Shannon Daves
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I've posted this on two other boards that I visit often. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.
Well, I've been off the internet for about a week. I post this because I remember reading another somewhat similar story a few weeks ago.
Last Saturday evening, our lives changed forever. I was at the fire station and we had just finished supper. The phone rang and the guy that answered it motioned for me and asked if "she was alright?" (referring to my wife). When I got on the phone my wife was histerical. All she could say was "come home, mom's been shot". Her ex-husband had shot her and she was still conscious and able to tell them. I left immediately to go home. I arranged someone to come to my house to watch our 2 yo daughter, and we left for Grady hospital in Atlanta. It is about a 45 minute ride from the station to home, then about an hour and a half to the hospital. It was the longest ride of my life. While enroute, the investigator called and asked if he (ex-husband) knew where we lived. He did, and they asked if anyone was at my house. I knew where this was going and told him I would handle it. I called some friends in the SO and had 3 officers at my house within 5 minutes and they escorted my family and daughter to my father-in-laws house who is a state police officer.
I called the helicopter crew and they put me in touch with the ER doctor. He said she was shot in the left eye, but it appears to be facial injuries only. For the entire ride, I assured my wife that it was not as bad as we thought. My wife was still understandably very upset the entire way. We got to the hospital, and had to wait over 4 hours until I finally physically stopped a Dr. I was still in uniform, and I think that helped them to talk to me. Without any warning, the doctor told us that she had suffered a catastrophic brain injury, and would not survive. After being told that it wasn't that severe earlier, made this extra shocking. My wife was to the point of being unable to stand.
My mother in law was admitted to the ICU on life support. After 5 days and numerous consultations, we were told that without a doubt it was futile. She would at best be ventilator dependent and in a vegetative state for the rest of her life. Thursday we made the decision to remove her from life support. She lived for 39 hours and passed Saturday morning around 0645. She did not have a living will, but had told us in the past she did not want to live that way. She was a nurse, so we knew she understood what it meant.
My wife is devastated. She is on medication for her to just manage to function right now. She was her mom's only constant family, due to family problems with her brother, sister and son. My wife and her were also best friends. They would talk 2-3 times a day and would do things together several times a week. My daughter and her were extremely close, and she wants to know where "grammy" is. On top of all this, the murderer was my wife's step-dad. They had recently divorced after 15 years of marriage. He is currently in jail, and along with the funeral, we face in the future a murder trial. My mother in law's body is currently at the state crime lab for an autopsy. The funeral should be this Wednesday.
I type this for two reasons.
1) Is to to get it out. I've had to step up as the family spokesperson and representative and be strong for everyone. I also had to go to her house today to try to find some papers and get some clothes for her burial. I was very close to her, and this is harder than I could have imagined, but pales in comparison to the pain my wife is experiencing.
2) AND MOST IMPORTANT. Live every day to it's fullest. Sounds sappy, but it takes something like this to make you realize. We were supposed to be at her house last Sunday for lunch, but instead we were in an ICU room with her. Nothing is gauranteed. It's made me realize not to take anything, or anyone for granted. It'
Well, I've been off the internet for about a week. I post this because I remember reading another somewhat similar story a few weeks ago.
Last Saturday evening, our lives changed forever. I was at the fire station and we had just finished supper. The phone rang and the guy that answered it motioned for me and asked if "she was alright?" (referring to my wife). When I got on the phone my wife was histerical. All she could say was "come home, mom's been shot". Her ex-husband had shot her and she was still conscious and able to tell them. I left immediately to go home. I arranged someone to come to my house to watch our 2 yo daughter, and we left for Grady hospital in Atlanta. It is about a 45 minute ride from the station to home, then about an hour and a half to the hospital. It was the longest ride of my life. While enroute, the investigator called and asked if he (ex-husband) knew where we lived. He did, and they asked if anyone was at my house. I knew where this was going and told him I would handle it. I called some friends in the SO and had 3 officers at my house within 5 minutes and they escorted my family and daughter to my father-in-laws house who is a state police officer.
I called the helicopter crew and they put me in touch with the ER doctor. He said she was shot in the left eye, but it appears to be facial injuries only. For the entire ride, I assured my wife that it was not as bad as we thought. My wife was still understandably very upset the entire way. We got to the hospital, and had to wait over 4 hours until I finally physically stopped a Dr. I was still in uniform, and I think that helped them to talk to me. Without any warning, the doctor told us that she had suffered a catastrophic brain injury, and would not survive. After being told that it wasn't that severe earlier, made this extra shocking. My wife was to the point of being unable to stand.
My mother in law was admitted to the ICU on life support. After 5 days and numerous consultations, we were told that without a doubt it was futile. She would at best be ventilator dependent and in a vegetative state for the rest of her life. Thursday we made the decision to remove her from life support. She lived for 39 hours and passed Saturday morning around 0645. She did not have a living will, but had told us in the past she did not want to live that way. She was a nurse, so we knew she understood what it meant.
My wife is devastated. She is on medication for her to just manage to function right now. She was her mom's only constant family, due to family problems with her brother, sister and son. My wife and her were also best friends. They would talk 2-3 times a day and would do things together several times a week. My daughter and her were extremely close, and she wants to know where "grammy" is. On top of all this, the murderer was my wife's step-dad. They had recently divorced after 15 years of marriage. He is currently in jail, and along with the funeral, we face in the future a murder trial. My mother in law's body is currently at the state crime lab for an autopsy. The funeral should be this Wednesday.
I type this for two reasons.
1) Is to to get it out. I've had to step up as the family spokesperson and representative and be strong for everyone. I also had to go to her house today to try to find some papers and get some clothes for her burial. I was very close to her, and this is harder than I could have imagined, but pales in comparison to the pain my wife is experiencing.
2) AND MOST IMPORTANT. Live every day to it's fullest. Sounds sappy, but it takes something like this to make you realize. We were supposed to be at her house last Sunday for lunch, but instead we were in an ICU room with her. Nothing is gauranteed. It's made me realize not to take anything, or anyone for granted. It'
