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Friday, March 1, 2019

Nine years later and my, how things have changed

It's hard to be a blog in today's Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat world. As most of you know, I live and breathe on Twitter, and have been for a while.

Every so often I roll on here and post the odd thing or two. The rest of 2019 looks to be a rough go for me. On Feb 22, my mom and sister (who is cognitively delayed) were in a catastrophic head-on crash just outside of Fonthill, Ontario.

This was a devastating collision with no real answer to the cause. My mother sustained life-threatening injuries and Jen was admitted in critical condition. Although it's only been six days, it feels like sixty.

My mother's car did what it was designed to do. It was destroyed but it saved her life and the life of my sister. Unfortunately, a body in motion remains in motion and my mother's internal injuries were massive. She lost a lot of blood, was transported to a trauma centre in Hamilton, operated on and put into a medically-induced coma. Today was the first day where she's breathing on her own and awakens on her own. She is not out of danger just yet, but she's in the best place she could possibly be to have these complications taken care of.

Jen experienced severe trauma to her body and although not life-threatening, her injuries are extensive enough that she can expect to be in the hospital for at least three months. Coupled with her mental delay and her inability to comprehend the magnitude of my mother's injuries and the crash itself, this whole ordeal has been immensely stressful and challenging for her.

I'm un-tethered. The best way to describe  how I feel is like untangling knots. I get through one only to be faced with another.

15 comments:

Sylv said...

CJ, I am so sorry to hear about this. I have no words, just wanted to let you know I am thinking about you and your family.

Outburst said...

That's awful. So sorry to hear that this happened.

Skin Man said...

Oh NO! This is very sad news! Your family will be in my prayers. I truly hope that you're well supported at home and work. Hopefully there are some bright spots in your life to distract you from this tragedy.

W.T. said...

So sorry to hear about your mother and sister! I hope they start recovering very soon. Wishing you and your family all the best during an incredibly difficult time.

Unknown said...

N E W S. F L A S H !!!
Union Statio won’t be completed until end of 2019
The city of Toronto has pushed back completion of the Union Station Revitalization Project, once again, to the end of 2019.

The new deadline comes one year after city council approved an additional $23 million to fund the long-criticized project, with the promise that it would be completed in 2018.

The money was handed over, but hardly any of it has been spent.

CityNews has obtained internal budget documents that show as of Dec. 31, the city had only spent $2.2 million of the $23 million they were given last year.

“It’s not to say it won’t be spent. It absolutely will be spent,” said Brad Ross, City of Toronto spokesperson.

Ross says the money will cover the rest of the project, and services are paid for as the city is billed for completed work.

But, Ryerson accounting professor Richard Deklerk says the completed work is taking unusually long.

“Any additional money: it’s like guys, get it done. They haven’t,” said Deklerk. “They’re still sitting on most of it. And that’s the stuff they asked for last year. If you tell me, ‘Hey, I need another $20 million to finish something,’ spend it, get it done, show me something tangible.”

The project was supposed to be completed in its entirety in 2015, but it has already been delayed four years.

Commuters are fed up and are looking for transparency.

“You’re inconveniencing people every day, and I think most people are willing to say that’s the price of progress, but it would be nice if they were a little transparent,” said Ben Hendricks, a commuter making his way through Union Station.

“Big projects like this are constantly shifting for various reasons – remember it’s an operating environment,” said Ross.

“So, the project and project team are continuously looking to get to a state of completion but then recognizing there are some of these other issues at play.” added Ross. “But, there will be substantial completion as described by the end of this year.”

BIG SURPRISE

Bicky said...

Continued positive vibes for your mom and sister. If you need anything, let me know.

Daphne Sears said...

Sending you positive thoughts; stay strong.

Skin Man said...

checking in...hoping all is well!

CJ Smith said...

It's been a rollercoaster. This is going to be a long road back.

Skin Man said...

Thinking of you and your family CJ.

Rob said...

Yikes. I only saw this post just now and I hope over the last five weeks your mother and sister have made big progress recovering from that car crash. I've got relatives in the Pelham/Fonthill area and the area can be treacherous after dark when people drive excessively fast on the back roads off the QEW and 406, and a lot of them have blind corners and steep hills especially where they climb up and down the escarpment. I've been in more near accidents of various kinds than I'd like to think about. I hope you and yours are holding up ok in the aftermath.

CJ Smith said...

Just before impact, Mom now remembers a loud noise, like a bang. The crash is still under investigation

Skin Man said...

Just checking in - hopeing the road of recovery doesn't have too many bumps!

Anonymous said...

i have no words...sorry.

Anonymous said...
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