My graduation party was on the 22nd. Big affair, lots of people and lots of fun.
My sister, who is four years younger than me, was helping my grandmother get the parking brake unstuck from her minivan which was on a hill. Something went wrong and my sister ended up pinned between the minivan and the floor of the woods at the bottom of the hill. Fortunately, many of my family are volunteer fireman/EMTs and as such there was a crew of skilled care workers right on hand.
She was taken to the local hospital where we learned she had fractured her tenth lumbar vertebre. She was airlifted to Barnes hospital in St. Louis, which is near where I live.
We found out the bad news soon after that. Two of her vertebrae were 100% dislocated, sheering the spinal cord. It is mostly, if not all, severed. We won't know for sure until rehab starts, but she'll most likely never walk again.
She goes into surgery tomorrow to fuse the spine so she can sit upright. It's a seven hour surgery and she may need another after that. Then we'll know how bad the damage really is.
For those who haven't met her, my sister is near-saintlike. She lives to serve others. She's been on countless mission trips to other countries and spends her summers working for Campus Crusade for Christ. She has the deepest faith of anyone I have ever met and that's one of the things that is getting her through this. She's the strongest person I know.
She's also a very active young lady. She loves playing all types of sports, hiking, backpacking, biking, and pretty much anything that keeps her active. While she is pursuing a nursing degree, she's always longed to coach volleyball. Knowing that she may not be able to participate in her passions breaks my heart as I type this.
We have a tight community in my hometown and the outpouring of support has been nothing less than amazing. People are bending over backwards to make our lives as easy as possible as we spend days in the hospital. Right now there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people praying for my sister now. I know we have over 30 churches involved. This support is what she is drawing strength from.
That's why we need more. If you pray, please keep my sister Jessi in your thoughts in prayers. If you don't pray, please send some good vibes her way. She needs all the help she can get right now.
Also, my grandma was slightly injured but is doing fine other than her misplaced guilt on blaming herself for what was a complete accident. My grandpa, her husband, has a very bad heart and does not deal well with this kind of news which led to him being admitted to the hospital on the same night as my sister and grandma and his weak heart started to act up. Both grandma and grandpa are physically fine now, but emotionally distraut. Please keep them in your prayers too.
Thanks to all of you in advance.
