My dad nearly lost his life on Wednesday 1/28/09. He pulled through after emergency surgery and spent the last couple days in ICU at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, Washington. Dad was moved to a new room yesterday and is resting as much as possible. He is very week and is back to square one with the doctors and what the future might hold.
Luke and I traveled down from Orcas Thursday afternoon and made our way to the ICU with mom. Dad had pressed his little morphine button a few extra times in anticipation of some news he needed to share with us. Mom was on his left side and I on his right, each holding a hand and doing our best to comfort my very distraught papa.
Dad took a deep breath and his eyes filled with tears as he barely uttered the words "It's going to be - Amputation." It was one of the hardest moments of my life, but so filled with grace and strength from above. Mom and I had total composure and where able to console him and let him know how thankful we where that he was still with us. Loosing a leg verses loosing your life suddenly was put in a new profound perspective.
We visited for a while and hugged as best we could between all the cords, wires and bed rails. Dad was extremely exhausted and fatigued so we made our visit fairly short. He didn't didn't want us to go right away because he thought we where going to fall apart as soon as we left his sight. Yes- we have had our tears but it is a confusing mixture of sadness for what dad is going through and also tears of gratefulness that he is still with us.
The last few days have been spent trying to get the run down directly from the doctors. We were apprehensive to fully except dads statement about amputation because of his state of vulnerability and pain killers.
At this moment the doctors are collaborating as to what is the next best step. As of today the plan is for dad to rest and hopefully regain some strength over the next week or so. They are aggressively trying to rid dads body of the current infection that is reeking havoc on his body. There is talk of a collaborative effort of several specialists to once again open dad up and assess the current condition. We have gone from thinking amputation to a slight hope of saving his leg.
It is touch and go and the doctors are working hard to communicate and get a plan together. Our prayer is that the surgeons will have a collaborative agreed plan for that which would be best for dad, his leg and for the rest of his life. May we all continue to lift my dad in our thoughts and prayers as we are hope and ask for Gods Best for him. May peace reign in his an dall of our hearts, no matter the outcome.
My heart is pounding out of my chest as I type this. Every morning I open my eyes and realise this nightmare is real. I am pretty worthless today and have taken time to jump off the rollercoaster. Naps are so good for just disapearing for a while and writing everything out is not just a means of keeping friends and family posted but is also wonderful therapy for me.
I will be in Seattle for a bit longer than I will head back to the island to meet with all the fire investigatores/detectives scheduled to decend on the farm on Tuesday, Febuary 3rd.
One thing I will leave you with...my dad shared with me yesterday that he had a little talk with God last Wednesday night (Thinking he was dieing) and all he could come up with was Pure Thankfulness!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
ER and EMERGENCY SURGERY
I received a phone call from my mom at about 2:30pm, informing me that my dad was being transported to the ER. He had gone unconscious while laying in bed at the rehab center. Dads blood pressure had dropped dangerously low.
He arrived to Swedish Hospital ER late in the afternoon and was taken in for emergency surgery by 7:30pm. He was out of surgery by 9:30pm and is now in the ICU.
We're pretty sure that the remaining infection in his right leg and hip had sent him into the beginning stages of Septic Shock.
The surgeons removed more infection, bone , muscle and also cleaned out pooling blood. Dad went from serious condition to stable condition. He still has his life and his leg, but he is still not out of the woods.
My Uncle and two close family friends where with my parents at the hospital. My sister, Scott and Makayla are all in Oregon and Luke and I are on Orcas. It's was difficult to be apart at a time like this. We are so grateful for telephones.
We're not certain what the doctors have concluded on dads conditon,but my sister and I got on line and did some research on Septic Shock and it seems to fit.
Definition of Sepsis:
Sepsis is the body's response to infection — an inflammatory process marked by an elevated heart rate, rapid breathing and abnormal temperature. Even a minor infection, such as strep throat or influenza, can trigger sepsis. It's usually not life-threatening. But complications of sepsis can cause serious illness and death.
Severe sepsis occurs when your natural immune response to an infection goes into overdrive, triggering widespread inflammation and blood clotting in tiny vessels throughout your body. One or more organs may stop working properly or fail. Sepsis can lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure (septic shock).
About 750,000 people in the United States get severe sepsis each year, and more than 200,000 people die of it. Those at increased risk include older adults, hospital and surgery patients, and people with impaired immune systems. Neonatal sepsis affects a small percentage of newborns, particularly low-birth-weight and premature infants.
Most commonly, bacterial infections lead to sepsis, but it may result from any type of infection — bacterial, viral, parasitic or fungal. Although sepsis often can't be prevented, getting prompt medical care for infections can reduce your risk.
We will do our best to provide updates about my dads condition as the days pass. We want to thank all of you for your prayers. Our family has been strengthened and encouraged by your love and hope for a brighter tomorrow. Thank you for walking through this storm with us. We trust that God is in control.
In Christ's Love and Care Always-
He arrived to Swedish Hospital ER late in the afternoon and was taken in for emergency surgery by 7:30pm. He was out of surgery by 9:30pm and is now in the ICU.
We're pretty sure that the remaining infection in his right leg and hip had sent him into the beginning stages of Septic Shock.
The surgeons removed more infection, bone , muscle and also cleaned out pooling blood. Dad went from serious condition to stable condition. He still has his life and his leg, but he is still not out of the woods.
My Uncle and two close family friends where with my parents at the hospital. My sister, Scott and Makayla are all in Oregon and Luke and I are on Orcas. It's was difficult to be apart at a time like this. We are so grateful for telephones.
We're not certain what the doctors have concluded on dads conditon,but my sister and I got on line and did some research on Septic Shock and it seems to fit.
