So a lot of people from facebook know what’s going on, but I know that some folks here check here as well.
My sister works as a chef in New Orleans and was on her way home after working at the restaurant on Christmas eve. They have to clean up and wash down the whole restaurant, so she was stilll working easily beyond midnight. Given that Christmas eve is one of their busiest nights (on average they serve 1,500 on busy nights alone), she was cleaning to the wee early morning hours.
5AM Christmas day, we get a phone call from New Orleans Police Department asking if we know the person from the phone he is calling from (it’s my sister’s cell phone). We say yes, and let him know who my sister is. She has no ID on her (she puts her driver’s license in the coin pocket of the car since her work clothes have no pockets). He tells us she’s been in a very bad accident, is in grave condition at the hospital, and has no memory of who she is. She’s taken to New Orleans University hospital, which is the #1 trauma center in the south.
11AM Christmas day: she regains consciousness, and calls my mom. At this point she knows who she is, but has no recollection of any memory in the past 3 months, including Christmas eve -> day. We book plane tickets to New Orleans
We arrive in New Orleans, and at this point, we learn that she has 2 broken ribs, a broken specula (shoulder blade), and has bleeding in the brain. First CAT scan revealed it. 2nd CAT scan revealed the bleeding has increased, and they bring in surgeons on call in case emergency surgery is needed. Organs and other things are ok.
The next day, CAT scan #3 reveals bleeding has subsided. Her status is reduced to stable. Further tests reveal that bleeding has stopped and is ok. They prescribed percocet and another drug to prevent seizures.
Car is totalled, I got her stuff out. I also got her medical records, police report, and thanked the Police officer personally for going through the extra step to contact us (otherwise she could’ve been a Jane Doe case).
We’re flying her back to NJ on New Years Eve, hopefully before the snow storm hits. Thank you everyone for your concerns, help, sympathy and support. It’s much appreciated.
Especially many thanks to my sis’ roomate Ferrel and her family who have graciously treated us like family by opening up their hearts and home to us. You are now our family!
UPDATE: Nami has limited ability to use her right arm after the accident, and will have to go through physical therapy for the next 3 years to regain use of her arm.
