Cathie Adams and her husband, Homer, were headed for Galveston on 12/21/2007 when they were hit by a drunk driver. Cathie was seriously injured and careflighted to Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
She had successful surgery on her lumbar spine and is now at home recuperating as of 12/31/2007.
Cathie and Homer Adams

Cathie Ventures Out

Dear Friends,

It's been a couple of weeks since the last post and Cathie's progress is very good.  We have a lot of PTL's. 

We attended 3 Lincoln Day Dinners in 10 days and our precinct meeting.  All within a 30-45 minutes drive.  Cathie was well received and many were amazed at how well she was doing.  Frankly, we are amazed ourselves at God's Handiwork. 

She is working out 2 times a week with a nurse personal trainer, getting stronger each time and less recovery is needed.  She is on the treadmill for 30 minutes at 3 MPH before or after the personal trainer.  She walks at a brisk rate for 1.5 miles, WITHOUT a brace.  When she travels in the car or in crowded areas she uses her "turtle" heavy-duty brace as a precaution.  She is trying to transition to a lighter brace for public areas.  Standing for long periods does push her limits, ie at our precinct meeting we had no chairs.

Today is her first out of town travel and meeting for her National Committeewoman Race, which is voted on by delegates to the Texas State Republican Convention in June.   This trip is a 2 1/2 hour one way trip to Henderson, Texas.  She will be accompanied and hopes to return tonight.  As the Lord directs she is going to increase her activities.

We praise God for all of you and thank you.  If you see her out there let her know that you were one of those who prayed for her.  She gets so encouraged and is humbled when she meets or hears from you. 

Request for prayer:  Continued restoration and endurance, travel safety, good relationships established and most importantly that "The Joy of the Lord, is her Strength".

God Bless You,
Homer 

Posted by Homer Adams at 3/10/2008 9:12 AM | View Comments (3) | Add Comment

"You Are One Very Lucky Lady", Cathie had Post-Operative visit Jan 17th

Dear Friends,

Cathie had her first time out of the house, by auto, to visit her 2 neurosurgeons.

The main neurosurgeon remarked time after time on the MRI pictures, "you are one very lucky lady".  Cathie received a 75% crush of the 1st lumbar and multiple fractures of the remaining bone with a 7 mm bone displacement into the spinal cord, which can cause paralysis.   We remarked to the doctor that her ribcage was still quite painful.  A CAT scan of the thoracic spine revealed multiple fractures of the ribcage, 8 left ribs and 5 right ribs with a fractured sternum (breastplate) and an area we need in investigate, which we found out today.  I was waiting for this CAT report before sending out the information.  

The doctors were pleased with the surgical aspects.  Amazed, at the reduction of the hard narcotics, which they thought would be at least another month.  She uses darvocet every 4 hours for pain.  We are praying the darvocet can be reduced over the next month or have an extended time between doses by using an over the counter (OTC), like advil or alieve.  All these medications have their own side effects.  We still need your prayers for protection.

The doctors said it would be another month before rehab could start.  Cathie can extend her sitting up and walking, depending on pain.  She is not to bend, lift, twist, strain, and absolutely no travel until we see the doctors on Valentines Day.

She can, however, go to town on the computer and talk on the phone.  We went out to eat at a nearby establishment and enjoyed the time.  She was very tired, but it felt good to get out of the house.  I have breakfast, lunch, and dinner with her and we discuss the details of the day.

She and Marilyn are working hard to complete the primary voter's guide for Texas Representatives and Senators.  Yes, that's right, she is fired up about getting folks the information they need for an informed voter decision.  She is making and receiving calls, if she is not resting.

The broken body is not going to keep her from her appointed rounds, other than travel.  Your prayers and encouragements have been FANTASTIC.  Marilyn is here most of the day with her, making sure she is behaving and I call several times a day.  I can tell by her breathing and voice when she is overdoing.  It is so hard for her to have the mind and heart to GO, but the body weak.  We know when we are weak the Lord is strong.

