenix) is urging us to pursue a civil claim against this guy. He says that the sentencing that will occur through the state's case will not be enough to deter this man from driving intoxicated again. I know that our insurance company is planning to sue this man and his insurance company (if he has one) for all costs associated with this accident as well as for an award for Kendra's "pain and suffering." Is that enough? Or should we pursue a private civil claim as well?

As a first time offender, his maximum sentencing could be up to 365 days in jail, loss of his license for 90 days, fines not to exceed $2100.00 and mandatory substance abuse program. Is that enough?

Shell shocked

We've settled her at Tyler's (her boyfriend) for now. Her apartment is on the third floor and she is in no condition to do the stairs for now. Tyler is in a single level home. She is able to walk on her own power, but because of where the bruising is, I'd just as soon she didn't have to tackle too many knee bending obstacles (stairs). She missed classes today while we took her around to see the officer handling the case and pick up prescriptions, as well as to collect the items from her apartment she'd need for a few days. But she wants to try and make as many classes tomorrow as she can.

Tomorrow we go back up there to take her to her doctor for another exam and to give her my van to use until we replace her car.

After we left her, Paul and I went by the wrecker lot that had her car. Although, technically we were not supposed to "see" the car, the lot attendant gave us directions so we could drive and see it on our way off the property. I am amazed that she is not more banged up. If she did not have her seatbelt on and/or if there had been no airbag I firmly believe that she would be fighting for her life in some hospital.

With just a flip of the coin

Kendra was hit head-on (in her car) by a drunk driver last night (Monday) at 11:45 pm. Through the Grace of God and the invention of airbags, Kendra escaped major injury. She was seen at the emergency room at Troy Medical Center. She will have some colossal bruises and will be very sore for some time, but we are praising God that her injuries are relatively minor. The police investigator says her car is a complete loss and without those airbags, she would have been, too.

Later this morning, Paul and I will be going back up to Troy to take Kendra by the police station so that she can give her statement and then take her home. The drunk driver was in an SUV, but it appears that his injuries are more severe than Kendra's. Blood Alcohol tests were drawn on everyone involved (he had passengers with him) at the ER.

I promise I will keep everyone posted, but as things stand right now.. Kendra is resting comfortably... some bruises on her hands and knees, a bloody nose,... but all the CT scans and x-rays show nothing broken.