Daily update by Bill McDade.

Wed June 8

Carol and Bill were able to travel home on Friday, June 3rd... pretty tiring trip but we all made it and happy to be home...

Carol now seeing her Doctors here and Bill will embark on a number of tests for himself...

Carol is generally feeling well... but still very weak and good days and not so good days... as to be expected... but just so happy to be here...

Thanks again to all of you for your support, thoughts and prayers... so much appreciated by Carol, myself and all our family...

And thanks to Philippe Lamoise for handling this on the Rotary website... it was so helpful...

This will be the last update.

Saturday/Sunday May 29th/30th

Sorry - everyone - Carol developed severe abdominal pain over the past 48 hours. Seen in ER twice. Finally re-admitted to Queens Medical Center. Intestinal obstruction. Will keep you all posted.

Keep these good thoughts, prayers, faxes, cards coming. We all really need them. Thanks.

Queens Medical Center, room 617.

Friday May 27th

Carol is doing so well in the rehab center. PT & OT 4 times per day. Spirits very good. Getting stronger. Eating better. Estimate discharge to San Diego on Wed. June 1st.

We are all so grateful and thankful.

Wednesday May 25th

Patti home to Bend, OR. Ginger (Carol's sister) arrived from San Diego.

New Hotel address:

Ohana Waikiki West
2330 Kuhio Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
Tel: 808-922-5022
Fax: 808-924-6414
Room 1040

Hard to believe it has been 2 weeks now. Carol is feeling much better, a few smiles now, and she is loving mango smoothies. PT and OT 3 times a day. Able to shower.

She still loves reading all those thoughtful and inspirational cards and faxes. They have made a tremendous difference.

We all thank you for great support.

Tuesday May 24th

Wonderful rehab center, great facilities and people. Starting OT and PT.

Pain from parts of body that were badly bruised. Just realizing this. Most pain from abdomen - where surgery was done. When the pain pills didn't help the nurse put her hands on Carol's abdomen and said a healing prayer in Hawaiian and English. Very inspirational and spiritual. I know it helped.

BiIl went to Honolulu Rotary. PDG Linda Coble gave him a beautiful orchid lei for Carol.

Sunday May 22nd

Better, tolerating back brace, oral pain meds. Sitting in chair, walking in hall with walker. Still very weak. Regular diet.

Monday or Tuesday transfer to the Rehab Hospital of the Pacific:

226 N. Kuhakini
Honolulu HI
808-531-3511

Ginger, Carol's sister, arrives Monday. Patti home to Bend Tuesday.

Bill begins tests next week. Cannot drive.

Friday May 20th

Carol anti-coagulated for blood clot, first steps, sat in chair. Possibly early next week rehabilitation hospital here until strong enough to travel home.

More smiles. Stepping from shrubbery into green grass.

Bill and Steve visited Arizona and Missouri Memorials. Very inspiring.

Thursday May 19th

Bill is now staying at the
Outrigger Waikiki,
2335 Kalakaua Ave,
Honolulu HI 96815.
Fax: 808-921-9749.

Carol rested well last night. Taking fluids well. Lots of noises in stomach. Ultra sound studies to be done to determine if any blood clots in legs -> blood clot left leg.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the Ladies Garden Club of Hawaii have determined that through your generosity you are seriously depleting the Floral and Plant life on Oahu.

Carol's room cannot accommodate any more flowers, so please hold off and give her a bright homecoming when she comes home.

Thanks so much for all you are doing to speed Carol's recovery.

Wednesday May 18th - Noon

Good night. Taking fluids, tolerating brace, sitting, standing with physical therapist. Has avoided major complications to date.

"Out of the woods" I feel, but still in the same thick shrubbery. Looking forward to "green grass".

Raining today in Honolulu but Carol's room is so bright with the many beautiful flowers sent. She tanks you.

She wants to know about the "Padres". No one knows about them here.

Tuesday May 17th - 7 am.

NG tube out today. Hope to start sit/stand with back brace. Oral fluids.

John and boys back to Bend, OR. Karen back to San Diego today. Steve, Patti, and Eileen remain. Carol now is able to read your many faxes. They have been so great, so much help and she thanks you all.

Carol has shown so much courage. She is looking more beautiful each day.

And Philippe - thank you for all your work on this. It has been so helpful.

Monday May 16th

All is well, still much pain, but being controlled, breathing better. NG tube out later today or tomorrow. Will try sitting/standing today with back brace.

The appearance of our 3 grandsons last night brought Carol's first smile.

Your fax messages and prayers have been powerful and so helpful and meaningful to Carol. Keep them coming. We thank you all your your wonderful support.

Another beautiful day in Hawaii. Each day is becoming better and brighter.

Queens Medical Center
Carol is fortunate to be at this marvelous place. In 1859 King Kamehameha IV, the king of the kingdom of Hawaii, and his wife Queen Emma personally went from house to house to raise money for the beginning of this hospital - hence the name "Queen's". It is a 500-bed, state of the art level 2 trauma center. The facilities, physicians and nurses are first rate.

We are so fortunate here.

