March 2020- GoFundMe Update
Mirrored Content from Maeve’s GoFundMePage on March 9, 2020:
One year ago today our family went to the hardware store. Moments after leaving, as we walked on the sidewalk, my then 4-year-old daughter was struck and dragged under a vehicle driving out of control in reverse. Maeve was then charged with life’s greatest task- survival- in one instant.
Among the replay of images that day affords my husband and I as part of our PTSD is the memory of an overarching and powerful energy that told me Maeve was going to live through this. I believed with every fibre of my motherhood that I knew Maeve well enough that not even being run over by and pinned under a car was going to stand in the way of what she was brought to this earth to do. But, in that moment, my daughter needed ADVOCATES and not MOURNERS or PITY. She needed EMPOWERMENT and it was up to her dad and I to rally. And so we did. And so did the team at Hagersville Hospital. In great big ways.
Another vivid memory is the semi-circle of about 25 or more people (and God only knows how many behind the scenes) that were waiting at the ready for Maeve just through the ER doors. In that instant, I felt both out-of-body and immensely grateful. They were all there to save my baby. Waiting to extend their expertise and loving kindness on our child and us. And my goodness, it is impossible to put into words how they did (and continue to do) exactly that. The teams laboured into the following morning for 16 or 17 hours of surgery. All those hours of putting things relatively back in the same place. Of making hard choices. Of exhausting resources. Of us waiting in the little room for speciality after speciality to come out and speak to us about how much thread we are working with in terms of lifesaving. What might be salvageable and what’s lost for good. Of what lengths these doctors and nurses and specialists are straining themselves to go to. Of the trauma that they suffered as well just by participating in this. They prepare for this, but then you see it firsthand, or so a nurse told me just this week.
Yes, this week. Maeve has been back for more surgery. She was in for a planned removal of much facial hardware but then experienced complications that resulted in 2 more surgeries *so far*. She is still very much in recovery mode.
Though we look at Maeve’s accomplishments and stand in wonder, the last couple of weeks of being back in the hospital have reminded us that in no way are we out of the woods. In no way can we take any day for granted. But also… in no way should we be discouraged by today’s challenges. My goodness, we have endured the unspeakable- as so many nurses and doctors that were there “that night” feel compelled to remind us. There’s nary an anaesthetist on the roster Maeve hasn’t met after enduring around honestly probably 100 hours of sedation/surgery since the accident. That is NOT an exaggeration. It’s more likely an underestimate- it’s not including any of the time spent in a medically induced coma, either.
From where I get to stand as this amazing guru’s mother, I see possibility. I see how when people like Maeve are empowered instead of pitied- they can shine bright and have amazing successes. Maeve is setting an example for the rest of us. Helping us keep things in perspective. What most people claim to be problems are NOT problems whatsoever. Put one hand in your pocket and try to zip up your hoodie. Get in a wheelchair, with that hand in your pocket still and try to get around your house or work or school. Use the bathroom. Put on your own prostheses. Get yourself to school or work. Use public transit. Have a baby. Oh, don’t forget to close one eye and remove half the teeth from your mouth while you’re at it. Make a sandwich. Try to eat that sandwich with partial dentition and limited ability to open your mouth wide enough. See what I mean?
Maeve has taught us all so many lessons already in this first year. We as a family choose to frame this as 1 year since we adopted a new mindset, left our former ‘struggles’ behind, and met our wonderful Mighty Maeve. There is a term for this- it’s called post-traumatic GROWTH. That’s all the good stuff that happens as a result of a tragedy. And there has been lots of good stuff- especially all the wonderful people and professionals we have had the chance to meet and work with. However, we would be remiss if we did not share one important lesson- the simple message of #DriveSafe, a concept widely promoted by our wonderful WarAmps family. #DriveSafe also means choosing not to drive at all unless you are absolutely fit to do so. Your choice to inconvenience yourself for a day could save another person a lifetime of inconvenience. Or worse. Please take this message to heart and mind and make good choices before getting behind the wheel.
Thank you to all of the wonderful people and organizations who have supported our family this past year.