Definition of Sepsis:
Sepsis is the body's response to infection — an inflammatory process marked by an elevated heart rate, rapid breathing and abnormal temperature. Even a minor infection, such as strep throat or influenza, can trigger sepsis. It's usually not life-threatening. But complications of sepsis can cause serious illness and death.
Severe sepsis occurs when your natural immune response to an infection goes into overdrive, triggering widespread inflammation and blood clotting in tiny vessels throughout your body. One or more organs may stop working properly or fail. Sepsis can lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure (septic shock).
About 750,000 people in the United States get severe sepsis each year, and more than 200,000 people die of it. Those at increased risk include older adults, hospital and surgery patients, and people with impaired immune systems. Neonatal sepsis affects a small percentage of newborns, particularly low-birth-weight and premature infants.
Most commonly, bacterial infections lead to sepsis, but it may result from any type of infection — bacterial, viral, parasitic or fungal. Although sepsis often can't be prevented, getting prompt medical care for infections can reduce your risk.
We will do our best to provide updates about my dads condition as the days pass. We want to thank all of you for your prayers. Our family has been strengthened and encouraged by your love and hope for a brighter tomorrow. Thank you for walking through this storm with us. We trust that God is in control.
In Christ's Love and Care Always-
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Update & Prayer Requests
I will try my best to send out a little update now and again, so those of you walking through this storm with us will know what's up and how you can be praying more specifically.
Doug Smart-
My dad was transferred from UW Hospital to a Rehab Center on Friday 1/23/09. He will spend approx. 8 weeks there and then return to UW for surgery to remove any more infection in his right hip and leg. He then will return to the rehab center for another 8 weeks..after which time the doctors will evaluate his condition. Our hope is he will be able to receive a new hip. This is where it gets tricky, due to bone and muscle loss. There is also talk of femur replacement along with hip replacement. My dad was brave in asking some tough questions on Wednesday and he wanted straight answers. He asked about his heart- It's strong! He asked if amputation was still on the table? The answer is unfortunately, yes! This was very difficult for mom and dad and the rest of the family to hear or even try to wrap our brains around. Please pray that the infection in his body would vanish, that he would be patient with himself and those that are trying to help him, that his spirit would be lifted beyond his current condition and circumstance, that he would have peace, good rest and good pain management. On top of everything else dad had to have two teeth extracted...it didn't go well and zapped his emotional and physical energy back a few notches for sure. A high light for his week was that Scott and Makayla where up from Oregon and Dad was able to get more hugs and support. He and Makayla held each other tight for quite some time. Dad also got a visit from Jon Brockman and UW Huskies Basketball coach, Lorenzo Romar. This was a very nice gesture that is much appreciated by all those that love my dad.
Luke and I continue to tend to 27 acres and 13 horses. My mom and sister where here for a bit last week. Then Scott and Makayla came up over the weekend and we had some family time together between all the work on my grandparents home on Friday Harbor and the farm on Orcas Island.
Mom is now in Seattle again to be with dad and tend to some of his needs. She should be returning to the farm in a few days. Moms plate is more than overflowing as she tries to regain their existence after all important documents went up in flames. The phone is pretty much attached to her ear non stop.
I just sent out a Update/ Prayer Request to church, friends and family which I will attach below: Some of this will be a repeat of the above but it should catch everyone up to speed. Thank you to those who have called, sent notes via e-mail, snail mail and Facebook..even texts. I am not in a position to make alot of return calls or responces, just know that I so appriciate your encouragment and prayers at this time.
Here is the Update/Prayer Requests letter sent today:
I will try to make this update short and prayer requests as specific as I can; there is a whole lot going on all at once, so please let the Spirit of God lead as you pray! I have included my blog link for those of you who would like more details on a constant basis http://www.tottenlifesong.blogspot.com/
I. My Dad/Doug Smart was transferred from UW Hospital to a Rehab Center. He will be at Rehab for 8 weeks then return to UW for another surgery for deb-riding of infection. He will then return to Rehab for yet another 8 weeks after which time they will access his condition and see if hip and/or hip and femur replacement is possible. The hardest news we received last week was that amputation of his right leg is still a possibility.
Prayer: Healing from all infection, peace of mind, patience and a covering and hope that only comes from Christ alone no matter the outcome. Healing and protection from depression for parents, sister and myself as we are dealing with many different stresses and grieving many different losses. Please also pray for open and gentle communication between each family member and with those that are standing in the gaps to help.
II. The House Fire is still under investigation. The local fire Marshall deemed the cause to be a gas leek. Although the insurance company, propane co. and oven manufacturer are all sending out there own detectives to collect evidence and make there own investigations. They will all be arriving on Feb 3rd. In the mean time the rubble sits. Luke and I try to ignore it as we drive by on the tractor to tend to 27 acres farm and 13 horses out in pasture twice a day. Prayer: Investigation would go smoothly and all parties would agree on cause, so we can move forward with clean up efforts. Protection, peace, energy and safety as Luke and I as we tend to the horses and property. Please also pray that the weather is favorable, it is starting to snow as I type and this would really add a burden to our labor.
III. Other Pressing Issues: Sale of my grandparents home (they died last winter and their home is just now ready to be placed on the market). Scott and I made the last few loads of furniture out of the house and are now doing craigslist daily to rid some of the excess stuff/junk. Dad is not able to practice dentistry at this time and may not be able to anymore. There is no income and they are waiting on insurance funds to come thru. There are many difficult financial situations that need to be faced and dealt with immediately. Some hard decisions will need to be made that are highly emotional for both my parents. Retiring from dentistry, selling horses, investment properties and other farm equipment and extras that are in excess and possibly even selling the farm.
