Blood drive scheduled for Tim McCormick
A blood drive for local accident victim Tim McCormick will be held Tuesday at the Union Planters Bank main branch downtown. The blood donated will be used to defray some of the expenses incurred during McCormick’s long hospital stay and the large amount of blood transfusions required for the surgeries to treat his injuries.
McCormick’s Honda 300 four-wheeler flipped over on him, causing what River Park emergency room physicians at first considered to be minor injuries, a cut to his lip and a fractured sinus cavity, which they treated.
Numerous tests were performed at that time, but found no further obvious problems other than bruising.
He was given pain medication and Phenegrin and sent home.
Unable to rest once at home, he returned to the hospital a few hours later where he was seen by Dr. Smith who felt something else was going on since his blood pressure and heart rate were very low, and referred him to be airlifted to Erlanger.
Once at Erlanger, emergency surgery was performed and a small tear in his intestines was discovered which had been slowly leaking blood and bile. Further complications occurred when he became sick while being put to sleep for the surgery and aspirated acid into his lungs.
Dr. Richart, who per-formed the surgery at Erlanger, told the family afterward that he was alive, but it didn’t look good. Doctors said there was little chance he would survive the night, and if he did, there might be brain damage.
But miraculously, this did not happen, and he is still recovering slowly but surely from his injuries.
The family, which has been through many ups and downs in the weeks since his accident, wants to thank everyone who has called and expressed their concern, and asks that they continue their prayers for him during his recovery.
Those wishing to donate blood or help in any other way can contact Vicki Pack at 635-2930, or Sheri Crain, Tim’s sister, at 931-456-7502 at home, or at her office at 931-456-1197.