Prayers for Andrew--LONG

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 03-30-2009, 05:41 PM

Most of you know I went to Oklahoma last week to visit my parents. I had a heck of a time getting there since I missed my connection in Denver. Wellll, everything went fine until last Monday when I talked to DH.

Andrew had gone to eastern Oregon with his best friend and friend's family. He dove into a shallow hot springs...and broke his seventh vertebrae in his neck. WHY he isn't PARALYZED or DEAD is beyond me. He has an entire flock of guardian angels watching over him that day.

They drove him to the small hospital in Burns. They initially thought he just tweaked something and would need to rest for a few days. Then they xrayed him and discovered he had broken C7 in three places BUT his spinal cord wan NOT compromised. They flew him to Bend (the only hospital of any size in eastern Oregon) for further tests (MRI, CT scan, etc.).

DH and my FIL raced through snow and icy roads to get to him. I couldn't get a flight out of Tulsa due to the blizzard in Denver for DAYS. I was a nervous wreck and BARELY beat the snow out of Tulsa and Chicago to get him a day LATE. To top it all off, DS#2 was sick with the flu and had to stay home by himself with my friends and MIL checking on him periodically.

Andrew is in a metal brace from his ribs to his chin. He is home for a couple of days and then will see a neurosurgeon on Thursday to double check what the neurosurgeon in Bend said (no surgery necessary).

We have insurance, but I am terrified at what the air flight is going to cost. I HOPE our insurance will cover this or we may literally be paying for this for the rest of our lives. The three ER visits are not an issue; the flight may well be. The main thing is that Andrew is OK.

Thank you God, for looking out for my son. I hope this has made him more aware of his mortality and that he will be more careful in the future.

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 03-30-2009, 05:41 PM

I should have mentioned--Andrew is DS#!. Geeze, my memory is shot these days.

**IntlMom** · 03-30-2009, 05:48 PM

Wow!!! I'm sure sorry all this happened, yet what a blessing that he is "OK".....life can sure change in an instant, huh?

**LastDragonfly** · 03-30-2009, 05:50 PM

Oh Gosh girl, I am so thankful for those angels....I'm praying that all the rest will fall into place.

**craftypam** · 03-30-2009, 05:52 PM

He is very very lucky. My son works with a guy who wasn't so lucky. He has to get up at 4:30 am and a nurse comes to help him get ready for work everyday. He works at a mortgage company making a good living but he is in a wheelchair. If you think your son is still going to be a daredevil; maybe it would help to show him this. I am sooooooo happy for you as his mother that he is ok too I have 3 boys.

**Sara Noel** · 03-30-2009, 05:58 PM

oh Lori. I'm so sorry! Hoping he has a full, speedy as possible recovery and without any further complications. You must be worried sick.

I'm glad it wasn't any worse.

**Debbie-cat** · 03-30-2009, 06:14 PM

Lori, I am so sorry to hear this. I will definitely be saying prayers for him and your family.

**lovestoread** · 03-30-2009, 06:19 PM

I will be thinking of you and sending prayers....thank goodness it wasn't worse.....

**xtena** · 03-30-2009, 06:24 PM

How terrifying for you all, but the important thing is that Andrew is alive, and will be able to walk again. The angels really must have been looking after him.

Try not to think about the monetary aspects (hard not to panic and imagine the worst, I know). Also remember that if the claim is initially denied, there is an insurance appeals process that sometimes works out in the long run (it worked for me when DD's $50K NICU stay and my $20K hospital stay following her traumatic birth were initially denied).

**Michelle68** · 03-30-2009, 06:48 PM

Oh, Lori, how scared you must have been. I'm so glad he wasn't hurt worse. I will definitely be keeping him (and you) in my prayers.

**Cricketlegs** · 03-30-2009, 06:55 PM

Wow it is just awful what happened but wonderful he isn't worse off than he is.

I hope he recovers well.

**Dancing Lotus** · 03-30-2009, 06:57 PM

You must have been terrified. Thank God he is going to be ok. Don't even think twice about the bills, I would rather have to pay off something for the rest of life then to have to go one day without my child. God bless