The LAST last post

Amy wrote a letter to the editor of The Challis Messenger and it was published this week:

Guest Commentary - The miracle is in the people


BY AMY HANSEN

I am writing to share the story of a miracle with everyone in your town. On May 1, I received a phone call telling me that my mother and father had been in a rollover car accident near Challis, just south of the Cottonwood Creek campground.
The list of my mother's injuries was terrifying: broken neck, back, arm and leg, plus a shattered thumb.

The Challis paramedics, including Trever, Luanne, Vicki, Biddie and Aletia (to the best of our knowledge), raced out to the accident site, and my mom was put on a backboard and airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. EMT Vicki called several times to check on my mother's condition after Mom got to the hospital.

My mom's accident left her in very poor spirits, but not because of her own serious injuries. One of her two beloved cats, Rita, had gone missing. Deputy Levi Maydole saw Rita run off into the dense underbrush at the accident site.

During my mom's four-week hospital stay, we drove out to Challis several times to look for Rita and put up posters, but with no luck.

Challis Animal Control officer John Runer said he would look for Rita, and neighbors near the crash site put out food. Two of the EMTs (Trever and Luanne or Vicki, we think) promised to keep going back to the site to look for Rita. KSRA radio announced her plight in "Lost and Found." Eddie and his daughter went out and looked for Rita, and they put us in contact with the Cottonwood Creek campground host, Duane Wilson. Deputy Maydole said he'd drive by the site, and Mary, the dispatcher at the Sheriff's Office, pledged to help spread the word.

Four weeks passed, during which my mother survived four surgeries and started to breathe on her own again. She returned to Roseville, California, via air ambulance.

Then a journalist friend of my mother's heard about the missing cat and contacted The Challis Messenger, which published a story about Rita. A few days later, my father received a call from a trucker who reported seeing a gray cat. My dad bought a live cat trap at my mom's insistence, and family friends on a road trip dropped it off with Duane.

Duane put the trap out for a couple of nights, and one morning, Rita was inside. Duane took her to Lone Pine, where she got lots of love and care until a ride home could be arranged. You can imagine the hysterical crying, screaming, phone calling and general craziness that ensued when Duane called with the news, almost six weeks after the accident. Family and friends were ecstatic about the "miracle cat."

The miracle was not the survival of the cat. Nor was it the survival of my mother, as I believe that was in the hands of a higher power.

The miracle in this story is you, the people of Challis. My parents were complete strangers, and every person we encountered through our ordeal treated us like next-door neighbors, or in some cases, like family, taking time to do something for us out of real generosity, not for personal gain.

A perfect example is when my father called Duane and asked for his address so he could send the reward for finding Rita. Duane said, "Now Brian, I can't tell you that." We ended up sending the reward money to Lone Pine.

In this busy, often self-centered world, Good Samaritans have become rare. To have found a whole town of them is a miracle. I hope you each realize what a wonderful gift you've given to our family, and to my personal faith in human character.

You have my eternal gratitude. Amy Hansen lives in Syracuse, New York

Final Blog Post

Janet with a good-bye wave to all her faithful blog friends!

Oh, happy day

Yesterday I went to see my neurosurgeon and the scans allowed her to tell me that I could have the halo AND the back shell off ASAP! I called the orthotics office and they were booked up for a week and a half. I called Larry, who worked on me, and he said that he and his partner would stay late at the office to take it off.

So, I'm halo and brace free. I have a soft collar on my neck and I still can't do much--no bending--but I am free! Just wanted to let you all know right away. I'll get a picture of the new me and get it on the blog.

