The Sad Beginning

Sweet Angelee, named for the angels from Heaven, thought she had already earned her wings and tried to fly from a second-story window.  Her skull was fractured when she hit the concrete below.

We rushed her to the local hospital, where they did some CT scans and airlifted her to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City.  She underwent surgery where the doctors removed a large piece of her skull to allow the brain room to swell.  Hopefully this will alleviate any secondary brain injuries from the accident.  The anesthesia wore off for a few hours, and they were able to assess her neurological functioning.  We were all so happy to see her open her eyes, recognize Dad and Mom, kick her arms and legs, grab for her favorite blankie, and try to pull all the lines out.  

Right now, she is in a medically-induced coma for a few days.  This will allow her brain to not have to do anything but heal.  She's a tough little cookie and has several things in her favor: she is young, healthy, her brain is still developing, she responded well to us after the anesthesia wore off, she has no other noticeable brain trauma, we got her to treatment quickly, and she has the best possible care in five states.

Angelee doesn't normally like to stay in bed, but she can't open her bedroom door to get out, so she just waits for us to open the door.  She doesn't fuss or scream, just plays behind the door.  She often falls asleep there on the floor, and we have to go put her back to bed.  Wednesday night, she got out of her bed as usual, and curled up behind her bedroom door.  Trent went in to put her back to bed and stood in the doorway, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dark.  Angelee saw Daddy standing there, sprang to her feet, ran across the room, and jumped into bed before he could say a word.  Cutest thing ever.  Tonight, I think she'll stay in her bed.