Hey guys,
Just landed after a 19 hour day, flying from England to Norway to St. Johns. Last night in Mildenhall, I was paged by the clerk as we were checking in with a phone call from the states. Mom and Dad were involved in a serious car crash as they drove up highway 35 on their way through Tulsa OK for a conference. I was instructed to call home ASAP as my folks were in the hospital. I called my Mother in law with 3 minutes left on my calling card. In the three minutes I had left, I found out that my wife Teresa was up there at the hospital with her father and Mom and Dad were pretty banged up. Here is the email that I got from Mary, my mother in law on the situation.
“Mary has been discharged. She is very sore and black and blue with a bruised lung.
John developed 2 very large hematomas from the cumadon (SP??) he takes. Ron said the one on his neck was the size of a football!! They were giving him meds to reverse and the meds were working…they were shrinking. He had a laceration on the back of his head which required stitches, and he has a couple of cracked vertebrae’s in his neck. They think he will be in the hospital a couple of more days.
I guess the semi hit them from behind which threw them into a tail spin and into oncoming traffic, of which 2 other vehicles then hit them. The semi fled! But some lady took down the name of the trucking company and reported it to police.:)
I think they’ll be ok. Ron and Teresa went to see the car and collected all of their belongings. They are 2 very blessed people..It wasn’t their time!
God Bless
Mary”
I am blessed to say that my folks will walk away from this accident but there is another driver who may not. Please put all these people in your prayers tonight, I truly believe in the power of prayer and hopefully the other driver they hit will come out of Critical Condition.
I have to say to the world that my wife, her family, (Mother, Father and Sister and Brother/Wife) are a true blessing in my life and there is no way that I can ever repay them for the love that they show my family. They took off in a moments notice, flying up to Tulsa, renting a car and running right to the hospital to take care of my parents. For that, the loss of sleep I had last night was unjustified. I will keep you all updated on their conditions and thanks for the support. I can tell you this, call all of your family and friends that you love, tonight, and tell them that you love them, because sometimes you may never get another chance due to a freak accident!!
Semper Fi,
Taco
The SandGram 
October 23, 2006 at 4:08 am
I am so sorry to read about your parents. I’m glad they are doing well and hope your father will be home in a few days. I will keep them in my prayers.
Edith
October 23, 2006 at 5:02 am
YOU ARE SO RIGHT, LOVE WHO HAVE NOW ,YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU LOSE THEM.I HAD A GIRL WRITE TO ME WHEN I WAS IN NAM, CAME HOME AND STARTED DATING HER.TWO WEEKS LATER SHE WAS KILLED BY A DRUNK DRIVER AT 8.A.M ON HER WAY TO HER FIRST JOB INTERVIEW.THANK GOD YOUR PARENTS ARE O.K’
BIG BRO JIM I
October 23, 2006 at 6:43 am
Taco, thank God that your parents are okay. To have your sweet daughters lose them both at the same time to boot would be a nightmare nobody wants to contemplate. Hopefully they will get all the TLC they deserve as they recover. Your wife and her family are the greatest to begin with and continue to be great. You are a lucky man. I will pray for the driver that continues to be in big trouble and for that family, as well as for yours and our huge family-the troops.
October 23, 2006 at 7:59 am
Hey Taco,
Got ’em in our prayers.
October 23, 2006 at 10:54 am
Prayers on the way…..for all of you.
(((HUGS)))
October 23, 2006 at 1:14 pm
Taco,
Thanks for the update. I, too, am happy to hear that your parents survived what sounds to be a horrible accident. They are such amazing people. Keep us posted as you can on their progress.
Mama Taco, is you read this you know how to get in touch with me if there is ANYTHING I can do for the 2 of you. I know you have great support and help now from the fabulous in laws! But know your whole “team” is here for you too!!!
Hugs to you and John.
October 23, 2006 at 1:27 pm
Taco….
When things settle down a bit, please let us know if there’s an addy we can send cards, etc. to them.
They’ve rallied around the troops… time for us to rally around them!
October 23, 2006 at 2:25 pm
Thanks for the update…they are in our prayers!
October 23, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Taco, I am sorry about your parents and the accident. It’s scary to think of losing someone and I am so glad they will be okay. They will be in my prayers as will all involved.
October 23, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Words cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am to hear about your parents. I will most certainly be keeping you all nearby in my thoughts and prayers. Please let your folks know that I am thinking of them and I’ve got a BIG HUG waiting for them the next time I see them. Please let me know if there is anything at all that I can do.
