Stacey Smith
New Member
Posts:22
 |
| 11/20/2007 4:36 AM |
|
- On Saturday night my best friend Traci lost her dad in a tragic car
accident. He was killed instantly while her mother suffered some severe
injuries. Although her mom is doing much better and has pulled out from the
worst of it....she has lost her husband of 40 years and Traci (along with
her brother and sister) have lost their father. I have known Traci for 25
years. She has been my best friend for 23 of them.....I feel like I lost my dad on Saturday too!!
Many of you may have seen the news regarding the fatal accident that happen
on Saturday near Firebird Raceway (on Maricopa Rd.) This was the accident
that Traci's parents were in. Traci and I had just seen them. They had come
to see us as we worked the boat races. Now life will never be the same!
Because of this tragedy I learned that there are still phenomenal people in
this world! I witnessed it first hand! I got to receive the grace and
courage of over 100 racers, who had only met me the night before but now
stood at my back as I helped my best friend deal with her pain. I have never
felt so much love in my life. Because of them (and a few very special
people!) I learned that she was loved not only by me, but one of the best
communities I have ever had the pleasure to be a part of. I know that she
would not have made it through this with out all of them! They are what kept
her strong and will keep her strong in the times to come. I wish I could
thank all of them personally for helping us both! I need to say thank you to
the rescue guys for letting me be part of their family for awhile...you guys
will never know how much I needed that. It made me feel like I wasn't lost
anymore!! Thank you!!! Stacey...I can't even put in to words what you mean
to me.....I love you and will always be here for you!!! To Charlie and
Nancy....you mean everything to her...thank you! To the rest of the IHBA
....I couldn't have done this with out you all...thanks for letting be a
part of your world!!!
We both thank you for your prayers and love.
Connie
conniemarron@cox.net
Feel free if you want to send Traci a message, email it to me and I'll will make sure she gets them. |
|
Stacey Smith |
|
|
Tim & Devin Kelley
Rookie
Posts:42
|
| 11/20/2007 6:38 AM |
|
| Please let Traci know that Tim & Devin Kelley and the entire Alter Ego Team will keep her and her family in our prayers. |
|
______________________________
Alter Ego Racing PM 615
Tim & Devin Kelley
2007 Pro Eliminator World Champion |
|
|
shawnreed
New Member
Posts:0
|
| 11/20/2007 1:17 PM |
|
Tell Traci me and my race team love her alot and was just floored when we heard the news on Sunday morning. I just had walked both of Traci's parents through my new trailer and visited with them both for an hour. I'm just sick...I will call traci when the time is right but i would be on the first flight out if she needed me there. Tell her that.
Shawn Reed
Top secret #716 |
|
|
|
|
Connie
New Member
Posts:18
|
| 11/20/2007 2:10 PM |
|
Shawn
She knows you would do anything for her. She should be up to talking to people soon. I would just let her try and get through Thanksgiving first before you call. I know she would want to hear from you. I was with her yesterday and she is doing well. Her mom is making a fantastic recovery. If everything goes well with this final surgery they will move her out of ICU by the end of the day. We did have to tell her that Jim was dead but she told us she already knew that and that God was in charge now.
I will try and keep you up to date on whats going on.
ConniePost Edited (Connie) : 11/20/2007 2:15:39 PM GMT |
|
|
|
|
Duane Sims
aka "The Admin"
Pro Racers
Posts:2664
|
| 11/20/2007 2:49 PM |
|
| Connie thank you for being there with Traci and keeping us updated. Laurie and I had hoped to get to see her again yesterday before we left to drive home. I know she knows but reinsure her that we are here and will do anything for her, she has our love and prayers.
Duane & Laurie
PS on a lighter note she did look like the uni bomber on Sunday!!! 
|
|
|
|
|
Stix818
Pro Racers
Posts:985
|
| 11/20/2007 4:11 PM |
|
I'm very sorry to hear that and our thoughts and prayers go out to Traci and her family. She's a great person and I'm glad that your their for her!!!!!!