Sunday May 15th - Noon

Carol is doing well. Vital signs remain stable. Severe back pain persisted. Yesterday a CAT scan of the back revealed a fracture of the L2 lumbar vertebrae. It is stable and should not require surgery - but will probably delay mobilization, prolong hospitalization, and delay stay in Hawaii.

He surgical incision looks well, the morphine drip has eased her pain and she is able to use an incentive spirometer to help expand her lungs. She is now quite conversive.

Karen spent the night with Carol and sent Bill to the hotel for some needed rest. He is doing well.

The Guyer gamily flies from Kauai to Honolulu today. John and the boys will return to Oregon. Patti will stay. Steve, Eileen and Karen remain.

Carol and the McDade family so much appreciate your messages of support and prayers. We know Carol will do well.

Saturday May 14th - 7 am.

Carol is more alert and totally conversational. Her vital signs are good. She is in extreme pain mostly from the abdomen. They are trying to handle that with PCA (Patient Controlled Anesthesia) morphine drop, but they do not want to sedate her too much. She is being very brave. X-rays of the chest, entire spine and pelvis done last night. All ok.

Bill is now sleeping in Carol's room to be closer. The magnitude and reality of this event are just setting in. Tears still come easily and rest is difficult but all in all he is holding up well.

Bill Carl, and the family so much appreciate your thoughts and prayers. We can feel them from here.

The best contacts for you are:

Queens Medical Center
1301 Punchbowl Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
808-538-9011, Room 618

If calling please ask for P-6 nursing station.

Fax direct to the nursing station is 808-585-5091. Bill and the family can pick these up and read them to Carol. I know she would love to hear from you.

Flowers, happy balloons, etc. are acceptable and welcome.

Doctors, nurses concern and care remain superb.

Carol's 6th floor room has a large panoramic window which overlooks Honolulu, Waikiki Beach and the blue Pacific. The sun is just rising for a beautiful and glorious day here.

Friday May 13th

For the sake of accurate and timely information, the following is a summary of the accident and current status of the McDade family. Bill will contact Philippe daily with an update medical bulletin Hawaii time which will be posted on this page.

On Wed. May 11 at 2:30 pm. Bill, Carol, and their family from Bend, OR (Patti and John Guyer) with their children were traveling on a 2-lane road for a beach picnic on the South Shore of the island of Kauai, HI. A direct head on collision occurred between their Dodge caravan minivan and a large SUV. Both vehicles were demolished. There was no fire. Bill was the driver of the van and remembers nothing of the accident.

Paramedics and fire personel arrived on the scene in a timely fashion and helped extricate all from the vehicles and transported them to the small community hospital in Waimea.

Everyone was wearing seat belts and the front air bags deployed. Miraculously no one was killed.

The Guyer family sustained abrasions and neck injuries and Nicholas (age 6) a large contusion to the forehead. No one required hospital admission and they all remain in Kauai at Kiahuna Plantation, Poipu Beach.

Bill sustained multiple abrasions contusions and lacerations and a severe seat belt burn to his chest. He was admitted to the ICU overnight. A screening CT scan of the brain was normal but he will require a more complete neurological exam and tests in the next few days. He flew to Honolulu Thursday afternoon to be with Carol.

The most seriously injured was Carol. She ruptured her intestines in 3 locations and "blew out" all of the muscles in the left abdominal wall.

She underwent emergency life saving surgery at 6 pm. to repair the damaged intestine. The surgeon was a good friend of Rotarian Dr. Eugene Rumsey Jr. of Club #33.

She was intubated, placed on a ventilator and admitted to the ICU - in the bed next to Bill.

Thursday am. she was evacuated by air ambulance from the Naval Missile base at Barking Sands (the base being the closest airfield) to the trauma unit at Queens Hospital, Honolulu, HI, and admitted to the trauma ICU.

Bill was able to fly to Honolulu later Thursday.

Carol was extubated late Thursday evening and is now breathing on her own. Her vital signs are stable and she can move her legs and arms - to a degree.

She has a Nasogastric tube down into the abdomen and multiple IVs.

She opens her eyes and responds to her name (but doesn't like it when Bill tries to give her a kiss).

She has significant pain in her abdomen and back, and will require further evaluation of her back.

a CAT scan of her neck and brain were normal.

This morning (Fri) she was transferred from the ICU to the surgical floor and downgraded from "critical".

Steve and Eileen from Portland, and Karen from Encinitas flew in on Thursday.

Carol and Bill attend the Kauai Community Church and their Pastor and congregations all have tended tremendous emotional and spiritual support while at Waimea.

The Outrigger Hotel organization both in Kauai and Honolulu have given tremendous logistical support for the entire McDade family - just incredible support, assistance, and generosity. The family is being housed at an Outrigger Hotel in Honolulu. The Rotarians both in Kauai and Honolulu have been great.

The entire McDade family thanks you for your messages of concern, your prayers and love.

We all are optimistic this event will have a happy outcome and we are only thinking positive thoughts and prayers.

Baring any complications it is expected that Carol will require 7-10 days of hospitalization, several weeks of rehabilitation here before returning home.

Bill is doing well considering the circumstances.

The doctors, nurses and paramedical personnel have been just outstanding, the very best. So blessed to have them caring for Carol.

Bill