What happened....

Melissa wanted me to update this blog to tell everyone basically what happened to Erik. I checked with Melissa prior to posting this so what is to follow is with her blessing. Some things were left out, but I am sure all will have a good idea of what happened. It is pretty detailed, probably a little too much, but it's how it happened

On Sunday morning, 3/27/08 at 2:29 AM, I was dispatched to a car accident on Hwy 26, the road between Sandy and Gresham. The only information I had was a male in his 20's was breathing, but bleeding severely. I was on 148th/Glisan when I was dispatched. The roads were very icy out. I was running lights and sirens with no traffic and it still took me 10 minutes to arrive on scene.

When I arrived, there were 2 ambulances, a fire truck, two Clackamas County S.O. Deputies and 1 Sandy PD Officer on scene. When I arrived I saw a silver car in the left lane/center lane with severe front end damage. There was also a white pickup with damage and another in a ditch.

As I pulled up, paramedics were putting a subject into the back of an ambulance on a gurny.

I had a friend doing a ride along with me. Since the accident was in Clackamas County by about 100 yards, it was CCSO call and I was to help them.

My ride along and I went up to the scene and contacted the Sandy PD officer who was behind the silver car.

He told me he was driving along the highway near Sandy when he saw a guy walking on the highway trying to get to Gresham. He picked him up and said he would take him.

While on the was to Gresham, The officer came up on a vehicle in a ditch. He stopped to see if everyone was ok, and put his over head lights on.

After checking the vehicle, the officer pulled out off the shoulder to continue to Gresham. As he pulled out, a truck travelling in the opposite direction saw the police lights and hit his brakes. The spot he braked at was icy and caused him to loose control. He began sliding into the center lane and then into the oncoming lanes.

The Officer told me he saw the truck sliding toward him and said he thought he was going to die. The guy in the back of his car began yelling "Oh F***, Oh F***" as he also saw the car coming toward them. The officer told me he braced himself for impact. As the truck was about to hit him, "the guy driving this car (pointed to the silver Mazda) cut him off and hit him."

Erik was most likely in the right lane. When he saw the police lights, he probably got over into the left lane as the law states. He was not speeding or under the influence!!!!!

I looked at the car and realized it was a silver Mazda RX-8 and was coming from Sandy. I realized Erik was in Sandy tonight and had the same car. I began asking the officer where the guy was who was driving, what his name was and that I thought he was my friend. He told me he thought he was an older gentleman. That relieved me for a second and the officer contined to talk.

I realized it was too much of a coincidence and knew with Erik's lighter shade of hair color, he could have been wrong on the age. I wrote down the license plate of the car and ran to my patrol car to run the plate.

Unfortunately, it came back to Erik. I ran up to the ambulance and yelled to Erik and told him I was there. He was strapped down on a gurny and had blood on him. He made a sound, but I am not sure if he understood what I said. I told him I was going to call Melissa and tell her. He made another sound. I then told him we would see him at the hospital (OHSU).

After giving the paremedics Erik's info, I made the worst phone call of my life and called Melissa. I told her Erik was involved in a serious accident and was going to OHSU.

The ambulance left and I went to pick up Melissa. My friend Emma, stayed at their house in case Tanner woke up and Melissa came with me. While enroute, I called Dave/Jen Hunt and told them. They went over to Erik's house to be with Tanner in case he woke up. We figured he would need a familiar face.

While on our way to the hospital, we caught up to the ambulance at 181/I-84. I had dispatch confirm we were behind Eriks ambulance. We followed it the rest of the way to the hospital.

At the ER, Melissa talked to several people while I was in the ER. The paramedic told me Erik lost a lot of blood and was vomiting alot. They had to knock him out and put him on a tube as he became a little violent. He told me Erik was answering some of their questions prior to knocking him out. He also told me he was in good shape considering the severity of the accident scene.

Melissa and I were able to see him for about 5 seconds before they took him for a CAT scan.

While Erik was in the CAT scan, they took us up to ICU to the waiting room. We contacted Erik's mom (in Bend), Dad (Wilsonville) and Melissa's parents (were in NY). Daro's mom and later Daro were able to come be with Melissa. Erik's dad arrived shortly there after.

The told us it did not appear Erik suffered any lower extremity injury. It also did not appear he suffered any internal injury, but were still evaluating the xrays. I guess it takes longer due to the amount of organs, etc. They said he suffered a skull fracture and several broken facial bones. When Melissa asked what bones, they basically said it would be easier to say which ones didn't break. We found out today, he broke just about every bone in his face from his nose up (Class 3).

They took Erik down to the OR for surgery. Luckily (don't know a better way to say it), there was a 16 year old already in surgery for the same exact injuries. All the doctors doing the surgery were already there and Erik only had to wait 10 minutes.

about 3 hours later, they were done. They cut him from ear to ear going over his head like a rainbow. They peeled his scalp down to his eye sockets to remove part of his forehead to drain the blood from his brain. When he suffered the skull fracture, shards of bone from his skull shot into his frontal lobe of his brain causing the bleeding.