Please Pray for Gods wisdom, guidance and will to unfold one day at a time. Thank you for your concern and prayers. Thank you also to those of you that have taken care of Makayla as Scott is managing things on his own at home. I will probably be in Washington at least another 2 weeks then I will come home for a few weeks and return for a week at a time for the next couple months.
In Christ's Love and Blessings...
Doug Smart-
My dad was transferred from UW Hospital to a Rehab Center on Friday 1/23/09. He will spend approx. 8 weeks there and then return to UW for surgery to remove any more infection in his right hip and leg. He then will return to the rehab center for another 8 weeks..after which time the doctors will evaluate his condition. Our hope is he will be able to receive a new hip. This is where it gets tricky, due to bone and muscle loss. There is also talk of femur replacement along with hip replacement. My dad was brave in asking some tough questions on Wednesday and he wanted straight answers. He asked about his heart- It's strong! He asked if amputation was still on the table? The answer is unfortunately, yes! This was very difficult for mom and dad and the rest of the family to hear or even try to wrap our brains around. Please pray that the infection in his body would vanish, that he would be patient with himself and those that are trying to help him, that his spirit would be lifted beyond his current condition and circumstance, that he would have peace, good rest and good pain management. On top of everything else dad had to have two teeth extracted...it didn't go well and zapped his emotional and physical energy back a few notches for sure. A high light for his week was that Scott and Makayla where up from Oregon and Dad was able to get more hugs and support. He and Makayla held each other tight for quite some time. Dad also got a visit from Jon Brockman and UW Huskies Basketball coach, Lorenzo Romar. This was a very nice gesture that is much appreciated by all those that love my dad.
Luke and I continue to tend to 27 acres and 13 horses. My mom and sister where here for a bit last week. Then Scott and Makayla came up over the weekend and we had some family time together between all the work on my grandparents home on Friday Harbor and the farm on Orcas Island.
Mom is now in Seattle again to be with dad and tend to some of his needs. She should be returning to the farm in a few days. Moms plate is more than overflowing as she tries to regain their existence after all important documents went up in flames. The phone is pretty much attached to her ear non stop.
I just sent out a Update/ Prayer Request to church, friends and family which I will attach below: Some of this will be a repeat of the above but it should catch everyone up to speed. Thank you to those who have called, sent notes via e-mail, snail mail and Facebook..even texts. I am not in a position to make alot of return calls or responces, just know that I so appriciate your encouragment and prayers at this time.
Here is the Update/Prayer Requests letter sent today:
I will try to make this update short and prayer requests as specific as I can; there is a whole lot going on all at once, so please let the Spirit of God lead as you pray! I have included my blog link for those of you who would like more details on a constant basis http://www.tottenlifesong.blogspot.com/
I. My Dad/Doug Smart was transferred from UW Hospital to a Rehab Center. He will be at Rehab for 8 weeks then return to UW for another surgery for deb-riding of infection. He will then return to Rehab for yet another 8 weeks after which time they will access his condition and see if hip and/or hip and femur replacement is possible. The hardest news we received last week was that amputation of his right leg is still a possibility.
Prayer: Healing from all infection, peace of mind, patience and a covering and hope that only comes from Christ alone no matter the outcome. Healing and protection from depression for parents, sister and myself as we are dealing with many different stresses and grieving many different losses. Please also pray for open and gentle communication between each family member and with those that are standing in the gaps to help.
II. The House Fire is still under investigation. The local fire Marshall deemed the cause to be a gas leek. Although the insurance company, propane co. and oven manufacturer are all sending out there own detectives to collect evidence and make there own investigations. They will all be arriving on Feb 3rd. In the mean time the rubble sits. Luke and I try to ignore it as we drive by on the tractor to tend to 27 acres farm and 13 horses out in pasture twice a day. Prayer: Investigation would go smoothly and all parties would agree on cause, so we can move forward with clean up efforts. Protection, peace, energy and safety as Luke and I as we tend to the horses and property. Please also pray that the weather is favorable, it is starting to snow as I type and this would really add a burden to our labor.
III. Other Pressing Issues: Sale of my grandparents home (they died last winter and their home is just now ready to be placed on the market). Scott and I made the last few loads of furniture out of the house and are now doing craigslist daily to rid some of the excess stuff/junk. Dad is not able to practice dentistry at this time and may not be able to anymore. There is no income and they are waiting on insurance funds to come thru. There are many difficult financial situations that need to be faced and dealt with immediately. Some hard decisions will need to be made that are highly emotional for both my parents. Retiring from dentistry, selling horses, investment properties and other farm equipment and extras that are in excess and possibly even selling the farm.
Please Pray for Gods wisdom, guidance and will to unfold one day at a time. Thank you for your concern and prayers. Thank you also to those of you that have taken care of Makayla as Scott is managing things on his own at home. I will probably be in Washington at least another 2 weeks then I will come home for a few weeks and return for a week at a time for the next couple months.
In Christ's Love and Blessings...
Saturday, January 17, 2009
My Second Vehicle is a JOHN DEERE
I 'm on Orcas Island, have been since Thursday morning. The days are running into each other as my time has been spent tending to 13 horses..feeding, watering and mending fences. I am grateful for the summers I spent learning to run the John Deer tractor for it has become my main source of strength in heavy labor. Luke thinks mommy is pretty cool and he has been right there with me riding along. All of this has been in my free time of course, between all the phone calls and pop ins from friends, neighbors and complete strangers that are arriving to show great care and concern for what has happened to my parents over this past week.
