The car accident - part two

I'll try to give you a bit more information...

Part Two:

While my daughter and I were shivering in the car, now pulled off the road, we weren't certain about the extent of our injuries and waited as quietly as we could for help to arrive. It is precisely at times like these that we are reminded that we have control over virtually nothing in the grand scheme of things in life.

As I sat facing forward in the driver's seat, I could see a "monster" truck to the left of my car and instinctively knew that the young man who was approaching my window was the man who hit us even though I had not seen him hit us since he came up from behind.

"I'm sorry!" he said.

"It's okay." I responded in a sort of a daze. "I have to shut my window, though, I'm cold," I said as my body trembled. I knew I couldn't get into a conversation at that point. I was in survival mode for myself and my daughter.

Just then, a kind soft spoken man came to my window and then opened my door. He talked to me and asked my name, my age, my birth date, my daughter's name, my social security number and other things as well. I was able to roll the answers off my tongue between shivers. I surprised myself that the information seemed to come forth coherently. He then explained that he was an EMT and worked at the hardware store just yards away from the scene of the accident. The other EMT who worked at that store was now at my daughter's side of the car talking with her.

We were also, of course asked about out injuries and what was going on. We were told that the ambulance had been called and should arrive to us shortly. The man explained to me that he was going to have his partner get in the car seat behind me and hold my head still with his hands until they could put me in the brace. Based on my complaints and everything apparent to them, they did not want me to chance moving my neck. I explained several times that I am a mother of five and am used to taking care of everyone else. It was because of this, I think, that they chose to hold me still, knowing I wanted to care for my daughter, but that I shouldn't move. I was so deeply grateful to have these men there at the scene so quickly. I felt comforted amid the fright I felt because these men knew what they were doing and took the time to care for us.

This was certainly one of the most difficult moments I had ever been through as a mother in all of the 31 years of my mothering. This was the first time that I was unable to help one of my children when they were hurt because I had to remain still. I think that pain far outweighed the incredible pain in my neck and head. I couldn't hold my daughter to comfort her, I couldn't kiss her or caress her or anything but speak to her when not speaking to those working on us. The most I could do was to reach and touch her a couple of times before I was worked on and taken from the vehicle to be strapped on the body board.

(I'll try to write part three soon)