The blood was pushing his brain down toward his spinal column. After they drained the blood, his brain raised up (good news). They put his forehead and the rest of his skull back together and stapled him together.

They implanted a monitor in his brain. It looks like an antenna sticking out of his scalp about the size of a pen. The acutual part inside his brain is about the size of a pen tip. This monitors the pressure on his brain. The number to watch is "20". More on that later.

They also inplanted a draining tube on the side of his head and have him in a drug induced coma and on a ventilator.

They told us his skull was broken into 12 pieces. His forehead was sperated from skull and was "floating" and was basically mush.

After stabalizing him, we were finally able to see him at about 9am. I wont go into details about how he looked.

The doctors told us if he would be able to move a finger or toe in a couple days, it would be a good sign. Due to the the intricacies of the brain, although common, these types of injuries are case by case. Nobody would answer our questions other than, "we don't know, everyone's different."

As you can imagine, this was not comforting. It was turning into a waiting/praying game.

The pressure monitor (ICM-Intercranial monitor) shows the pressure in his brain. A resting brain in normal condition is around 10. If Erik's pressure goes above "20" then they will take preventative measures. When they first implanted the monitor, it was at 25. Later, It was about 14 +/- a few after taking preventative measures.

Several people came and went during the day, too many to mention. On two seperate occasions, Erik attempted to remove his ventilator with his hand (good sign) and moved a toe. This is on the same day of the accident!!!!

Everyone left around 6pm or so for the night.

Each morning around 5am if his conditions allow it, they bring him out of the coma to do some tests to evaluate him. Todays test was outstanding. He lifted his an arm and wiggled some toes at the doctors request.

Today, people began arriving around 12-1pm. When we got in to see him, Erik looked a million times better. It appeared his swelling went down, had more color in his skin, and his 2 black eyes that were the size of golf balls looked as if they were just painted purple. It was a great relief to see how great he looked for everyone! It seemed as if today was day 1 of his long recovery and it was off to a great start.

While visiting with Erik, Melissa was talking to him. He shrugged his shoulder as to acknowledge her. When people were in checking the damage to his eyes by shining a light in them, he attempted to turn away.

Dave slid his feet across the floor and then touched Erik and shocked him. Erik flinched acknowledging Daves cruel and unusual punishment.

Erik also gave a random"thumbs up" to Dave Lewis, a friend of the family.

When everyone left tonight around 6PM, Erik's pressure level was between "7-10." This is really good.

The family would like to let everyone know they are extremely grateful for everyones prayers, thoughts, and help. Visiting hours are 24/7 except from 630-830am and pm. Only 2 at a time can be in the room and are only allowed in for a short short time. While in the room, please do NOT talk to him or each other and do not touch him. Each of these increase the pressure on his brain and that's bad.

Melissa would like you to see him while he is unconscious. He will only be in this state for the next couple days. When he is awake, she does not think he will want people to see him, but it will be at his discretion for visitors. Do to the large amount of friends Erik has, please limit your visit to 1.

He is on the 7th floor in hall 7A in room 7. Lucky 7's!!! He is expected to be in ICU at OHSU for 2-3 weeks. He will then be moved to another room at OHSU for 1-2 weeks. After that, he will probably be moved to an in-patient assisted living rehabilitation center.

An account has been set up with US Bank and the news should be running a story on the accident. You can go into any US bank and ask to donate money to the "ERIK MOLINE FUND." Melissa has a debit card that allows her immediate access to the money.

There are also several emails going around talking about various ways to assist, either with money, babysitting, laundry, cooking, etc.

Dave Hunt is working on the insurance issues and dealing with his work.

Melissa would also like everyone to know she appreciates all the phone calls and messages and t helps to hear them. However, she will not be responding, but she has received all of them.

I will be updating this website as we get updates. Please make sure to book mark the website http:erikmoline.blogspot.com/. You will not be emailed when an update has been made so check back as you see fit. Thanks again to everyone for everything!!!! -Rian

Welcome to updates of Erik's progress

This is Daro and I just wanted to set up a blog for people to get the latest information about Erik's progress. I also hope this can be a place for people to provide support and encouragement for the family.

We are looking for people who have time and are able to help watch Tanner. We are in the early stages of arranging a schedule and coordinating days that people are available. Myself and Jennifer Hunt are available as contact people.

I spoke with Melissa this morning and her and Tanner were having some quality time at home playing together. Melissa received a phone call from the hospital this morning that Erik was responding to verbal commands. Melissa is planing on visiting him today.

Thank you everyone for all of your support, positive thoughts and prayers. Melissa is surrounded by a lot of wonderful family and friends.