I met with the Fire Marshall, Fire Investigator and Insurance Adjuster on Thursday. I also had new keys made for some things that had become recently key-less. My Uncle Tom and another friend of my folks , also named Tom flew up for the day on Friday. Tom's x 2 , was double the hugs and double the support. They spent the day digging in the rubble for anything of value, which there was non to be found. I am so grateful for their presence and reassurance at this time. My Uncle has stepped up to the plate in a huge way and I seriously don't know what we would do with out him.
I have spent some time in the ashes..pocking around and just trying to process what has happened. It is so surreal...everything is just POOF- GONE! It looks like the Land of the lost...black, charred, unreal! The fire Marshall found one box of pictures- amazingly it was all of the UW Basketball history about my dad. What a gift, and what kind of freaky timing is that? Dads Rebound Record was broken by Jon Brockman just last night at the Oregon game. The fire marshall also found a fire proof box that contained....(well this is kind of gross)...but it contained my grandpa's ashes. Both my grandparents died last winter and their remains where both being stored in my parents home until we could honor their wishes. Grandpa had asked for his ashes to be taken to Mexico to a favorite fishing hole. It looks like we will still be able to honor that wish. Grandma on the other hand..well....she was not in a fire safe box. This might sound totally wrong to some of you, but it just felt right... well kind of. I spent some time collecting ash in the spot where grandma's box had been kept. I think I found her! She's in a coffee can now...she always loved coffee and I seriously was talking out loud to her saying, "Grandma your probably laughing out load right now, don't worry I'll let some of you stay here with all the antiques you always loved so much!" To say the very least it has been an incredibly bizarre week. Besides loosing one of my children or my husband, I feel like I am living my worst nightmare. I am at a neighbors so I can have access to a computer. My son is asleep on her couch with her cat. My sister drove up to be with mom in Seattle and go visit dad in the hospital. Scott and Makayla will be coming this way next Wednesday thru Sunday. My dad is scheduled for another surgery for this coming Monday because the incision site is not looking good.
It is going to be a very long and very slow process to try to recover and rebound. There are going to be some big decisions that need to be made and I ask that you would pray for Gods Grace, Mercy, Wisdom, Strength and GLORY to be shown.
Much Love-
Kimberlyn
Dad's UW Basketball Record - Finally Broken
Pac-10 Basketball: Brockman is 8 grabs from rebound fame
By DAN RALEYP-I REPORTER
WASHINGTON BASKETBALL player Jon Brockman will pass Doug Smart on Wednesday, and probably again on Thursday.
Brockman will have a seat on a charter bus ferrying his team to the airport when it skirts alongside University of Washington Medical Center, where Smart is recovering from hip surgery.
Once at Oregon, Brockman needs just eight rebounds to replace Smart as the Huskies' all-time and Pac-10's eighth-best rebounder -- exceeding Smart's 1,051 total that became the school standard 50 years ago.
Smart, 72, has had a difficult week, watching his Orcas Island home destroyed by fire and fracturing his hip while loading a truck. Well before suffering those setbacks, he discussed handing over the rebounding record to Brockman in a gracious manner, acknowledging he has been caught up in the countdown.
"Gosh, yes, when you have very little claim to fame you watch it," said the former UW center, who played from 1957 to 1959. "Fifty years is long enough. I'd be happy to see it move elsewhere. I hope for the sake of the program that it doesn't take another 50 years to do it again."
Smart averaged 13.5 rebounds per game in his three-year varsity career. In three-plus seasons, Brockman grabs 9.4 rebounds on average.
Explaining his higher volume, the 6-foot-7 Smart, who shares Brockman's height but played at 20 pounds lighter, said he had fewer people to contend with for his rebounds, though he teamed with 6-9 Bruno Boin, another career double-figure rebounder.
"I was only really pushed by three or four people on the court," Smart said. "We didn't have guards with 40-inch vertical leaps."
People who have witnessed both rebounders in action say their desire to go get the ball is very similar.
"Doug played with much of the focus and tenacity Jon expresses," said Jerry Johnson, 75, a former UW guard and current season-ticket holder.
Smart's career high in a game was 23, which he accomplished twice. Brockman's best is 18 on four different occasions, three times this season.
Maintaining his current pace, Brockman should rise to fourth among the Pac-10's all-time rebounders, surpassing USC's Ron Riley (1,067), Stanford's Tim Young (1,081), Oregon's Greg Ballard (1,114) and Stanford's Adam Keefe (1,119).
Only UCLA's Lew Alcindor (1,367), UCLA's Bill Walton (1,370) and Oregon State's Mel Counts (1,375) are statistically out of reach for the UW player.Only UCLA's Lew Alcindor (1,367), UCLA's Bill Walton (1,370) and Oregon State's Mel Counts (1,375) are statistically out of reach for the UW player.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Update Fire and Recovery
My dad has managed to cheat death two times in four days. God must really have more for him to accomplish here on earth. First the house fire on 1/8/09 that mom and dad just barely escaped and now dad is in the hospital with much more than a dislocated hip. This is his third night in the hospital after arriving on Sunday evening. He spent the better part of Monday in the operating room where the doctors opened him up in an attempted to relocate his hip. They where not able to place the hip manually and instead opted for surgery. Within moments of entry it became evident that his leg was full of infection. This was a very unexpected discovery and it soon became a critical circumstance to the degree of toxicity in his body. There was discussion of possible amputation of dads entire right leg. Thankfully the doctors went with a less aggressive tactic, which was to remove as much infection as possible, this included allot of bone and muscle. They also removed his artificial hip that had been placed several years ago.
So with that said, dad now has at least a months stay scheduled at the UW Hospital. The plan is to rid his system of infection with antibiotics for 6-8 weeks then go in again and clean any thing else out. At this point they would close him up and again and try to rid his body of any remaining infection for another 6-8 weeks. After this 12 week period of time it will be evaluated if he can have a new hip custom made for a man of his size and also condition after bone and muscle loss.