Love you all. Janet

Pictures of Lone Pine Vet Clinic from Dr. Imamura (Challis vet)

Pictures and captions from Don and Sylvia (the Sylvia who can type and hold a camera)

This is a photo of highway 93 in the area of the crash site, taken toward the north. The Salmon River is to the left, the Cottonwood Campground would be to the north, beyond the view of the photo. The area where Rita was found in the live trap was in the area beyond the trees to the right in the photo. As we discussed, Rita may have been seen by the truck driver traveling along the road to the campground to the north, where Duane was also putting out food, or to the south in in the photo to the house where a family was putting food out for Rita, even though they had a number of cats themselves. As you know from your visit there, the area behind the trees was a somewhat open, fairly level half circle rimmed by fairly steep cliffs. The area had fresh water coming under the road in a culvert.


We had some photos that showed the setting of the campground better (grass, trees and river in the background), but the foreground came out blurry. This flash photo is the only one that came out of Duane, so the background is not great. Duane was already putting food out for Rita at the campground and at the 'pumphouse site' behind the crash site. These were the sites where he set up the live traps. I believe Duane told us that this was his tenth year hosting at the Cottonwood Campground. He lives in Arizona in the winter.


This is not a great shot, but it shows Rita in her carrier lying curled up on her back, her position for most of the trip after about her first hour of travel. That position indicated to us that she was pretty relaxed.


Tetsu traveled way in the back of the Tahoe, so he and Rita were well-separated. We think they may not have seen each other the entire trip.


Rita in the motel room in Lovelock, NV. Rita had her own room in the motel--the bathroom--where all her 'stuff' was set up. We also had some sections from a dog exercise pen across the doorway as a back-up barrier. Tetsu never went near the door to the bathroom. Rita showed a lot of interest in exploring further, so we were very careful.

Janet's Blog Letter

Wonderful friends and family

I have just read the fabulous blog that Jill and Am set up when I had the accident. Although I was read most entries, I really don’t have much memory of May and no memory of the accident week at all.

I can’t tell you how much your support, cards, gifts, calls, blog entries and thoughts helped get us through some trying and scary times. Whenever we needed outside help there were always multiple offers. And the help keeps coming in! The blog is winding down as I start the process that will eventually lead to the halo coming off. I plan on the last blog page being a picture of me without the halo. The back brace may take much longer.

Many of you know about my Monday fam-spam where I tell you more than you ever wanted to know about us. If you want to be included just email me at bandjhansen@comcast.net and I’ll add you. I won’t be offended if it is more than your inbox can handle.

Thank you again for your continued support. There are new photos of Rita on the blog.

Love, Janet

Rita, baby

A note from Janet...

All is going slowly but surely. I will knowmore information the first week of August. If people want to keep in touchwith me I am responding to email now at bandjhansen@comcast.net. Thanks.Janet

ps (by Jill)-My mom is hoping to phase this blog out by August (I can hear the addicts' outcry now...) and go back to her usual Monday emails. If you would like to be on her list, please email her at the above address with your request. For those of you who don't know about the "Monday email" (or "fam-spam", as I've heard it called), my mom sends a group email to hundreds of her closest friends and family with the weekly update of Hansen news.

Rita and Sylvia

With the commotion of Derek and Anna running around, my friend Lizzy leaving, and Sylvia and Don bringing Rita's carrier into the house, Sylvia cat disappered under my parent's bed. I don't know what triggered it, but within just a few minutes of opening the carrier, Sylvia cat ran out and came nose-to-nose with Rita for the first time in over nine weeks (see video). Then she and Rita wandered down the hall together and Sylvia cat took a hard left and has not come out from under the bed since. Rita continued to check out every single room in the house, even coming out several times to see all of us in the kitchen. Now she is laying on my mom's shoes in the bedroom in a position where she can see Sylvia cat, who is laying with her back turned towards Rita but looks at her over her shoulder. We spent considerable time with Don and Sylvia recounting all the small miracles that added up to this wonderful big miracle of Rita coming home. All of you who played a part--you know who you are--it's just a beautiful thing. My mom is so happy. SO happy. SO HAPPY!!!

Janet's baby is home!!

And more 4th

More 4th

Happy 4th of July!

