Teen Struck by Lightning in Home
Donation protected
Our house was hit by lightning on Memorial Day, 5/25/15.
About 45 minutes before we were hit we were all huddled in our pantry under the stairs due to a tornado warning. The warning lifted and we went on about our evening. We were planning on watching a film and playing cards. I was in the living room getting the film ready and Anthony was getting the card game.
The lightning hit and it flowed down through everything that was plugged in. Macie was holding onto the refrigerator door getting applesauce at the same time the lightning hit.
I heard an explosion, Macie began screaming the loudest, most gut wrenching scream I've ever heard. At the same time all of the lights in our house went out.
Anthony, my husband, pulled her off the fridge and began to hold her when I came in the kitchen. She screamed and screamed and at the same time shook violently. All the while our house was dark; I couldn't see her clearly. I couldn't check if she was bleeding. I was shaking, screaming, crying because I was powerless. I couldn't help my child.
I then held onto her and Anthony, kind of a Macie sandwich, because she was shaking so violently and screaming. I didn't know what else to do.
My first thought was that the water filter shot off the fridge, punctured her body, and left an irreversable deadly hole in my daughter's stomach. I had no idea what happened. I just knew she was in pain, lots and lots of pain.
I'm thankful for Anthony; he responded so quickly and was able to calm us, he carried Macie to the couch as she was shaking and couldn't feel her legs.
I just can not explain the emotion I still carry. My heart is overwhelmed and I'm a mess.
We went to Lakeway Regional Medical Center and the ruling was secondary electrocution and temporary paralysis. The doctor indicated since she did not go into cardiac arrest at the time the house was struck and she was electrocuted her heart should be fine and they conducted an EKG to be certain.
Macie has also developed a fern rash on her left shoulder. She is now able to walk and is ok but says she still feels "tingly" and is exhausted most of the time. She is also a bit frightened to go near appliances or plug anything into outlets.
Her primary care doctor indicated she has ulnar nerve damage and shows signs of PTSD. Honestly, I believe we all do. We're in the middle of nurologists, therapists, doctors, adjusters, and contractor appointments.
We didn't notice it at the time but my husband developed a bit of fern rash as well from taking Macie off of the refrigerator and holding onto her.
We have been through so much and have a road of reparation ahead mentally, physically, and structurally. Please keep us in your prayers. ❤
Any funds raised will go toward medical costs, upfront costs (like gas, food, medicines), insurance deductible , and other health related costs both now and in the future for Macie.
We both work, very hard. I got very sick in August 2014 and we went through our savings at that time (it was 3 days before my medical insurance was effective-and we are still paying those thousands worth of medical bills). We have not had an opportunity to replenish the savings since.
I am also in my first 90 days with a new company that does not offer any paid time off for employees within that timeframe. We have missed a lot of pay with this lightning experience and we can't afford that, so with encouragement from friends and church family we created this Go Fund Me.
We're all emotionally drained, stressed beyond belief, our daughter's going through so much, and we feel so blessed to be able to focus more on her needs as a result of everyone's support. It has allowed us to stress less. We are very thankful.
About 45 minutes before we were hit we were all huddled in our pantry under the stairs due to a tornado warning. The warning lifted and we went on about our evening. We were planning on watching a film and playing cards. I was in the living room getting the film ready and Anthony was getting the card game.
The lightning hit and it flowed down through everything that was plugged in. Macie was holding onto the refrigerator door getting applesauce at the same time the lightning hit.
I heard an explosion, Macie began screaming the loudest, most gut wrenching scream I've ever heard. At the same time all of the lights in our house went out.
Anthony, my husband, pulled her off the fridge and began to hold her when I came in the kitchen. She screamed and screamed and at the same time shook violently. All the while our house was dark; I couldn't see her clearly. I couldn't check if she was bleeding. I was shaking, screaming, crying because I was powerless. I couldn't help my child.
I then held onto her and Anthony, kind of a Macie sandwich, because she was shaking so violently and screaming. I didn't know what else to do.
My first thought was that the water filter shot off the fridge, punctured her body, and left an irreversable deadly hole in my daughter's stomach. I had no idea what happened. I just knew she was in pain, lots and lots of pain.
I'm thankful for Anthony; he responded so quickly and was able to calm us, he carried Macie to the couch as she was shaking and couldn't feel her legs.
I just can not explain the emotion I still carry. My heart is overwhelmed and I'm a mess.
We went to Lakeway Regional Medical Center and the ruling was secondary electrocution and temporary paralysis. The doctor indicated since she did not go into cardiac arrest at the time the house was struck and she was electrocuted her heart should be fine and they conducted an EKG to be certain.
Macie has also developed a fern rash on her left shoulder. She is now able to walk and is ok but says she still feels "tingly" and is exhausted most of the time. She is also a bit frightened to go near appliances or plug anything into outlets.
Her primary care doctor indicated she has ulnar nerve damage and shows signs of PTSD. Honestly, I believe we all do. We're in the middle of nurologists, therapists, doctors, adjusters, and contractor appointments.
We didn't notice it at the time but my husband developed a bit of fern rash as well from taking Macie off of the refrigerator and holding onto her.
We have been through so much and have a road of reparation ahead mentally, physically, and structurally. Please keep us in your prayers. ❤
Any funds raised will go toward medical costs, upfront costs (like gas, food, medicines), insurance deductible , and other health related costs both now and in the future for Macie.
We both work, very hard. I got very sick in August 2014 and we went through our savings at that time (it was 3 days before my medical insurance was effective-and we are still paying those thousands worth of medical bills). We have not had an opportunity to replenish the savings since.
I am also in my first 90 days with a new company that does not offer any paid time off for employees within that timeframe. We have missed a lot of pay with this lightning experience and we can't afford that, so with encouragement from friends and church family we created this Go Fund Me.
We're all emotionally drained, stressed beyond belief, our daughter's going through so much, and we feel so blessed to be able to focus more on her needs as a result of everyone's support. It has allowed us to stress less. We are very thankful.
Organizer
Misty Drubert
Organizer
Dripping Springs, TX