Again we find ourselves in a state of shock and our priorities in life have been drastically confronted, tested and grately defined. I am so proud to be their daughter and I am so blessed by my parents strength and courage over these past few days. Believe it or not I have heard more laughter then tears and I am in awe of the words I hear them speak to one another. Things so simple as dad saying "Hello Beautiful" or "Our life is going to be much different now" and mom responding with"At least it is a life!" My sister Allison and I have been blessed with the most wonderful parents on the planet.
We are all in awe of Gods sovereign hand of protection over my family this week. I believe the Lord above honored and answered many prayers that Scott and I have uttered with our children. "Dear God please watch over grandma and grandpa on the farm, protect them and keep them safe as they chase after their dreams everyday."
I'm grateful my folks are alive, Iam grateful they couldn't manipualte his leg back in plac and instead discoved internal infection that was most likely days from takng his life, I am grateful my dad did not preheat the oven and run a quick arrand while mom slept, I'm grateful my dad thought to turn the gas line off, I'm grateful to all the fire and rescue people who worked so hard and that non of them where injured, I'm grateful for all the friends, family and total strangers that have shown so much love and support to my family. Thank you for the food, clothing, funds...thank you for the phone calls, guidance and encouragment. Thank you for your listening ear, your hugs your prayers. Our family is overwhelmed by your love and we are grateful for you and we are grateful to our heavenly father for giving us more time with one another.
I am headed to Orcas to tend the farm, feed horses and meet with the fire inspector and insurance adjuster. Luke is going to love riding the trackter with mommy and he is looking forward to playing "fireman" when we get see the burn site and sift thru the rubble.
Today I found another more personal article written about what my parents went through and yes one more picture:
THANK YOU FOR CONTINUED PRAYERS AS WE HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO REBOUND, REBUILD AND RECOVER BY THE GRACE OF GOD!
Wednesday, 1/14/2009 2:01 am
Fire destroys Eastsound home
By NINA LARAMOREIslands Sounder Reporter Today, 12:05 AM · UPDATED
In many ways, Doug and Jeri Smart were fortunate. As lucky as two people can be, who spent Thursday evening in a neighbor’s truck, barefoot and barely clothed, as they watched firefighters wage a losing battle to save their home and belongings.
“Doug was going to warm up the stove before he went to run an errand to the pharmacy,” Jeri said. “I went to lie down and fell asleep. If he hadn’t waited to preheat the stove until he returned, I probably would be watching all of this from up above.”
She woke to Doug’s hysterical cries of her name and “fire.” Grabbing the phone to call 911 and running out the door, she saw sheets of flame completely engulfing the kitchen.
San Juan County Fire Marshal Robert Low and the Orcas Island Fire Department are still investigating the apparent propane stove fire that destroyed the Smarts’ home at 180 North Beach Road on Jan. 8.
The Fire Department’s Eastsound Engine 21 responded within nine minutes to Jeri’s emergency call at 5:41 p.m. Division Chief Patrick Shepler was one of the first on the scene and found the house fully engulfed in fire.
“They barely escaped,” Shepler said. “When we arrived we saw fire shooting from every window in the structure. There was a barn just 10 feet away from the home that had paint thinner, lacquer and all types of flammable things inside. We were lucky to save it.”
Twenty-seven fire and rescue workers attacked the blaze, cut a whole in the wall of the barn, and injected compressed air foam to stop the fire from spreading. The fire was declared under control at approximately 6:50 p.m. although, firefighters were on the scene until 10:30 p.m. tearing down the unstable walls.”
In addition to Doug and Jeri, their dog Cowboy and their 12 horses all escaped injury. The Smarts also feel fortunate to have their bed and breakfast, Walking Horse Farm, on the property so they have a familiar place they could move right into.
Neighbors started arriving with food and offers of clothing while the firefighters were still on the scene. Jeri had only the pajamas she was wearing when the blaze broke out, and Doug had on only his shorts.
“We were numb,” Jeri said. “We just felt disbelief at what we were seeing. All of our better and nicer more personal items were in the house. My parents had just passed away last year. Many of my mother’s precious things that she wanted the family to have were destroyed.”
“We appreciate nice things but we are not a family about things,” she added. “We have two wonderful daughters and two wonderful grandchildren. We will use this as an example to show the children how life goes on when tragedy strikes.”
But not everything was destroyed after all. On the morning after the fire, as the fire marshals began looking through the house, they discovered a plastic bin of photographs. It may be the only item to have survived the fire intact. Jeri says the bin contained an “amazing amount of history” that her mother-in-law had compiled about her husband.
“There have been tears, and there will be more tears, but there also has been some joy,” Jeri said. “People we know, and people we didn’t know, have all treated us like we were best friends. They have brought us dinners, food, groceries, and offers of help. They have been amazing.”
The first step for the Smarts will be to get their identities back. They have no licenses, birth certificates or wallets and the keys to their vehicles melted in the fire. All have to be replaced.
“We have to start from the beginning,” Jeri said. “We are go-forward people. We can’t do anything about what has happened. We just have to keep functioning and move forward.”
So with that said, dad now has at least a months stay scheduled at the UW Hospital. The plan is to rid his system of infection with antibiotics for 6-8 weeks then go in again and clean any thing else out. At this point they would close him up and again and try to rid his body of any remaining infection for another 6-8 weeks. After this 12 week period of time it will be evaluated if he can have a new hip custom made for a man of his size and also condition after bone and muscle loss.