October 23, 2006 at 4:06 pm
Teresa’s family is INCREDIBLE. Absolutely incredible. You are indeed very lucky, Taco. Thanks for the update on their injuries. Prayers will continue to go out for your parents and now for the other driver as well. Make sure your parents know that we are all pulling for a swift and full recovery, ok?
It’s ironic- I wrote a post last week about the support network needed to facilitate recovery from traumatic injuries and illnesses. One of the people I quoted had just seen her sister give birth to a 9 pound baby. She said that it’s hard to see someone you love in so much pain and not be able to help ease that pain. It’s so true.
I concluded with the thought that recovery is 50/50= 50% up to the patient, and 50% up to their support network. Judging by that… I think your parents are gonna be just fine. Hang in there, and go get some trucker ass when you get home.
October 23, 2006 at 4:14 pm
Hugs and prayers for Taco Mamma and Danang68. I second mrs455’s motion for an addy – send it to us via email.
October 23, 2006 at 4:16 pm
I’m so sorry to hear this. They’re in my prayers.
October 23, 2006 at 4:37 pm
MAJ Bell,
All my Thought’s and Prayers go out to your Parents.
You All Take care.
October 23, 2006 at 5:00 pm
Thank you for posting the update. I’ll keep the other driver in my prayers today. I also hope that they will catch the a@@ who caused the accident and left. You have an amazing family. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do.
October 23, 2006 at 5:59 pm
Taco,
Your entire family and the other drivers are in my prayers. You and your clan are special.
Best wishes,
Marlene
October 23, 2006 at 6:26 pm
You, your family, and the other victims of this accident are in my thoughts and prayers.
October 23, 2006 at 7:50 pm
Major Taco please know that prayers are on the way for your family and others involved in this tragedy. You have a special family for sure…..
October 23, 2006 at 8:37 pm
Hi Taco,
You know if prayers, good thoughts and well wishes are all your folks need to recover, then they are well on their way because all of that and more is coming from all of us. Years ago, I was involved in a semi-tractor accident along with my husband and infant daughter. The truck actually hit us a couple times and we rolled a couple times and ended upside down. The Lord was with us but wasn’t ready for us to join him because there wasn’t a drop of our blood shed but you should have seen the car. For whatever reason, my husband was holding our daughter but had she been in her car seat where she belonged, she would have been killed. So keep the faith, my friend and don’t leave home with only 3 minutes on your calling card again! ~Judy~
October 23, 2006 at 9:11 pm
Another one with more prayers on the way and a request for a card addy. You truly are blessed Taco, with terrific parents, wonderful wife, great in-laws, and gorgeous kids. A lucky man indeed.
October 23, 2006 at 10:08 pm
Taco
Glad to hear your mom’s ok and that dad will be ok as well. Hugs and prayers for all of you. Prayers for the other driver as well.
With out a doubt Taco, you and your family are truly blessed.
P.S. ‘cumadon’ is most likely coumadin – it’s an anticoagulant, or blood thinner. 🙂
October 23, 2006 at 11:22 pm
Hey guys,
Good news, Dad was released from the hospital today and just talked to everyone, they flew back from Tulsa and heading to the TX home to recoup. I’m on my way home Tuesday. Thanks for all your Prayers!!! You guys rock!!!
S/F
Taco
October 24, 2006 at 12:31 am
Good to hear the good news about your Dad!…all our best wishes for a speedy recovery and few aches for them both…and that card address if possible…
Glad you are heading home!
October 24, 2006 at 12:48 am
So sorry to hear about the accident…keeping them in my prayers….What wonderful in-laws you have…
October 24, 2006 at 3:43 am
EXCELLENT news about your Mom and Dad. Thanks for giving us the “I’m grinning from ear to ear” update!
Safe flight back home to them and those other lovely and supportive people in your life!
October 24, 2006 at 1:22 pm
Continued prayers for a complete and speedy recovery.
I gotta say that must be some kind of structurally sound vehicle your folks were in.
It sure took a pounding and protected them.
October 24, 2006 at 2:15 pm
I’m so happy to hear that your parents will be okay. You will all be in my prayers.
October 24, 2006 at 2:22 pm
Thanks for the update Taco. The power of prayer, it is a wonderful thing. Speedy recovery to all and God bless.
October 24, 2006 at 5:19 pm
Happy for your good news! Glad you have such great people in your family! Hugs for all and that’s very true about never knowing and letting the people you care about know how much they mean to you!