I explained to our Sunday School Class, that we had been talking about spiritual warfare minutes before the accident when a drunk rammed our car.  We saw the Lord's Hand move a millimeter this way, a millisecond that way to spare us and provide for us.  NOT that we deserved His Grace, we didn't.  We don't deserve all the prayers, emails, gifts, cards, and visits, but He is the one who gave us, His Faithful Servants with His Love, to share with us in our need.  He stepped in and saved us.  He gave us the many "you are one very luck lady" comments to know, and to show, that He is at work, in us, to His good pleasure.  We pray that as you look around, you will see He is at work in you.  If you are IN HIM, He is IN YOU. We pray for you and thank you for being used to His Glory.
In Him,
Homer
 

Posted by Homer Adams at 1/22/2008 9:55 PM | View Comments (4) | Add Comment

Personal note from Cathie 01/15/08. Praises for Transition from Narcotics

PTL.  No morphine and no hydrocodone, as Cathie has transitioned to darvocet.  Cathie feels more pain in some area's, but overall progress.  Very happy to be off the narcotics.

She is sitting up, standing, and walking longer.  To be sure, not comfortable.  She has started doing some limited work on the computer.  Here is a short note from Cathie to you.

Thank you, dear friends, for your prayers and for your concern.

I'm able to sit at my computer for stints and can walk around my home. The post-op with the surgeon is on Thurs., Jan. 17th. The down side of moving away from the morphine is that now I feel pain that I've not felt before. But even that is improving. I hope to get a time line during my doctor's visit and frankly believe it will be longer than I wished. I've been in the car only once to come home from the hospital and it was most uncomfortable, even wearing my back brace. I can't imagine driving yet.

I've been warned by many that if I try to push recovery, I will cause a reverse and that's NOT where I want to go. I'm most eager to trust and obey Jesus and those He puts in authority over me so that I can be soaring like an eagle in a few months.

The UP side to being slowed down by God's sovereign hand is to acknowledge how much I appreciate and eagerly anticipate ALL that He desires to accomplish in and through each of us who call upon Jesus' Name. He is coming back soon!
Blessings,
Cathie



Posted by Homer Adams at 1/14/2008 9:43 PM | View Comments (6) | Add Comment

Cathie Update 01/09/2008 Glorious Birthday and Pain Breakthrough

Cathie had a Glorious Birthday and Pain Breakthrough.  

The Lord Blessed in so many ways.  Your encouragements was magnificent, dramatic, and effective.  I can't thank you or the Lord enough.  Praise Him From Whom All Blessings Flow.

I almost, no, I did get giddy!  My entire being jumped with joy! 
 
Hundreds of emails and greetings where sent.  Thank you!!!  Cathie is so encouraged by the outpouring of your response, she wants to responded to each as time allows.   She has a limited time of energy and sitting.  I will help, as needed, but she is pretty intent on thanking you personally.  She has started on Thank You notes from hospital flowers, gifts, visits, and prayer responses.

Yesterday was a major breakthrough day for her.  The Lord Blessed, through you, with the encouraging emails, notes, cards, deliveries of gardenia and azalea plants (which she plans on planting around our back patio to remember the Lord's Blessings), beautiful cut flowers, a wonderful box of dark chocolate covered beautiful strawberries, delivery of a beautiful basket of pears, a basket of special cheese, crackers and a bottle of wine.

She greeted a couple of special friends at the door, who come by with a La Madeleine lunch to share with her.  It was short, but nice for her.  She crashed for an hour or so afterwards, but was refreshed.  Don't be surprised if she answers the door looking like she is ready to go, as if nothing happened.  She is anticipating the Lords continued work, but knows the fractures will continue to take time to recover.  

Additional, very special Blessings from the Lord were received.  He delivered her from the need of Morphine.  She has been off for the last 24 hours.  She was on 30 mg every 12 hours.  The pain has reduced considerably.  She can't wait to get off the other short term narcotic.

She sleep very sound for 12 hours last night.  She only got up twice for the short term pain help.  She is able to sit up a bit longer today.

God is so Good.  His Faithful---You, are so Good.  Thank you.  

Your continued prayers for maneuvering through the medication changes, fatigue, pain reduction, and now, Cathie overdoing are the specific prayers.

In His Hands,
Homer

Posted by Homer Adams at 1/9/2008 10:54 AM | View Comments (15) | Add Comment

Cathie Update 01/01/2008

Cathie Update 01/01/2008

Your prayers were and continue to be a blessing to us.  We literally feel the power of your prayers being lifted up and the Lord answering.  He was not fretting or wringing His hands.  He has a plan.