Again we find ourselves in a state of shock and our priorities in life have been drastically confronted, tested and grately defined. I am so proud to be their daughter and I am so blessed by my parents strength and courage over these past few days. Believe it or not I have heard more laughter then tears and I am in awe of the words I hear them speak to one another. Things so simple as dad saying "Hello Beautiful" or "Our life is going to be much different now" and mom responding with"At least it is a life!" My sister Allison and I have been blessed with the most wonderful parents on the planet.
We are all in awe of Gods sovereign hand of protection over my family this week. I believe the Lord above honored and answered many prayers that Scott and I have uttered with our children. "Dear God please watch over grandma and grandpa on the farm, protect them and keep them safe as they chase after their dreams everyday."
I'm grateful my folks are alive, Iam grateful they couldn't manipualte his leg back in plac and instead discoved internal infection that was most likely days from takng his life, I am grateful my dad did not preheat the oven and run a quick arrand while mom slept, I'm grateful my dad thought to turn the gas line off, I'm grateful to all the fire and rescue people who worked so hard and that non of them where injured, I'm grateful for all the friends, family and total strangers that have shown so much love and support to my family. Thank you for the food, clothing, funds...thank you for the phone calls, guidance and encouragment. Thank you for your listening ear, your hugs your prayers. Our family is overwhelmed by your love and we are grateful for you and we are grateful to our heavenly father for giving us more time with one another.
I am headed to Orcas to tend the farm, feed horses and meet with the fire inspector and insurance adjuster. Luke is going to love riding the trackter with mommy and he is looking forward to playing "fireman" when we get see the burn site and sift thru the rubble.
Today I found another more personal article written about what my parents went through and yes one more picture:
THANK YOU FOR CONTINUED PRAYERS AS WE HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO REBOUND, REBUILD AND RECOVER BY THE GRACE OF GOD!
Wednesday, 1/14/2009 2:01 am
Fire destroys Eastsound home
By NINA LARAMOREIslands Sounder Reporter Today, 12:05 AM · UPDATED
In many ways, Doug and Jeri Smart were fortunate. As lucky as two people can be, who spent Thursday evening in a neighbor’s truck, barefoot and barely clothed, as they watched firefighters wage a losing battle to save their home and belongings.
“Doug was going to warm up the stove before he went to run an errand to the pharmacy,” Jeri said. “I went to lie down and fell asleep. If he hadn’t waited to preheat the stove until he returned, I probably would be watching all of this from up above.”
She woke to Doug’s hysterical cries of her name and “fire.” Grabbing the phone to call 911 and running out the door, she saw sheets of flame completely engulfing the kitchen.
San Juan County Fire Marshal Robert Low and the Orcas Island Fire Department are still investigating the apparent propane stove fire that destroyed the Smarts’ home at 180 North Beach Road on Jan. 8.
The Fire Department’s Eastsound Engine 21 responded within nine minutes to Jeri’s emergency call at 5:41 p.m. Division Chief Patrick Shepler was one of the first on the scene and found the house fully engulfed in fire.
“They barely escaped,” Shepler said. “When we arrived we saw fire shooting from every window in the structure. There was a barn just 10 feet away from the home that had paint thinner, lacquer and all types of flammable things inside. We were lucky to save it.”
Twenty-seven fire and rescue workers attacked the blaze, cut a whole in the wall of the barn, and injected compressed air foam to stop the fire from spreading. The fire was declared under control at approximately 6:50 p.m. although, firefighters were on the scene until 10:30 p.m. tearing down the unstable walls.”
In addition to Doug and Jeri, their dog Cowboy and their 12 horses all escaped injury. The Smarts also feel fortunate to have their bed and breakfast, Walking Horse Farm, on the property so they have a familiar place they could move right into.
Neighbors started arriving with food and offers of clothing while the firefighters were still on the scene. Jeri had only the pajamas she was wearing when the blaze broke out, and Doug had on only his shorts.
“We were numb,” Jeri said. “We just felt disbelief at what we were seeing. All of our better and nicer more personal items were in the house. My parents had just passed away last year. Many of my mother’s precious things that she wanted the family to have were destroyed.”
“We appreciate nice things but we are not a family about things,” she added. “We have two wonderful daughters and two wonderful grandchildren. We will use this as an example to show the children how life goes on when tragedy strikes.”
But not everything was destroyed after all. On the morning after the fire, as the fire marshals began looking through the house, they discovered a plastic bin of photographs. It may be the only item to have survived the fire intact. Jeri says the bin contained an “amazing amount of history” that her mother-in-law had compiled about her husband.
“There have been tears, and there will be more tears, but there also has been some joy,” Jeri said. “People we know, and people we didn’t know, have all treated us like we were best friends. They have brought us dinners, food, groceries, and offers of help. They have been amazing.”
The first step for the Smarts will be to get their identities back. They have no licenses, birth certificates or wallets and the keys to their vehicles melted in the fire. All have to be replaced.
“We have to start from the beginning,” Jeri said. “We are go-forward people. We can’t do anything about what has happened. We just have to keep functioning and move forward.”
Monday, January 12, 2009
Rebuilding and REBOUNDING
So here I sit with lots on my mind...This has been quite a week. It's the first Monday since the Thursday night fire. I am at mom and dad's Seattle apartment with Luke. I spent the day cleaning and taking inventory of what they have left here at there second home ( praise the Lord for a place to be) I finally got to hug my mom this morning. A hug has never felt so good and so meaningful. The latest twist to the family drama is that my dad was transported to the hospital at about 8pm last night. His artificial hip has dislocated and the emergency crew was unable to manipulate it back to place, so dad was admitted to UW Hospital and may face surgery if they are unable to place it manually. I talked to dad this morning but have yet to hug him. He sounded pretty good and drugged up! Luke, mom and I will make our way the hospital after some morning phone calls to banks, credit card and insurance companies. The to-do list is eminence and will be slow going especially with the current detour. Mom got a new cell phone yesterday and today we are going to do our best to get car keys remade for each vehicle and try to reestablish my mom and dads identity with Drivers licences. This is going to be a long journey... I praise God that my parents have a strong relationship with one another and they are choosing to put their faith in the Lord to be their strength and help them rebound and rebuild. Just hearing them talk to one another on the phone brings tears to my eyes. There is just so much love between them.
