I Told My Wife No

Since the accident there have been many people that we have never met, yet they have prayed for our family. Last Friday we had the chance to meet some of them!

We enjoyed meeting these dear brothers and sisters in Christ and their precious families!

We are so thankful for them and so many others who approached the throne of God on our behalf.

While visiting with them, Ryan shared what he considers the greatest miracle of the accident.

He told me, "No."

This is the story in his words.

The trip to Michelle's mom's in Illinois is about 10 hours and we usually share the driving. I usually do the most driving, but sometimes Michelle gives me a break and drives a short leg of the trip. This trip I drove the whole time. Our last stop was in Marshall, MI where we filled the van up with gas and bought some snacks for the last leg of the trip. The next stop was home. As we loaded the kids in and buckled up, Michelle offered to drive. I told her, "No, I'm okay. I'll just finish it up."

As you already know it was during this stretch that the accident happened. The van was hit on the driver's side. Some of you know what the van looked like after the accident. I suffered multiple injuries, breaking 13 or 14 % of the bones in my body. The constant aches and pains that I have are nothing compared to what I would be feeling if I had to watch my wife through this.

I consider it a miracle that I was driving.  Seeing my wife go through something like this would make me feel lifeless. Just watching her with the aches, stiffness, and other issues she has still hurts me.

I just know I am thankful that I was in the driver's seat that night. 

Since the accident, I (Michelle) have heard my husband tell numerous people that he was thankful that it was him and not me or one of our children. Each time I was reminded how much he loves me and our children. I know he loves us so dearly he would give his own life for us. It is such a beautiful reflection of another man, Jesus Christ, who loved us so much He gave his life so that we can all be free from sin and live forever with Him.

From Ryan

Tonight I am welcoming another guest blogger! Ryan has asked me to post for him, so these are his words, I am just doing the typing.

The first thing I want to say is thank you to my God and Saviour for protecting my family. I also want to say thank you to all those who have prayed, provided meals, helped with our children, provided transportation, sent cards or helped our family in any other way.

There is much I want to write about, but I want to write about our children. Each day I was in the hospital I thought of my children and I grew more thankful for all 3 of them.

I wondered if I had been a good father to my children. I wondered if there were some things I could do better. Then I heard a story that brought tears to my eyes. As they pulled my family from the van my oldest daughter asked the paramedic to pray with her over her family.  Knowing that we can move mountains with the faith of a mustard seed, the faith shown by my daugther to know that God could save us all let's me know she knows the right path.

I am concerned about the emotional scars that could result from this. My Moriah, our middle child, saw her mom motionless with her face down in an air bag. She saw her dad, with a bloody face, groaning in pain and trying to get out of the van.  She heard her little brother crying and screaming in fear, calling for mommy and daddy. As she grows, I pray she will not carry the weight of these images in her mind.

Even our youngest child, our 2 yr old son, has some understanding of what happened. He says, "Grandma Nanny's and crash!" and "car accident."  We do know that all of this can be used for the glory of God, and that is what we want to come of this.

I do ask that you pray I learn how to be a father again. Being out of our home for 2 months I feel like I must rebuild relationships with my children. We are not able to do many of things that we once did together. I often feel inadequate of being their dad. All of these feelings brought me to tears on the night I came home. I know the Lord can bring me through. I just need to remember that He is in control.

Ryan's Moved!

Ryan is no longer in Flint, MI at Hurley Medical.  They have moved him to Covenant Medical Center in Saginaw, Mi.  This is a lot closer to home (praise!) and also means he is stable enough to be moved (another praise).  So if anyone was planning on visiting him or sending him ecards you've got to change location.  Covenant does have ecards so feel free to send him some while he's there!
Praise the Lord he is on the road to recovery!

