It started with a Crash.

It started with a Crash

By Angie Martini Martin

It began with a crash, literally. My husband Richard and I were on our way to Wal-Mart at 11pm on June 9, 1999. I was around 34 weeks pregnant with our first child, we had already decided his name was going to be Jacob Joel, thanks to my Grandfather that came to me in a dream right after I found out I was having a boy. We had decided to take the Grand Am instead of the Tracker, thank goodness. I was driving because Richard’s license was suspended at the time.

We were on way from our apartment traveling on a main road when out of nowhere a car had decided to turn left in front of us. I slammed the brakes, but could not stop. We went crashing into the older Ford Explorer. The air bags had inflated and I think I was started at first. There was smoke inside our vehicle. I remember feeling dazed and scared. Richard opened the passenger side door but my door was stuck. He realized the locks were engaged because the car was in Drive. He put the car in park and reached over and turned off the car, he asked if I was alright. I responded, yes I think so.

He got out of the car and I climbed into the passenger seat. I was sitting in the car with the door open. I don’t know who called the police and the ambulance but I remember them being there I started to get out of the car. The other driver, a 16- year old kid, came running over, Are you guys, Okay? Is anyone hurt? Richard stated he was fine, and he thought I was okay. I remember the EMT asking me if I was alright and made the recommendation to take me to the Hospital to be checked out and asked which one I would like to go to? I responded Jewish Hospital in Kenwood.

I don’t remember the ride to the Hospital, I was in and out of consciousness. I remember the Emergency technicians hooking me out to machines and monitors. I got stitches for a cut that I got from the air bag. I remember my husband being in the room with me holding my hand. He never left my side except to get food or go to the bathroom. They kept me overnight for observation.

The next day after The Doctor checked me out and everything seemed fine except I was sore. And my poor husband who slept in a chair all night was sore too. The nurse came into the room shortly after that and let me know that I was being released. I grabbed my clothes and headed into the bathroom to change when I suddenly peed everywhere. The nurse called be back to explain my water broke and I was having a baby.

Unfortunately my OB Doctor did not have rights at that hospital so in order to give birth I had to go to a different hospital. My husband called a friend of ours, Sue. She picked him up from Jewish Hospital and took him to our apartment where he changed clothes.. Checked on my Grandmother who was living with us at the time. And came back to take me to Bethesda North Hospital. The contractions had started but they were far apart.

We got to the hospital, Jewish hospital had contacted Bethesda and my Doctor to let them know , we were en route. When we got there, they quickly got me checked in and put in a Suite where I changed back into another hospital gown. 

My Mother and Grandmother showed up after I had gotten settled and it took all day and still I had not dilated enough to give birth. The contractions were still far apart. Around 11pm my Mother and Grandmother left because I still was not dilated enough and it was going so slow.  

I remember waking up in the middle of the night I was hot and I do mean hot. My husband who had stayed by my side this whole time suggested we call the nurse. She took my temperature and got permission from the Doctor to give me Tylenol. About an hour later, we checked my temperature again and it had shot up to 105 degrees.  

The baby was obviously distressed and moving around. They brought a portable ultra sound machine into the room and his heart beat had changed.  

Immediately, they started prepping me for an emergency C-Section.  

I was loopy and didn’t recall much from this point. My Husband filled in the gaps for me. He said they asked him if they had to save one of us which one would he like the Doctor to save? He replied the baby. We had discussed this one night and that was my wishes.

He stayed by my side through the C-Section I remember them tugging and pulling as they attempted to extract him out the surgical cut. He was very small and blue when they pulled him out. I feared the worse but I heard the Doctor explain the Pipes work, because my son peed on him. I was worried because I did not hear him cry. They quickly put a breathing tube on him and put him into a clear plastic box. I was able to touch him through that but I did not get hold him.

I remember them ushering my son and my husband out of the room. They did tell him he was a boy. The finished sewing me back up and I woke up in recovery. They allowed my husband to help me into a wheel chair and wheel me down to the Neo Netal unit where I got to see Jacob for the first time. He was 5 lbs and 11 oz and 19 inches long.

His nurse updated me on his condition, and we got to put our hands into the box and hold his little hand and talk to him. It was 5am on June 11th. He took me back to the room.  

Jacob left the hospital two weeks later after the Nurse and I had words about Nurses not feeding him before I got to the hospital. I was there every 4 hours to feed my baby.  

He grew so fast too. I remember I was very protective and pick about my first baby. The first time I went My Husband’s families house was a 4th of July party and there were alot of people there. His family is so big. He is the youngest of 6 children. I knew none of them. Before I knew it, everyone wanted to hold Jacob, my husband assured me I had nothing to worry about. For two hours I could not find my child I was frantic and crying. He and his sister Gail calmed me down and, he went and found Jacob. I was happy. He was only 6 weeks old and I was afraid to let him out of my sight. I used to watch him sleep. I would wake up every couple of hours to check on him.  

After Jacob, we had two more children and I consider myself a good parent. But I did learn as you get more children that I was a bit obsessive with my son in the beginning. He would have been just fine, if I had not watched him like a hawk.