10 days ago my Dad's life changed forever

 

Approximately 10 days ago, my life, my Dad's, and my family's life changed forever.

 

My Mum had that dreaded knock at the door by 2 Police Officers asking who Andy Henderson was and whether she had someone who could be with her while they gave her information.

 

She called me immediately, and I was there in minutes - I walked into the Police telling me that Dad had been involved in a catastrophic car crash and that they had been working on him for 2 hours roadside.

They didn't know if he was alive, but I should expect the worst possible news.

 

Within minutes the phone rang, and the Police advised that Dad had been airlifted to Brighton Hospital. The Police blue lighted Mum and me down there with Carly and Steve following behind - a journey that should take 2 1/2 hours took 1 hour 5 minutes credit to the Police and the incredible way they drove to get us there.

 

All I could think was that Dad was dead or dying, hence why the Police drove so quickly to get us there to say goodbye - without doubt, the worst experience of my life with the thoughts going through my head that Dad was gone.

 

When we arrived, we were informed that Dad was alive, he was in a terrible way, and the only word the Doctor could come up with was it was a miracle that Dad had survived - he had Broken Nose, Lip ripped in half, Broken Arm, Broken Elbow, major wound in Arm with bones poking through, cracked ribs, broken chest bone, holes in the lungs and then to the worst injuries the legs - they were barely intact with all major bones broken, broken knees, broken ankles and the most horrendous open wounds you could imagine which revealed the whole of the inside of his leg - it looked like on one leg in particular just some bones were left with some muscle around it.

 

Over the next 2 days, it was time to pray as there was, of course, a significant risk of Dad dying because of these injuries and the fact that he had massive operations ahead of him meant the risk of something happening during surgery was substantial. Still, my Dad is a fighter - he is old school and cut from a different cloth to most.

 

He has now undergone four major surgeries in 1 week; the first operation was 7 hours, 2nd 17 hours, 3rd he was rushed into an emergency for another 7 hours and then the 4th for 16 hours - all this in the space of 1 week.

The amazing Doctors / Surgeons at Brighton Hospital are doing all this in vain of saving his legs - they have been incredible.

 

We don't know what the future holds; we don't know whether Dad will walk again, whether he will ever walk his beloved Bentley the dog again, whether he will have to convert the house, move to a Bungalow - we don't know - it's one step at a time currently - day by day/week by week as currently, we know he will be in hospital for a long time.

 

Out of this, it's made me realize just how excellent the Police and NHS service is in this country as they have been incredible, and it's made me believe that Angels do exist in this world as an extraordinary person who will always be in our hearts saved my Dad that day.

 

She lived in a house where the car crash happened; this was a head on car crash at high speeds - as the Doctor says it's a miracle Dad is here - Well Alison the Angel as we call her heard the smash in fact it shook her house and she ran out to be faced with complete devastation - there wasn't much left of the Van that Dad was in but was he wholly trapped inside a bunch of twisted metal/engine.

There was blood everywhere - Dad had lost a considerable amount and was threatening to drift in and out of consciousness – Alison was incredible in keeping my Dad awake and ensuring he didn’t drift off at any stage.

She made him focus on my Mum, his kids and his Grand Children – she told him to fight hard and not listen to anything in his body, telling him to go to sleep etc.

 

The Fire Brigade was so impressed with Alison's keeping my Dad alive that they wrapped her up in a blanket and protected her face while they cut away at the twisted metal to try and free Dad – this took 90 minutes, and during this time, Dad also had 2 Blood transfusions (and a further eight at hospital!)

 

There was even one stage that Dad showed all of the signs of going into cardiac arrest, and the medical team road side advised that they wouldn’t be able to do CPR as Dad was trapped – Alison wasn’t accepting any of this and stared at Dad deep into his eyes shouting at him to fight fight fight! Do not give in; don't go to sleep, and keep focused on your family.

 

Alison worried and feared that Dad wouldn’t make the hospital and prayed there roadside where out of nowhere, the Helicopter arrived and took Dad away to Brighton Hospital, where he will remain for the foreseeable.

 

This remarkable lady saved my Dad’s life; I know it, my family know it, and most of all, Dad knows it – she will always be in our lives.

It's been hard for us as a family because of Covid we are not allowed to see Dad and only my Mum can visit for 1 hour a day but we live 2 1/2 hours away and to top everything off Mum fell down the stairs last week and fractured her pervis!

 

The reason I write this and want some help with Crowdfunding is that my Dad needs all the help they can get – my parents have a minimal amount of savings, they have no pension hence the reason at 68 years old, my Dad was still working, leaving the house at 5 am to travel right down to the South of England.

The only income coming into my parents' house now will be two state pensions – we all know that isn’t a lot of money.

 

Dad will never be able to work again, his injuries are life-changing, and today less than 2 weeks since the accident, we don’t even know if he will keep his leg.

 

This isn’t a plea for poverty; this is just a little shout out for some help as my parents are going to need a lot of help over the next 12 – 24 months – if we can raise the target I am aiming for, it will help Dad relax somewhat knowing that the bills will be paid, they will be able to live. They can focus on trying to get better.

 

 

 

 

 

So please, whether you know Dad or not, spare a little to help him through this – Dad would always be the kind of man that would put his hand in his pocket to help someone in need – he has done so much for so many people over the years so let’s hope some people help you back in return Dad.