On a lighter note- The word REBOUND has deep meaning for our family. The legacy my dad has instilled in all of us is to be good REBOUNDERS! I must take a moment to reflect and celebrate my dad..this article was just in the Seattle PI on the 6th of January.
Where Are They Now? Doug Smart
UW basketball legend Doug Smart was almost the kid who grew too much
By DAN RALEYP-I REPORTER
Doug Smart's rapid growth as a teenager was caused by an overactive pituitary gland and it wasn't normal. He was 6 feet 3 as a ninth grader, with the potential to add up to 15 more inches in a hurry.
If unchecked, a doctor advised him, Smart would face dire consequences. To slow things, the kid took prescribed medication for six months.
"I would not only be a giant, I wouldn't have lived to be 30," he said. "It was intervention that was appropriate."
Smart was a basketball player who topped out at 6-7 and found great coordination once the spurt was over. He became a high school sensation at Garfield, averaging 26.7 points and leading the Bulldogs to the 1955 state championship as a senior and to a state runner-up finish to the Bruno Boin-led Franklin Quakers as a junior.
He chose Washington over Stanford in recruiting, but his reputation stretched well beyond the West Coast. He was offered the chance to see what a 7-foot basketball player looked like up close.
"I got a postcard from Kansas, from coach Phog Allen, that said with a little note, 'We've got Wilt (Chamberlain). Want to be his power forward?' " Smart recalled.
He ran into Chamberlain soon enough. In his fourth and fifth varsity games for the Huskies as a sophomore, Smart faced Kansas and "Wilt the Stilt" at Edmundson Pavilion.
In front of sold-out crowds, the outrageous Chamberlain dominated play while leading the Jayhawks to a pair of 14-point victories. He came up with 30 points and 16 rebounds one night, 37 and 28 the other.
Smart was 5 inches shorter but didn't wilt in the face of Wilt. He finished with a double-double both nights, supplying 33 points and 17 rebounds in the second game.
They exchanged friendly banter throughout the weekend. Chamberlain provided unforgettable memories, particularly on one blocked shot.
"He was well spoken and a gentleman, but he knew he owned the paint," Smart said. "He did funny things like if you scored on a little jump hook, you would be going down the court and he'd run past you and say, 'Don't try that again.' The next time down, of course, you'd just be screaming for the ball.
"It was the only time I had someone catch my shot with two hands and smile at me."
The next year, Smart played against Chamberlain at Kansas, scored eight quick points and had the Huskies in front 15-7. He lasted just six minutes before sitting down in questionable foul trouble in what became an 18-point loss.
"The crowd had gone real quiet, and then I got three of the quickest fouls that have ever been called," he said. "That was the worst I'd ever experienced."
For two years, Smart and the 6-9 Boin were teammates, giving the Huskies two career double-double players up front. These Tippy Dye-coached Huskies were advertised as the nation's tallest team. They were considered Pacific Coast Conference contenders for the 1958-59 season. They finished 18-8 and second to California, the eventual NCAA champion, and came away greatly disappointed.
"Had we been able to open it up a little more, I think Bruno and I could have worked better together," Smart said. "We had two big men in there with their fannies to the basket, and we were almost in each other's way. We tried very hard not to be, moving away when the other had the ball.
"Tippy said years later, 'I wish I had you two over again. I'd use you different.' "
Drafted by the Detroit Pistons but forsaking an NBA career, Smart remains one of the UW's most accomplished players. He ranks as the UW's career leader in rebounds with 1,051 (13.5 per game), a record that soon will be broken by Jon Brockman, and 10th-best scorer with 1,478 points (18.9).
Smart, 72, lives on Orcas Island with his wife, Jeri, and they have two daughters and two grandchildren. They operate an equestrian guest ranch that has 14 Tennessee walking horses and offer riding opportunities, lessons and an overnight cabin ( http://www.walkinghorsefarm.com/). Smart also is a dentist, now working two days a week in Northgate.
He could have been taller, which might have made it easier to deal with Chamberlain. With a couple of more inches, he and Boin could have been matching bookends and near impossible to stop inside. He figures he made the smart move in becoming Doug Smart.
"I think 6-7 was just fine," he said. "You've got to live in the real world. They still make things for people much smaller than myself. Cars are smaller. Sofas are smaller. I can't imagine trying to lug around a bigger person than I do.
JUST GOT NEWS THAT MY DAD IS GOING IN FOR SERGERY..GOTTA RUN!
On a lighter note- The word REBOUND has deep meaning for our family. The legacy my dad has instilled in all of us is to be good REBOUNDERS! I must take a moment to reflect and celebrate my dad..this article was just in the Seattle PI on the 6th of January.
Where Are They Now? Doug Smart
UW basketball legend Doug Smart was almost the kid who grew too much
By DAN RALEYP-I REPORTER
Doug Smart's rapid growth as a teenager was caused by an overactive pituitary gland and it wasn't normal. He was 6 feet 3 as a ninth grader, with the potential to add up to 15 more inches in a hurry.
If unchecked, a doctor advised him, Smart would face dire consequences. To slow things, the kid took prescribed medication for six months.
"I would not only be a giant, I wouldn't have lived to be 30," he said. "It was intervention that was appropriate."
