Grandmother Spider's SpiritWeb

Hi, Perhaps this is soposed to be somewhere else, but I couldn't find it and I haven't a lot of time right now to research.

I wanted to ask that everyone remember in their prayers, a friend of mine who was critically hurt in a head-on collision in NH this past weekend. He is a very special person, a physician, who demonstrated extrordinary careing and concern for all of us at the hospital where I work. Presently he is in very critical condition, on a ventilator, with head and internal injuries and multiple fractures. The latest word was that there was some improvement but he is still very critical.

I am saddened, and angry that a person could be so negligent, selfish, and stupid to drive while drunk. Frank deserves better than to have this happen to him. The person who was drivng the car that struck Frank's car seems to have only minor injuries. It was not the first offense. Those of us at the hospital are having a hard time with this. We feel very strong and almost hateful anger for this young man. Not only does Frank and his family need the prayers of the community, his friends and coworkers at our hospital need them also.

I personally feel such strong anger that I am afraid that some of that anger will be channeled to the drunk and might cause him some harm (not that he does't deserve it, but I don't want it to come from me). I was going to lead a prayer and healing circle at the hospital, but with this fiercely angry, negative, and hatefull feeling I have for this drunk, I organized, but declined to lead. I am pretty good at devastation when my energies are directed to do so.

I will include the information below that we were given by the hospital staff in communication with Frank's family. Thanks to all of you who take the time to help us.

Solstice

From the Bennington Banner:

Doctor critical after crash

By MARK N. RAMIREZ,
Staff Writer

A Bennington doctor is in critical condition after his car was struck head-on by a drunk driver Sunday evening in New Hampshire, according to Milford police.
Dr. Frank C. Famiano, 55, a hospitalist with Southwestern Vermont Health Care, had to be extricated from his car by firefighters and was flown to Massachusetts General Hospital after the incident, which was called in at 10:50 p.m.

Famiano and a passenger, 54-year-old Jaclyn __ of Worthington, Mass., were traveling south on state Route 13 when their car was struck by a vehicle driven by Jonathan Steimel, 20, of Amherst, N.H., police said. Police said Steimel's car crossed over the double yellow line.

J___ who was conscious after the accident, sustained multiple injuries and was transported by Milford ambulance to the Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.

Steimel was transported to St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua, N.H. with "relatively minor" injuries, then arrested for aggravated driving while intoxicated, according to Capt. Richard Fortin of the Milford Police Department. Fortin said Steimel was released on bail and returned to the hospital for further treatment. The charge against him is a felony, and carries between three and a half to seven years in prison.

Fortin did not know if any of the people involved were wearing seatbelts, how much Steimel's bail was, and whether Steimel has a previous record for drunken driving.

Speed did not appear to be a factor in the crash, Fortin said. He said the incident took place in a 35 mph speed zone, near where the speed limit rises to 50 mph. The state highway has brand-new pavement, he said, and the weather was clear and cool.

"It's a fairly busy highway," said Fortin, lined by some houses and a couple of businesses. He said police were still talking to witnesses. Route 13 was closed for more than three hours while the police department's accident reconstruction team investigated. Their investigation continues.

Famiano joined Southwestern Vermont Health Care in 1994 to start its hospitalist program, which allows primary care physicians to turn over their hospitalized patients to the hospital's team of doctors.

Not only was Famiano the program's first doctor, he was also the program's only doctor for some time, said Kevin McDonald, SVHC's vice president of marketing and communications.

"He is very well known and very respected and well liked," said McDonald, who had not heard of the accident. He doubted that anyone else with the hospital had heard of the accident. "He has all our best wishes for a complete recovery," said McDonald. "I'm sure that's what everybody would want."

From my email at work:
-----Original Message-----
From: ALL-LIST
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 4:02 PM
Subject: Dr. Famiano - Cards of Encouragement & Contributions
Importance: High

Many members of the SVHC family are walking around today distracted and with a heavy heart because of the news that Dr. Famiano was involved in a very serious car accident this weekend.

Understandably everyone wants the latest information on his condition.

Officially, Dr. Famiano is listed in "critical" condition according to news reports. That one word description leaves everyone who cares about Frank wanting to know more --- what kind of injuries? is he improving?

Our desire -- or even our need -- to know more conflicts with Dr. Famiano's right to privacy, and his health care providers' requirement to honor confidentiality.

However, if and when a responsible party close to Dr. Famiano authorizes us to provide the SVHC community with news on his condition, we will share it. In the meantime, we know that many of you wish to do something to help. To that end, here are some options.
If you wish to send Dr. Famiano a card or note of caring and encouragement, you can either bring it to Human Resources where Tabatha Cross will collect them, bundle them up and send them each day or so, or mail directly to Dr. Famiano, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St. , 4th floor, ICU, Boston, MA 02114 or the Medical Staff may drop cards in the Medical Staff Office.

Further questions may be directed to Melanie Smith in the Medical Staff Office or Nicole Goswami in the Medical Practice Division.