Cathcart Family

Update 10/9/15

We are home and getting settled in. Follow ups have been scheduled and we will see how the concussions are healing. Caraline still has some bruising and broken blood vessels in her eyes as well as swelling but each day it diminishes. Caraline will have her second surgery January 7. We will be heading back to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital/Dr. Golden for her (hopefully) final surgery on her jaw. The kids seem happy to be home, sleeping in their beds, playing with their animals. It’s nice to seem them smiling and playing.

We just can’t say “THANK YOU” enough for the outpouring of support and love. It has made all of this a little easier. Please keep the prayers and good vibes coming.


Our Accident:
After taking some time to visit my Mom in Florida, we were heading North to Tennessee early on the 21st of September. We were on the Florida Turnpike about 15 miles past Orlando around 8:30am when we approached cars filing over to one lane (the left lane). A diesel fuel spill had happened and we were merging. The spill had been there awhile (from what the police told Dan) and the emergency crews were on site. There were 13-15 cars ahead of us stopped and we came to a stop. Then a large white work van hit us going 70mph (also what the police told Dan). Dan had enough wits about him to turn the car left to avoid smashing directly into the car ahead of us, although we hit his left bumper. The van pushed us into the median and directly into the guard rail.

By the Grace of God, the emergency crews were already on the fuel spill call and we were only 15 miles from Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital. Each girl was taken by 2 ambulances to the ER. Lily suffered from a major concussion with short term memory loss, cuts and bruises while Caraline has multiple face fractures on her eye and cheek bones as well as a broken jaw in 2 places. Both were admitted to ICU. Dan has a chest sprain, whip lash while I have a fractured elbow and some torn ligaments in my knee. Caraline had to have surgery to install 2 plates in her jaw. After 15 days, the Doctors released the girls to fly due to the pressure of the plane and their concussions plus Caraline’s face fractures/broken jaw.

We left the hospital after 3.5 days with 6 months to a year of check ups with Neurologist for their type of concussions. We are thankful to be close to amazing Docs in Nashville. But Caraline will have to have a second surgery in January 2016 which Dr. Golden from Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital will have to do. So we will be back in Orlando for 8 to 9 days for the surgery and check ups.

We are healing…and so happy to be on this side of things although we fear what the concussions could bring in the future. The Doctors have warned us of some things that could come up.

So many have asked how to help and we have asked in lieu of flower/balloons/gifts to redirect the money spent to GoFund. This will help us with flights, clothing, food and bills. We lost 95% of what was in our car as well as our car being totaled. Unfortunately the guy who hit us has limited insurance to help with medical bills.

Thank you again for your prayers, we need them. Please don’t ask the girls how they are or what happened, they have been through enough trauma. We appreciate you respecting their time to heal.