Thursday, December 9th

The girl's made it down to Flint and they got to see their dad for the first time.  The visit went really well and I think it did them all good (Ryan included).  Ryan did discuss the accident and each shared what they remembered.  Ryan told the girls he was very proud of the way the girls behaved the night of the accident and how good they have been since then. 
Everyone at the hospital is amazed at how well Ryan is doing after all he has been through.  All the nurses LOVE him and were heartbroken when they found out he was married.  I think Michelle put a stop to all future sponge baths.  When Ryan moved last night from the trauma unit on the floor to the non-trauma side he had a new roommate.  Of course, Ryan was up for a conversation.  Michelle learned from the roommate this morning that he was tired and frustrated as he was spending the night in the hospital and having to change plans for a trip to Florida.  He said after hearing Ryan's story and his attitude about it, there was no way he was going to feel sorry for himself.  Ryan's story was inspirational to the new roommate.

Today Thursday, Dec 9th

Michelle had a doctor's appointment this morning at 8:15am to have her shoulder looked at.  The dr. said after looking at the X-Rays that everything seems to be healing the way it should (praise the Lord), and he would like her to start physical therapy. 
I just got off the phone with them and they were in the car driving to Flint so the girls could see Ryan.  This will be the first time both of them have seen Ryan since the accident.  Please be praying it goes well. 
Ryan has been moved to a different part of the floor, he was in like neuro trauma, now he is just in the neuro side of the floor.  Michelle called his nurse ahead of time and warned her his girls were coming and if she could make him look as presentable as possible.  The nurse told her that she was just amazed as to how well he is doing after all he has gone through. 
I wonder if they realize the amount of prayer that is going up for this guy. 

~ Angie Peterson

Tuesday, December 7th

Michelle and mom went to the Ladies Tea at church.  This was Michelle's first social outing since the accident.  She was a bit overwhelmed by all the people and thankful for the pastor's wife who came up to her, grabbed her hand and said, "Follow me, I'll get you to your table."  They brought in a special comfy chair for her to use that made her feel like the queen of the party.  The speaker was a lady who had been in a car accident.  Michelle thought it was too soon from her own accident to hear her story so planned on leaving early.  When the speaker heard of Michelle's story, she came up to her and asked her to stay saying, "I feel you're the reason I'm to speak here tonight."  

Someone brought over a car for mom to use until they get the van replaced.  That has been helpful in getting the kids around and running some errands.  

Ryan sat in a chair about an hour.  He has already put weight on the leg that had a rod put in.  He misses us loves us and ready to come home.  Michelle doesn't think he is taking any pain medicine . . . the people at the hospital are amazed.  He had a push button he could press that would give him a dose of meds and they decided to take it away cause he never used it. 

Surgery Tomorrow

Have not heard from Michelle today, but I do know Ryan's surgery over his left arm is tomorrow, please be praying all goes well!  Thanks!

~ Angie Peterson

Monday, December 6th

Michelle was able to talk to Ryan on the phone today.  He is talking through the trachea so she can understand him pretty clearly and she said he sounded very normal.  He told her that he was able to get up and sit in a chair for 45 minutes today!  He is already putting weight on the leg that has the rod in it.  The physical therapist is already working with him.  Ryan told Michelle that he is ready to get outta there, he's ready to stand up, be home, be hugged and loved.  Ryan is very motivated and shouldn't take him long once he is moved to rehab.  Ryan's next surgery is Wednesday.  This will be the surgery over his left arm, so please keep him in your prayers!
Ryan's brother Jared flies in tomorrow and will go straight to the hospital to see him.  I think that will do much good for his spirit. 
Today Michelle put on deodorant all by herself and she did a good enough job that it didn't need to be reapplied.  The girls still helped her get her socks on.  She said she gets a little bit better every day. 
Today she had two jobs on her list she really wanted to get done and she got them both done (one of them being laundry put away, she couldn't remember the 2nd job) but she was tired afterwards. 
She slept in her own bed last night, as opposed to the lazy boy she had been sleeping in.  Moriah slept with her and cried a little bit.  Michelle said she had the girls journal for a little bit as they seem to express themselves in writing better than verbally. 