Vince & Renee
2005 IHBA Top Eliminator DIV 1 World Champ
Hellbound Train Racing |
|
2005 IHBA Top Eliminator DIV 1 World Champ
Hellbound Train Racing |
|
|
Connie
New Member
Posts:18
|
| 11/20/2007 4:38 PM |
|
Duane
I told her if she had just come in with regular clothes on and not trying to hide she probably would have not been noticed as much!
I just got off the phone with her and she wanted everyone to know that her mom came through her final surgery really well. They are going to keep her in ICU for another day or so just to watch her but that she should be in a regular room(hopefully) by the end of the week. |
|
|
|
|
Pappa Seal
Pro Racers
Posts:201
|
| 11/20/2007 6:58 PM |
|
Connie, tell Trace Nic and I are thinkin bout her and her family. We love her lots so if there's anything we can do let us know.
Jerry and Nic
Jerry B. |
|
Jerry B. |
|
|
Stacey Smith
New Member
Posts:22
|
| 11/20/2007 7:39 PM |
|
| I just got off the phone the Traci and the hospital is saying she might even be home by Sunday. Her mom is an amazingly strong woman - I can see where Traci gets it.
|
|
Stacey Smith |
|
|
Tower Babe
New Member
Posts:0
|
| 11/20/2007 9:57 PM |
|
Connie,
When you have information on a service or memorial for Traci's dad, please let Scotty and I know. We'd like to contribute to whatever would help Traci and her mom the most. You could contact us via this site, or email Scottyb@texas.net. She's really blessed to have you for a friend, and Scotty and I enjoyed getting to know you. Take care of Traci and best to you.
KrisB |
|
|
|
|
Trac Henderson
New Member
Posts:2
|
| 11/20/2007 10:59 PM |
|
Hi Everyone-
First of all I just want to THANK YOU all of you for the love and support I have received over the last 72 hours. It has been amazing in a very tragic time in my life.
My mom is doing extremely well and at times I think she is doing better than me. We hope to at least have her out of the ICU by Thursday afternoon. Please keep all of us in your thoughts and prayers.
Some of you have been asking where to send any donations, we have set up a memorial fund in my father's name. You can go to any Wells Fargo and make a contribution into the "Jim Henderson Memorial Fund" the account number is 9473604321.
As soon as I know when a memorial service will be held I will let you all know but we are going to wait until my mom is realeased. Again words can't even express how thankful I am to have my racing family by side during this difficult time. It means more to me than you will ever know. I will check this site from time to time or you can get ahold of me at trac32@hotmail.com.
Traci Henderson
|
|
|
|
|
Duane Sims
aka "The Admin"
Pro Racers
Posts:2664
|
| 11/20/2007 11:29 PM |
|
Traci,
Good to hear from you and of your mom's progress. We will see you soon and as you know... just let us know Ok!
You are in our constant thoughts and prayers,
Duane
|
|
|
|
|
thecuz556
New Member
Posts:0
|
| 11/21/2007 4:02 PM |
|
Traci,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. So glad to hear that your mother is doing better.
|
|
|
|
|
Scott Burrows
Pro Racers
Posts:1623
|
| 11/22/2007 12:52 AM |
|
One of the difficult things about this sport is that we do indeed become like an extended family. It's like a double edged sword. Consequently, when tragedy strikes, we all feel the pain and the emotional attachment. The upside is that we also offer our love and support in the event that something like this happens.
Traci, give your mom a hug from us, and tell her that you have many friends that care about you and your family.
For IHBA Rescue Sponsorship Package
IHBA National Rescue Coordinator Board of Directors, T.C.E.U. Search and Recovery IHBA Team Rescue |
|
For IHBA Rescue Sponsorship Package
http://www.ihbaracing.com/rescue.htm
IHBA National Rescue CoordinatorBoard of Directors, T.C.E.U. Search and RecoveryIHBA Team Rescue |
|
|
Connie
New Member
Posts:18
|
| 11/22/2007 1:02 AM |
|
I have gotten to see first hand how great this extended family can be and I can tell you I wouldn't have made it without you all. Thank you!
Connie |
|
|
|
|
KamikazeRacer
New Member
Posts:21
|
| 11/22/2007 2:01 AM |
|
Traci,
Sorry to hear of your loss.