Smart was a basketball player who topped out at 6-7 and found great coordination once the spurt was over. He became a high school sensation at Garfield, averaging 26.7 points and leading the Bulldogs to the 1955 state championship as a senior and to a state runner-up finish to the Bruno Boin-led Franklin Quakers as a junior.
He chose Washington over Stanford in recruiting, but his reputation stretched well beyond the West Coast. He was offered the chance to see what a 7-foot basketball player looked like up close.
"I got a postcard from Kansas, from coach Phog Allen, that said with a little note, 'We've got Wilt (Chamberlain). Want to be his power forward?' " Smart recalled.
He ran into Chamberlain soon enough. In his fourth and fifth varsity games for the Huskies as a sophomore, Smart faced Kansas and "Wilt the Stilt" at Edmundson Pavilion.
In front of sold-out crowds, the outrageous Chamberlain dominated play while leading the Jayhawks to a pair of 14-point victories. He came up with 30 points and 16 rebounds one night, 37 and 28 the other.
Smart was 5 inches shorter but didn't wilt in the face of Wilt. He finished with a double-double both nights, supplying 33 points and 17 rebounds in the second game.
They exchanged friendly banter throughout the weekend. Chamberlain provided unforgettable memories, particularly on one blocked shot.
"He was well spoken and a gentleman, but he knew he owned the paint," Smart said. "He did funny things like if you scored on a little jump hook, you would be going down the court and he'd run past you and say, 'Don't try that again.' The next time down, of course, you'd just be screaming for the ball.
"It was the only time I had someone catch my shot with two hands and smile at me."
The next year, Smart played against Chamberlain at Kansas, scored eight quick points and had the Huskies in front 15-7. He lasted just six minutes before sitting down in questionable foul trouble in what became an 18-point loss.
"The crowd had gone real quiet, and then I got three of the quickest fouls that have ever been called," he said. "That was the worst I'd ever experienced."
For two years, Smart and the 6-9 Boin were teammates, giving the Huskies two career double-double players up front. These Tippy Dye-coached Huskies were advertised as the nation's tallest team. They were considered Pacific Coast Conference contenders for the 1958-59 season. They finished 18-8 and second to California, the eventual NCAA champion, and came away greatly disappointed.
"Had we been able to open it up a little more, I think Bruno and I could have worked better together," Smart said. "We had two big men in there with their fannies to the basket, and we were almost in each other's way. We tried very hard not to be, moving away when the other had the ball.
"Tippy said years later, 'I wish I had you two over again. I'd use you different.' "
Drafted by the Detroit Pistons but forsaking an NBA career, Smart remains one of the UW's most accomplished players. He ranks as the UW's career leader in rebounds with 1,051 (13.5 per game), a record that soon will be broken by Jon Brockman, and 10th-best scorer with 1,478 points (18.9).
Smart, 72, lives on Orcas Island with his wife, Jeri, and they have two daughters and two grandchildren. They operate an equestrian guest ranch that has 14 Tennessee walking horses and offer riding opportunities, lessons and an overnight cabin ( http://www.walkinghorsefarm.com/). Smart also is a dentist, now working two days a week in Northgate.
He could have been taller, which might have made it easier to deal with Chamberlain. With a couple of more inches, he and Boin could have been matching bookends and near impossible to stop inside. He figures he made the smart move in becoming Doug Smart.
"I think 6-7 was just fine," he said. "You've got to live in the real world. They still make things for people much smaller than myself. Cars are smaller. Sofas are smaller. I can't imagine trying to lug around a bigger person than I do.
JUST GOT NEWS THAT MY DAD IS GOING IN FOR SERGERY..GOTTA RUN!
Friday, January 9, 2009
It was HUMBLE, but it was HOME!
What a way to start the new year. Last night my parents lost there home to a house fire. To say the least our family is in a state of shock and trying to process the news. It has been a day of many tears.... tears of both sadness and tears of pure gratitude. We are incredibly grateful that Grandma Jeri and Papa Doug and their dog (Cowboy) made it out in time. It all began when my dad was going to make dinner. He preheated the oven popped the lasagna in and turned to make a salad. Within moments as he turned back around, half the kitchen was already a blaze. Dad yelled to mom who was napping in a near by bedroom to call 911. She did as instructed then got the heck outside with the dog. Dad remained for a bit to try to put out the flames then soon realized that it was completely out of control. It is suspected to have been caused by a gas leek, do to the speed of which things ignited. As you can see from the picture below, it was a total lose. Our family would appreciate your prayers as we face a new season together. Thank you all so much for your phone calls, love and support already.Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy,
and where thieves do not break in and steal.
(Matthew 6:18-20)
Here is an article from the local Orcas Island News
At 5:41 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8, Orcas Island Fire & Rescue responded to a reported structure fire at 180 West Beach Road.
First on scene was Division Chief Patrick Shepler, who reported the structure fully involved and threatening a nearby barn. Eastsound Engine 21 arrived within nine minutes, just as a second alarm was called.
Westsound's Engine 22 and Water Tender were quickly on scene, followed by Orcas Engine 26 and Rosario's Engine 23. Firefighters aggressively attacked the fire while others gained access to the barn by prying boards from the south side. The interior crew used compressed air foam to stop the fire from entering the barn just as flames started scorching paint cans stored inside. In all, 27 fire and rescue members worked to extinguish the fire and the fire was declared under control at approximately 6:50 pm.
Firefighters remained on scene working for an additional 2.5 hours. The Auxiliary also responded with food for the fire crew and clothing for the residents who escaped unharmed but lost everything in the home, which was a total loss.
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/sanjuans/isj/news/37337829.html
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