~ Angie Peterson

Sunday, December 5th

Mike and I left my family and headed back to Illinois today.  Mom stayed behind and will most likely be there for 2 weeks; until I can get back up there over Christmas break.  Today Michelle surprised us by getting dressed all on her own today as well as put on her own deodorant!  Of course, I gladly reapplied some for her just in case. 
Michelle got a call this morning that Ryan's uncle and aunt were going to drive down to Hurley to see him and said they had room for one more if anyone wanted to go.  She did some debating and decided to go when she heard they wouldn't be gone for long.  The nurses found out Ryan's "honey" was coming down for a visit so washed him up and even put gel in his hair! 
Ryan's trachea is in, but he is already off the ventilator and breathing on his own.  Michelle had to laugh because every time Ryan had to cough he covered his mouth even though the cough was coming through the Trach.  He is being fed by an IV, but as soon as he gets the straw figured out he will be able to eat that way.  He will then be able to eat whatever can be pureed.  Because of his jaw being wired shut he was unable to speak.  Michelle said she could understand most of what he wanted to say by his eyes and points.  At one point something happened and Michelle said by the look in his eyes she knew exactly what he was thinking.  I think they both liked knowing they know each other well enough and have been married long enough to have that unspoken communication. 
Ryan's cousin, Rich, is going to go down and watch Monday night football with Ryan tomorrow night.  He told Michelle if she wanted to come along, she could.  Michelle has figured Rich will be watching football and Ryan will be sleeping, so she's going to pass on that trip. 
The girls made it to church this morning.  Trying to get things as normal as possible for them.  Since their mom came home they have been much more open about what they remember from the accident and what they saw.  I would like prayers for their little minds as I know they will never forget the images they saw, but would like for them not think or dwell on them often.   
Also, the report last night that he would already be able to put weight on the leg, was not accurate.  I do not know when he will be able to put weight on his leg. 

Ryan's Out Of Surgery

About 10pm we got a call that Ryan finished his surgery.  The left hand did not get done.  The oral surgeon was very positive in the way things went.  They were able to insert a plate through his mouth rather than creating a scar on his face and entering that way.  They put in a trachea which Ryan knew was a possibility going into the surgery.  They tied down his arms so when he wakes up, if there is any confusion he won't pull anything out.  His jaw is wired shut and should be for the next 5-6 weeks. 
Thanks for the prayers!

~ Angie Peterson

Ryan's Surgery Update as of 630PM

It's 6:30pm and we just got off the phone with Jan.  They are just now starting the jaw.  It's taking longer than what they were wanting.  The face surgery took a little more than 3 hours.  The eye took longer than they thought.  There was more damage to the eye and nose than what they thought.  They put plates and pins in his face and they may shift.  If they do, it means more surgery in the future.  In fixing the nose they had to pack it and because of the packing they put a trachea in which he will be breathing through for the next few days.  Until they can unpack.  He will be breathing through a ventilator. 
Pray the jaw does not go as long as expected because the doctors did not want to go longer than 10 hours.  They will because they started, but they really didn't want to. 

~ Angie Peterson

Ryan Surgery Update

I just got off the phone with Jan and this is Ryan's update as of 1:45pm.
Hip and legs are done.  He had the rod put in his leg.  She said if he is up to it, starting as early as tomorrow he can start putting weight on it!  Not a lot, it would be minimal . . . like from his bed to a wheelchair, or chair to toilet.
Everything is looking good at this point.  There has been a lot of blood loss, but that was anticipated.  It's a very bloody surgery.
The hand will not get done today, they ran out of time.
The facial team is in with him now.  They are trying to reposition him and then they will get started.  The facial team includes, ear, throat, nose and eye.  There is at least 3 hours left of surgery as of right now, 1 hour with the eye doctor and 2 with the oral surgeon. 
Keep the prayers going!

~ Angie Peterson

Update on Ryan's Surgery

We just got a call from Jan, Ryan's mom, that they are finished with the hip.  That part went well.  They had him propped up to lay on his side to work on the him. They are moving him over to start working on the legs.  The hand surgeon is waiting and the jaw surgeon was also on his way to the hospital.  The surgery got started around 8:15am.

~ Angie Peterson