Clint & Patrice...

Since we are trying to get the word out about Clint and Patrice, Meg asked me to post this on our "friend" blog. So...here is the info. Any help they can get would be appreciated.

Wednesday morning Patrice was running late and wasn't going to make it on time to pick up Bode from Pre-school. Clint works close to the Pre-school so Patrice called him to see if he could swing by and pick him up. Shortly after Patrice received a call from Bode's pre-school teacher to see if anyone was on their way. Patrice was instantly alarmed and drove to Bode's pre-school going the route that Clint would've taken. She came upon a tragic accident only to discover that the mangled truck was Clint's. Clint's truck collided with a cement truck at a very notorious intersection. As she pulled up the paramedics were loading Clint on a stretcher and putting him into the "Life Flight" He was then flown to the Ogden Regional hospital. Once Clint arrived at the hospital the paramedics and doctors realized that his head trauma was so serious that he needed to be put into a drug induced coma. Due to the coma they also had to insert a breathing tube as well as many other tubes. This was a precaution that helps to slow the swelling and bleeding in the brain.

From the time he entered the hospital until Thursday we received very little news. We fasted and prayed that the bleeding and the swelling would subside. The doctors informed us that he had sustained other injuries in the accident, but as a precaution they chose not to treat them until he was stabilized. Thursday afternoon our prayers were answered, the neurologist informed us that there had been no additional swelling and the bleeding had stopped and would heal on its own. Late Thursday we were also encouraged to see Clint would squeeze hands and blink to communicate.

This morning brought more good news, the breathing tube came out and slowly he began talking. Also another CT scan was done and the neurologist predicted that he would have a full mental recovery. He was also then able to communicate to the doctors that he was in a great deal of pain. At this point the doctors were finally able to address the other injuries sustained in the accident. They determined that he has broken his back (fracturing three vertebrae), as well as vertically fracturing his tibia (shin bone), along with some kind of injury to his shoulder that has yet to be determined. Tomorrow morning Clint will go into surgery to receive plates and screws to repair the damage on the fractured tibia.

Many have asked what they could do and how they could help. So we decided tonight to set up an account in Clint’s name to help offset some of their expenses. As you may or may not know Patrice is expecting their 3rd child this July 2010. Like many young couples in this stage of life money is tight and this accident has been a major concern financially for Patrice and Clint. A donation of any amount would help ease their burden that they are baring at this time. We are grateful to know at this point that his mind should recover fully. Patrice has already expressed the feelings of comfort she has felt from your support and many prayers offered in their behalf. If you would like to help and make a donation you may do so by one of the following ways:

Go by any America First Credit Union and tell them you want to donate to Clint Pedersen, acct. # 9040270.

Or if you have an America First C.U. account, you can make a direct transfer from your account to his Clint Pedersen acct. #9040270.

Or you can mail a donation to: Clint Pedersen, Acct. #9040270America First Credit UnionP.O. Box 9199Ogden, UT 84409

Thank you again for all the concerns, prayers and support.

With much love the Pedersen and Knudsen Families