|
‘Day by day’
Published October 25, 2008
A moment in time.
A young Albertville mother, Christina Jenkins, smiles while holding her baby daughter, Tessalyn.
It’s a beautiful photo, capturing the innocence of the moment.
Two weeks before Tessalyn celebrates her first birthday, another moment in time.
Jenkins barely survives a horrific one-car crash.
The moment happened Oct. 3 between 4:15 and 4:30 p.m.
Christina’s mother, Donna, says her daughter swerved, hit a fire hydrant and flipped three times on Cochran Road. She was no more than a mile from their home on Stone Street.
The 21-year-old Jenkins had been in the intensive care unit at Huntsville Hospital until Thursday, dealing with a series of operations and injuries.
And paralysis from the chest down.
Donna has virtually lived at the hospital for the past three weeks. She says Christina was transferred to Spain Rehabilitation Center in Birmingham on Thursday, but may be moved because of some medical complications.
“She had her spleen ruptured, a lacerated colon and liver,” Donna says. “She had had gastric bypass, and it tore that all apart. She broke her back inthree places, one severely. She had two broken bones in her neck, and both legs, and two broken ribs. She’s permanently paralyzed from the breast down.”
Somehow the family has managed to deal with all the uncertainties. Instead of diapers, Donna’s scattered thoughts try to grapple with where to get wheelchairs and vans with a lift.
“Our problem is our home is an older home that’s been remodeled, and it’s just not really feasible to get our bathroom and hallway handicap accessible,” Donna says. “It would probably be cheaper to add a room and a bath for her. There are several areas in the house where we’ve got step-ups.
“We need wheelchair ramps and just to figure out how to fix the house for her. Those are the most immediate concerns. We’ve got to find out about a van and lift. We really need information more than anything.”
Donna says Christina is coping.
“She’s pretty outgoing and strong-willed and big-hearted,” says Donna. “She is a good mother. Tessalyn’s first birthday was (Oct. 17), and it liked to have killed her not to be there for that. She had promised to never miss her birthday. So we just postponed the birthday party until she gets better.
“We can visit her. For the last four days, she’s been off the ventilator,” Donna says Wednesday. “We’ve been able to talk. It’s tough for her to deal with. She’s been heavily medicated.
“She’s trying to keep her spirits up. She breaks down at times. I would say she’s coping fair.”
As a loving parent, Donna has experienced the range of emotions as well. This is not the first time she has suffered tragedy. Donna lost a son in a car accident when he was 19.
“It’s just overwhelming,” she says. “At first we were concerned with her dying right then. They said if there had been a 10 or 20 minute delay, she wouldn’t have made it.
“When she lived, that was a relief. Then you hear she’s paralyzed. That brings on all kinds of emotions, hurts and disappointments. Then you get to thinking about the expense and getting things prepared for her. She’s going to have to have a lot of equipment at home.
“My husband Charles is 68 and I’m 59. We don’t have a lot of years to help her, and her with a 1-year-old baby. I guess we’ll make it. We have no choice. You do what you have to do.”
Donna says Christina was on her health insurance plan, which is some relief.
She also says Spain Rehabilitation Center should help her daughter deal with the emotional wounds of paralysis.
“They said a lot of young people go to Spain and that would be good for her mentally,” Donna says. “We’ve had support from friends and family. The hospital’s been great.
“I’m pretty much taking it day by day. I just thank everybody for their support and prayers.”
---
HELP NEEDED
Help needed
• Citizens Bank & Trust, of Albertville, has an account set up for Christina Jenkins. Contributions can be made in person or mailed to P.O. Box 1667, Albertville AL 35950.
• The family also needs information and help about where and how to go about making their home handicap accessible. If you can offer ideas or places where the family can address these issues, call 506-6588, 739-9458 or 878-7346.
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print |
Letter
|
|
|
 |
|
Follow the Reporter on Twitter:
SMR News and
SMR Sports
|