I kept hearing this song and others throughout today in my head.  It’s wonderful to be in a rich musical and teaching environment at our church where He is lifted up and our hearts join together in Worship and Word.  I’m preachy today, I know, but I can’t help it.  Jesus Christ is Lord.

Our God is an Awesome God!  He Reigns From Heaven Above With Wisdom, Power and Love.  Our God is an Awesome God!

For believer's to pause for Cathie and I, to pray, is very humbling.  There is no way we can express our gratitude to you apart from thanking the Lord for His Faithful and asking Him to bestow greater blessings upon each of you as you pray.  I know that is asking a lot of Him, but He is boundless in His love and caring for each of us.

Cathie and I have had a full 24 hours at home.  She is resting nicely tonight as I write and things are quiet.  Thank you Lord.

This morning I was able to help her with her shower and get dressed, make some breakfast, get her medications, which is about every 4 hours, 24/7, and put something in the oven for lunch and dinner, as she observed---it was so nice having her there, lovingly help me with this ingredient, that vegetable to add, don’t do that, and she added the salt and pepper to taste.

You should know she cooks by her nose and eyes first, then taste---she is a wonderful cook.  It has to LOOK and SMELL good, and then at the end a little taste to see if a touch more of salt/pepper or something is needed to finish it off.  It always turns out great.  The Lord had prepared me for this time by having me help her cook many times in the kitchen preparing for family meals.  Of course, I’m not used to being the head of the cooking department, but more the gopher and stir type.  Today it turned out well.

Cathie did throw-up, a while later---not due to the cooking, but by the medications which caused a problem.  It really hurt her broken rib and back, at the time, but she felt much better and recovered very nicely.  Thank you Lord.  We are praying for that to settle down.

We know the Lord preserved us for a special plan, which He has set us aside to do.  Although Cathie and I live that way every day, there is no doubt He has made us acutely aware of looking to Him moment by moment.  He is sustaining our steps now and He will direct our future steps.  He knows where we are going.  We need to follow.  We are not to get in front nor be found lacking when His timing is revealed.

The orders for now are---Rest (be still) and Know that I Am---God.

Thank you for your prayers, thoughts, cards, and emails.

In Him,
Homer


Posted by Homer Adams at 1/2/2008 1:26 PM | View Comments (32) | Add Comment

Cathie Update 12/29/2007

12/29/07 Update on Cathie

It has been comforting to us to receive your emails, flowers, visits, and telephone calls.

I read each email to Cathie, tell her who called, show each flower when she is having good moments and sometimes not so good to help take her mind off of the pain.

What you do reminds me of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4  “and the God of all comfort, who comforted us in our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

Cathie has been up more today.  Walking much more, but very stiff, sore, painful, and runs out of energy pretty quickly, but getting better.  Her surgery continues to show success.  Tonight we are praying for a better night of sleep.

We started a medication transition today and I was very happy the way she was able to walk.  We went 200-300 feet each time for quite a few trips.  When she gets bored of being on her back, we take a walk.  As we walked today the overall spine showed improvement.  She no longer needs to be on oxygen and her lungs are improving.

They took an x-ray today to see how the surgery is doing after Cathie has been up on it a few times.  We believe everything is going fine given her progress.

Overall we continue to see improvement.  Just like an old song I just remembered, “One Step at a Time Sweet Jesus.”

We thank you for your prayers.

May the Lord richly bless you!

Thank you,
Homer


Posted by Homer Adams at 1/2/2008 1:16 PM | View Comments (4) | Add Comment

Great News on Cathie


We feel very special and humbled by so many of you interceding and praying for us. You reached out all across Texas, America, Israel, Columbia, and other parts of the world. The Lord heard and the Lord answered magnificently---supernaturally---wonderfully.

The Lord already had in position the right answers, instruments, and blessings, which can only come from above. The Lord provided the right specialize doctors, with eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts that serve Him. Cathie had just the right injury. What I’m saying is, what an Awesome God!

Cathie has responded very well to the surgery. She was able to get up today, walk to the bathroom, take a shower, sit up at the edge of the bed and eat breakfast and fix her hair. The pain medication is lasting 6 hours instead of 3, and the pain level is greatly reduced to half or more and continues to subside.