Great news that your mom is on the road to recovery.
Sincerely, Dale Ish and family
|
|
|
|
|
Connie
New Member
Posts:18
|
| 11/22/2007 2:49 AM |
|
I have just gotten off the phone with Traci and unfortunately Pam has taken a turn for worse. She has developed pneumonia in her right lung and has been having irregular heartbeats. The hospital has decided to keep her heavily sedated. We had hoped to have her out of ICU by tomorrow but now it looks like it could be another 7 days or so. Right now all we can do is pray that the pneumonia stay out of the other lung and she make the recovery we all know she is capable of.
As Traci lets me know what is going on I will keep you all up to date.
ConniePost Edited (Connie) : 11/22/2007 5:05:57 AM GMT |
|
|
|
|
Connie
New Member
Posts:18
|
| 11/22/2007 5:10 PM |
|
| This morning things are looking better for Traci's mom. We are on the way to the hospital so I will let you all know whats going on in a couple of hours. Thank you for your continued prayers and we hope you all have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving. |
|
|
|
|
Connie
New Member
Posts:18
|
| 11/22/2007 5:26 PM |
|
Traci has asked me to post the following email so that you all will know what the current status of things are.....
I wanted to let you know the detail of my mom’s progress up to this morning. Since the accident occurred she has had two surgeries on her abdomen to treat and monitor internal bleeding in which she did have her spleen removed. She does have some facial fractures that will not require plastic surgery but will just take time to heal. The doctors were first concerned with her right eye that it maybe damaged but they have completely cleared her for that. She has two fractures in her back that will not require any surgery or future problems (as it heals it will be painful for her to move). The last surgery did go well and there was no infection, internal bleeding and all of her organs appear in good condition. Yesterday was a tough day for our family as we were hoping to hear the continued great news about her healing after her second surgery. But, yesterday her conditioned deteriorated from past days. Over the past couple days she has been retaining water and her entire body is swollen due to her kidneys have not been processing the fluids as quickly as they should. They have her on medication to assist her body with the fluid but it is not working as quickly as what they would like, they will continue to monitor this and can increase the strength of the medication. Also her abdomen pressure is staying stable which is good, not increasing but over the next 24 hours or so if it does not start to decrease they will have to go back in for surgery. They are keeping her sedated so she does not move around or take the chance of damaging her incision (also they do not want her to tighten her abdomen). The main thing that occurred yesterday, that we were all hoping to avoid, is she has contracted pneumonia. They extracted a lot of fluid out of her lungs and they started her on antibiotics, she will have to stay on the ventilator until she is healed from the pneumonia. In talking with the Director of Trauma yesterday he mentioned that it could take up to a week for her to make a fuller recovery from these items in order to be released from the ICU. Although every person is different, and it maybe quicker, due to her age and the overall trauma she has been through he anticipates my mom will be in the ICU for at least a week.
I know many of you are also wondering about when we will have the service for my dad as you want to attend. At this time we do not know because right now we are all just focused on getting my mom better and healed so we can get her home. Also we have not been able to even talk to my mom to understand what her wishes are for the service. As important as it is to have all of our family and friends at the service we will at least give a weeks notice so everybody is able to attend.
We appreciate all of the prayers and please continue to pray, we need them.
please feel free to contact me (connie) if you all want any further information. You can reach me by email at conniemarron@cox.netPost Edited (Connie) : 11/22/2007 5:31:14 PM GMT |
|
|
|
|
Orange Gasm
Pro Racers
Posts:937
|
| 11/22/2007 5:37 PM |
|
| Traci
Im sorry about your dad, i feel your pain. I am praying for your mom and your family's recovery from this.
Eat California Oranges
Cotner Bros. Farming
Riverbottom Racing
Orange Gasm #073 (ret.)
Sanger Ca. Post Edited (Orange Gasm) : 11/22/2007 5:40:27 PM GMT |
|
Eat California Oranges
Cotner Bros. Farming
Riverbottom Racing
Orange Gasm #073 (ret.)
Sanger Ca. |
|
|