October 24, 2006 at 7:09 pm
I am sorry to hear about your parents. I am glad that they are doing better. I will keep you and your family in my prayers always. I agree with you, you must love your loved ones today, because tomorrow may not come.
October 25, 2006 at 12:51 am
Taco,
I am so glad your parents are doing good. I will also keep everyone in my prayers. As they have a wonderful son (You). You are right there is something so powerful about prayers. Soldiers are always the first and the last in mine, rarely do i pray for myself. Thank You very much for everything you have done and to an awesome family you have
October 25, 2006 at 1:59 am
Thank you God!
Semper gratus,
Donna
October 25, 2006 at 2:18 am
Taco,
You, your family and all involved have been in my prayers. I’ll keep them there and I am very happy that they seem to be on the mend. You have a wonderful family, extended as well.
October 25, 2006 at 2:42 am
Having lost my parents suddenly in a car accident, I know how you must have felt hearing this news. Thank God they’re likely to be fine.
Love your family as though this was their last day on earth…or yours!
October 25, 2006 at 5:37 pm
Update on the folks,
They are home at their vacation home in TX right around the corner from us. Just spent the morning with them and they are doing great for the experience they had!! Lots of black and blue but thank God for seatbelts. Thanks for all of your awesome letters of support.
S/F
Taco
October 25, 2006 at 6:47 pm
Don’t always speak up, but have read your postings all the way back to the sand M-B. Bless Taco’s Mama (and Papa) and others now in need, and their families; standing with you in this prayer.
October 26, 2006 at 12:54 am
TACO–so glad to hear they are doing ok…they had Angels watching over them for sure!
October 26, 2006 at 5:07 pm
YAY!
I’m SO glad you finally got to see them in person, Taco. That must be a huge relief.
Any word yet on the rogue trucker?
October 27, 2006 at 4:58 pm
Hi everyone,
It makes me want to cry every time I come on this comment section and read what you have written about us and about our accident. Thank you! I have written to those of you that I have your emails, but to those of you that I do not know,I appreciate all your caring and your prayers.
As of today, no word on either the critically injured driver or the trucker. We are still praying that the trucker will come forward and that the other man recovers.
I have the shakes today and suppose the reality of it all is starting to set in. From everything we have heard, it is nothing short of a miracle that Danang68 and I are alive, much less able to move around although he has not been doing well all week and Taco just left to take him to the doctor.
Again, our thanks to all of you! What an awesome group of supporters.
Hugs from both of us!
October 27, 2006 at 7:26 pm
holding your parents and everyone involved in the accident in my prayers… safe travels home to you, too, taco!
and thanks especially for the reminder to tell those we love, that we do. i needed that reminder today :}
semper fi!
October 28, 2006 at 12:17 am
Mama Taco,good to hear from you. Keeping y’all in my prayers and hope you will recover soonest. Take it slow and steady now,glad TACO is with you.
October 28, 2006 at 6:06 am
Mama Taco, I am glad Taco is with you, too. It had to be a helpless feeling for him so far away when this happened. Hope both of you continue to improve.
October 29, 2006 at 2:10 am
Glad to read all is okay, my prayers for your mom and dad’s continued recovery and for the other driver to recover as well.
October 29, 2006 at 4:50 am
OMG! What a scare! Glad to hear Mama and Papa Taco are home and on the mend. You are all in our prayers as is the critically injured driver. Mama, my Mom was hit by a lumber truck that ran a red light and dragged her car for a block and a half. When my Dad saw the car he told the cop there was no way his wife survived. Well, she did and recovered to raise her children to adulthood. It will take a little while for you and Papa to fully recover but you’ll get there. If you still drive you need to get behind the wheel right away so your fears don’t paralyze you. God bless the entire Bell family.
October 30, 2006 at 10:32 pm
You, your parents and the rest of your family are in our prayers and thoughts.
October 31, 2006 at 2:39 am
Hi everyone,
We got wonderful news today after Taco finally tracked down the State Trooper! Apparently we were given erroneous information at the time of the accident and the other driver was not in critical condition although he was medivaced out. He had to have stitches in his head and was released that night. After all the prayers that have been coming his way, that gentleman must feel wonderful now!!
We continue to heal day by day although Taco’s Dad has been treated for an infection in his leg that apparently collided with the steering column. We just can not thank everyone ENOUGH for all your wonderful comments, prayers, and well-wishes. They do mean a lot to the entire family.
We have received discouraging word concerning the trucker. Without more hard evidence, there’s little chance of finding the truck. It seems that unscrupulous truckers can literally get by with these little stunts with immunity in most cases!!