They drilled 2 holes into her spine and into the fractured 1st lumbar vertebral body. Deadened some of the nerves of the crushed bone, inserted 2 balloons, filled them with cement, under pressure, to pump up/jack up between the vertebra above and below taking the pressure on the injured bone. The cement hardens inside the balloons very quickly as hard or harder than bone itself. It has worked beautifully. No brace needed, the fragments into the spinal canal where reduced and no longer under pressure. Soft tissue needs to heal. We looking forward to a full recovery in the Lord’s timing and plan

She is tired but praising the Lord for His protection, intervention, provisions, and healing. It is a true answer to prayer, thank you.

Yesterday before surgery and the night before, it was as if we were worshiping for us to read the many prayers, encouragements, and thoughts written back to us. It uplifted us to hear so many who responded, we are with you and our prayer group also. We can't begin to tell you how much it meant to us having you join with us. May you be blessed over and over for your kindness and love expressed.

To Him be the Glory, and Power, Forever!
Homer
972-523-1479

Posted by Homer Adams at 12/29/2007 10:04 PM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment

The Lord has spared our lives. There can be no other explanation.

Dear Precious Friends,

Many of you have heard but many haven't.

Cathie and I were involved in a very severe car accident on Friday night around 10pm. The Lord has spared our lives. There can be no other explanation.

A hit and run, drunk driver driving a double cab or extended cab truck, around a 100 mph or so weaving in and out of traffic. A policeman was chasing him. We never saw him or the police. He hit the right guardrail, over-corrected and slammed into Cathie's door, pushing it in 12 or so inches of our E320 Mercedes. All we saw was a flash of white and what sounded like a huge wrecking ball hit our car. It knocked us off I-45.

When I looked up there were bridge pillar's in front of us that I didn't want to mess with so I took the soggy grassy median between the bridges, barely controlling the car enough to miss the bumper to bumper head on traffic by about 5 feet. I straightened out and then found out why the bridges where there. No water, but an overflow ditch about 25 feet down.

We flew over the edge about 4-car length and did a nosedive of 25 feet or so into the dirt. The motor dropped out, airbags deployed, seatbelts restrained, and the frame did what it needed to do. When we hit the ground, Cathie crushed her 1st lumbar vertebra, right 6th rib fracture, right ankle sprained, and glass in the face from the side window. The Lord spared me from major injuries so I could help her out of the car, get help, and see her through this time of recovery.

I was able to pry her door open and she moved over to a concrete slope and lay down with her arms up. She could only take very shallow rapid breaths.

I checked her eyes for head injury, bleeding, things sticking out where they don't belong. I knew she had fractured ribs and/or fractures of the spine. I placed my hands on her and ask the Lord to spare her. I had to find help up the embankment and about 150 or so feet to get to traffic.
I
ran back and forth 5 or 6 times before help finally arrived. It took over 30 minutes. When you are in a place where only God can see you, it's nice having a relationship with Him you could trust.

They took us to Huntsville, Texas hospital. We where there @ 3am, had x-rays showing the fractures and admitted until we could get a CAT scan.

The ER doctor claimed it was an old fracture. I told him no way. The next day it took them 9 hours to read the CAT. We finally got the report around 9:30pm or so. The doctor wanted to ambulance Cathie to Houston for a neurosurgeons evaluation. I wasn't going to keep Cathie their a minute longer if I could help it. I called a friend in Dallas, a neurosurgeon I'd worked with for over 20 years. He picked up his phone personally at 10:30pm. He told me to Care-Flight Cathie to Dallas. He would make arrangements for them to call me. Care-Flight left within the hour and landed by fixed wing airplane with 3 EMS and pilot. I ask them what I needed to do and they said nothing, we will met you at your room and will take you to Presbyterian Dallas ER. They worked out the transfers from the doctors, hospitals, and ambulances to and from both hospitals and the flight. They were real pro's.

Dr. Williams was waiting at the ER when we arrived at 3am. We had an MRI, blood work, x-rays and a private room with comfortable pain medications within a few hours. Not to complain but Huntsville couldn't give the Care-Flight people copies of records or CAT or x-rays because they didn't have someone to transfer information to a CD.

We have been on dilaudid; a pain med 5X's stronger than morphine every 3 hours for 5 days.

Cathie has gotten up a few times and taken a shower--so she feels better and smells like a lady, but the pain level when she moves is an 8 with peak meds. That would have to continue for a long time--months and months, which risks addiction, and the spinal bone would probably not heal with good stability.

