Story from http://www.wbir.com
Critically-injured state trooper Sgt. Lowell Russell remained in critical condition Wednesday afternoon at UT Medical Center. Tuesday's violent crash on I-40 fractured two vertebrae, broke eight ribs, and fractured Russell's skull.
Despite a multitude of broken bones and serious medical conditions, Russell gave friends, family, and the state's top official a big sign of encouragement Wednesday.
"Governor Haslam came in to pay a visit to Sergeant Russell. Out of the blue, he [Russell] just reached up and grabbed the governor's hand, kind of gave him a little squeeze, a thumbs up, and a wink," said Sgt. Randall Martin with the Tennessee Highway Patrol. "It blew the doctors' minds and everybody around him really didn't anticipate that to happen. If that's not a positive sign, I don't know what is."
Haslam spoke of his relationship with Russell that began last year when the injured-trooper's adoptive son was killed in Afghanistan.
"I was at [Frankie Watson's] funeral three to four months ago. He [Russell] is just one of those good guys who's serving for all the right reasons and doing it the right way," said Haslam. "We have a lot of great state employees, but he's one I've just gotten to know personally and have a great appreciation for."
The encouraging gesture to the governor joined a list of other positives Wednesday. Family said doctors have been weaning Russell off pain medicine and plan to take him off the ventilator to breathe on his own.
The news was welcome to the hundreds of people who have joined a Facebook page to support the injured trooper.
"The name of the page is actually called Prayers for Lowell Russell," said family friend and page administrator Allyson Mason. "It is just amazing the outpouring of support. Not just from Monroe County, but all over the state of Tennessee and other states. With the love and support show, it's just obvious how many lives that he touches."
Facebook Link
http://www.facebook.com/groups/119082108216415/
Previous story: March 14, 2012, 11:30 a.m.
Family reveals extent of injuries to THP trooper
As of 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, injured Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper Sgt. Lowell Russell remained in critical condition at UT Medical Center. The trooper was injured early Tuesday when a transfer truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and plowed into Russell's cruiser on I-40.
Sgt. Randall Martin, a coworker of Russell's and the local THP spokesperson, told 10News the family gave him permission to release information on exact injuries.
"We just got done with a briefing about all of the tests that were done and are scheduled for today," said Martin in a phone call with 10News.
Martin said Russell is recovering from multiple injuries, including two fractured vertebrae, a collapsed lung, and eight broken ribs. Russell also suffered some fractures to his skull. Swelling of the brain occurred with a subdural hematoma, otherwise known as a collection of blood on the surface of the brain.
"He [Russell] is still in critical condition, but he did really well overnight in that he did not get any worse. Doctors did a CT scan and it showed things were pretty much the same as yesterday with no additional swelling. Hopefully, we've reached a cap on the worst that is going to get," said Martin.
Russell was placed on a ventilator following the crash and doctors have tested the injured trooper's ability to breathe on his own.
"Doctors weaned him off the ventilator. The ventilator was still set to give 'reminder-breaths' to keep rhythmic breathing, but everything went well and he was breathing on his own," said Martin.
Martin said doctors are scheduling an MRI today that will hopefully offer more exact details about the extent of some of Russell's injuries.
"They [the doctors] want to try to take the breathing tube off today. He has a punctured right lung and broken ribs, so they need to make sure he can still take deep breaths on his own. If the pain prevents someone from breathing deeply and they have shallow breaths, you have a high risk of pneumonia," said Martin. "The next two to three days are still very critical. Things can change at any time."