The real stuff

I realize I've been just posting non-information lately. My mom actually only had two screws tightened last week, as the new ones were too sore to do right away. Her appointment for the other two is for Tuesday at 9 am. I am sorry we will be gone, as it will be a tough 48-72 hours for my dad, trying to help my mom through her most painful time. She will be attended to by the neurosurgeon and the orthotics expert in the fluoroscopy room at the hospital. Sounds intense, doesn't it? She was in quite a lot of pain last week, it was a difficult time for everyone. This week should be better since she has her pain meds figured out (optimal dose and schedule) and the tightening will be less painful than the two new holes. Otherwise, mom has been released from physical therapy--this was mainly to get her walking safely, up stairs, etc. Her occupational therapist, who is working with mom's shoulder and hand and thumb, will continue to come twice a week. Eventually mom may have to go to her appointments rather than have them in-home. Her thumb still needs a lot of work, but because there isn't any real pain, she hopes not to need another surgery.

She is doing really well with her independence and anxiety. When she isn't in excruciating pain she can be alone for several hours--like this morning when my dad and I took the kids to the 4th of July parade. (Which Derek is now watching AGAIN on the Roseville cable channel during his percussions.) My dad bought the kids fireworks and some of our family is coming over tonight for a BBQ. Should be pretty fun. My mom and the kids made cupcakes and she is in good spirits. I programmed her phone with many of her friends so that if she is panicky or alone she can always use her cell. Also (this was new for me) I recorded Derek saying "Answer the phone, Gigi" and put that as her ring tone. She loves it!!! Amy set up Skype for my parents, so now they can video conference for free online. I'm wondering how long it will be before they buy us a web cam so that they can conference with Derek and Anna.....

Wheelchair fun and a little downtime

Popsicles

Update

Rita's expected arrival date is this Sunday.

Mom was assigned homework by her physical therapist to have a "non-stressful out-of-the-house" experience. If she and Dad feel okay after her current doctor appointment, they are going to call us and we will meet them for frozen yogurt at Derek's favorite store--the kind where you put on all your own candy toppings, then pay by the weight of your sundae.

We had a lovely 40th anniversary party for my parents last night, with designer m&m's in their wedding colors with their names on them. Mom was up more than usual and the pain in her head is subsiding. Unfortunately the two new screws still need tightened....yuck. Today has been emotional, but the smoke has finally cleared and my mom walked next door to practice stairs, her longest walk in two months!!!!

The Halo Story, by Bob and Sue Ramsay

Once upon a time, there were two couples Janet and Brian and Sue and Bob who were the best of friends. Brian and Janet were renowned for their keen sense of fashion.











One day Janet decided to try a new fashion style called the “Halo”. It was remarkable. Soon word started to get out about this stunning new accessory that not only looked very haute couture but was the latest in techno-fashion. Everyone knew she was an angel, and this confirmed it.

Bob and Sue were not happy. Janet had made a fashion leap, and they felt left behind and wanted one too. They got their own Halos, and loved them.
























Everyone noticed them, and they got the best seats at restaurants and events. Plus, the reception was great. They could pull in hundreds of channels, and they were also able to participate in the SETI project. As Bob and Sue were also considered cutting edge fashion plates, word started to get around. Of course, movie stars were the first to adopt the new fad.

































































and it became a sex symbol...






















...that caught the attention of people in high places.




















"hmm, I hope this chick magnet works"


It also restarted some acting careers.























Naturally, politicians wanted to ride the tide, thinking a Halo would impress super delegates.

"Is this what they mean by 'blue collar'"?

It even reunited old friends...

...and families.

The idea was transported overseas by a pilot...

...where the Halo was such a success, the inventor was knighted.

In Great Britain it was called the “Keeper of the Royal Perm”

Unfortunately, a controversy arose when a certain Governor got one--thinking this would surely qualify him to run for president.

The Supreme Court got involved and ruled eight to one against the Guv, after personally checking them out. (One justice thought it was a Democratic plot).











"Doesn’t look like 'strict construction' to me!"