Bottom line, Cathie is having "stand-by" surgery, tomorrow morning, to place a couple of balloons into the vertebral space, fill them with cement to raise and fill the space as much as possible taking the pressure off of the fractured pieces, therefore giving some relief from pain, a quicker recovery, and less disability. We may be able to go home in 3-5 days, barring complications.

Cathie told the doctors she has work to do and needs to get with it. She has grandchildren to enjoy, politicians and issues to work with, and needs to get back in the saddle as quickly as possible.

Pray for the surgery tomorrow. One complication that can occur beyond the normal paralysis, death, surgical complications, is if the cement goes into the spinal canal, which is rare, they will need to do open back surgery and uses rods, screws, bolts, plates, etc.

The Lord has sustained us and will continue with us to His glory, honor, and praise.

Merry Christmas to you and your family, and if you have a moment, lift Cathie up to the Lord.

God Bless you and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Homer Adams

Corrected information: On 01/15/2008, after receiving an official police report, it was a sedan, traveling at excessive speed, instead of a truck--Cathie nor I saw anything but a flash.  He apparently, hit us first, then the guardrail.  Estimated drop was approximately 15 feet.  The original information was given to me by several officers and EMS at the time of the accident, but not the investigative officer.  The man was arrested for DWI, in the next county, refused testing and a court ordered blood sample was taken 4 1/2 hours later--test results pending.  Charges of vehicular assault and fleeing the scene, each a felony were filed in the county of the accident.

Posted by Homer Adams at 12/28/2007 10:02 PM | Add Comment

Conservative activist Cathie Adams hurt in highway crash

Vehicle she was in was hit by driver who may have been drunk

08:40 AM CST on Friday, December 28, 2007

By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News
choppe@dallasnews.com

AUSTIN – One of Texas' leading social-conservative activists was badly injured in a holiday crash, apparently involving a drunken driver.

Cathie Adams and her husband, Homer, of Dallas were headed for Galveston last weekend when the other driver, being pursued by a sheriff's deputy on Interstate 45, slammed into the passenger side of their Mercedes-Benz and shoved them onto the median – inches away from oncoming traffic.

Her husband, who was driving, managed to avoid a bridge abutment, but the car sailed into a concrete drainage ditch, plunging 25 feet and landing with a force that knocked the engine from the car.

Ms. Adams, the longtime head of the Texas Eagle Forum, suffered a crushed vertebra and a fractured rib. She was transferred from Huntsville to Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas on Saturday. She had surgery Thursday to relieve pressure on her vertebrae, and her husband said doctors deemed it a success.

"At this stage, we're very hopeful," said Dr. Adams, a chiropractor. He said that his wife expects to make a full recovery.

News of the accident spread quickly after Dr. Adams sent out an e-mail to followers, colleagues and friends of the social conservative leader.

"Cathie told the doctors she has work to do and needs to get with it. She has grandchildren to enjoy, politicians and issues to work with and needs to get back in the saddle as quickly as possible," he stated in the e-mail.

Ms. Adams has been at the forefront of contentious issues in Texas, including opposition to abortion, embryonic stem cell research, a mandatory human papillomavirus vaccine for schoolgirls, and efforts to expand gambling.

"Cathie Adams has been a voice in conservative politics for years and we hope that her voice continues to be heard for years to come," Gov. Rick Perry said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family."

Dr. Adams said Thursday that he was "beat up but doing pretty good."

The truck that hit them had been weaving in and out of traffic, pursued by a Walker County sheriff's deputy, Dr. Adams said.

After they were knocked into the embankment, he managed to free his wife from the car and clamber up to the side of the road to wave down help and get calls out to 911. The deputy who had been giving chase received the call and returned to the site.

Dr. Adams said that he has subsequently learned that a Montgomery County sheriff's deputy spotted the large pickup that hit their car. The truck was clocked going 114 mph and was evidently damaged. Further inspection found that part of the Adams' car was embedded in its side.

A Montgomery County sheriff's official could not be reached for comment, but Dr. Adams said he has been informed that charges are pending against the driver, including DWI, vehicular assault and leaving the scene of an accident.

Posted by Homer Adams at 12/27/2007 10:00 PM | View Comments (6) | Add Comment
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