Our bad day that just got worse...

Most of the family and close friends have already recieved this email that I'm now posting as a journal entry! The car in the picture doesn't look as "bad" as it looks in person. But the back window completely shattered behind the kids. thankfully it didn't shatter the windshield or wade's window. we would have been freezing waiting for the cops. but we are okay...shaken up, emotional, and extremely sore. But so grateful there wasn't another car behind the semi otherwise...well, i don't even wanna think about it. please pray for charlotte's hearing to return. she needs all the prayers right now. love you all...

So here are all of the details.When we put Charlotte's hearing aids in yesterday she wasn't able to hear us. We contacted her audiologist who wanted to see her right away because a sudden loss of hearing is a serious problem. Even though it was Saturday he opened up his office and did some testing: hearing aids working properly, no ear infection, but considerable hearing loss. The hearing loss was enough that Charlotte's hearing aids cannot amplify sound enough for her to hear anything. The audiologist contacted the ENT at the University of Utah Medical Center, who asked to see us as soon as possible that day.When we got to the U the ENT confirmed that there was a sudden hearing loss and explained that there are only theories why this happens, but no one is sure exactly why. The three prevailing theories are:1. The equivalent of a stroke in the ear- this is the suspected cause of sudden hearing loss in the elderly. He said if Charlotte was 80 and overweight with high cholesterol then this might be the cause.2. Some kind of viral infection that has attacked the ear only. There is no way to test for this, only to postulate that it has occurred.3. An auto-immune response by Charlotte that is for some reason attacking her ear. Also, no way to test for this, only to postulate that it has happened.The only treatment that they know for number 2 and 3 is the same: a 14 day dose of steroids. So, a steroid was prescribed for Charlotte. According to the ENT, the latest studies show these results: 1/3 of the patients that take the steroid get their hearing back at normal to near-normal levels. 1/3 get some hearing back. 1/3 get none of their hearing back. We have an appointment to see the ENT at the U again in three weeks. We were told that If her hearing hasn't returned by then it most likely will not. He said that on the bright side, most people in this situation don't see an ENT until 2 or 3 weeks after the loss occured, and by that time the steroids are useless.Needless to say we are very worried and pray for a return to normal. Charlotte is very confused at the moment because she cannot hear. She tries to listen to her toys that make sound and can't hear them. She bought us hearing aid batteries so we could change them for her, but that isn't the problem. She got upset last night when she couldn't hear when we sang songs as part of her normal going to bed routine.Here is the rest of the story:On the drive home we hit a patch of ice on the I-15, did a couple of 360s (I think) and collided with the back end of a semi that was in the other lane- twice. Miraculously none of us were hurt. Charlotte and Jack were crying but ok. The first impact was on drivers side, and the second on the drivers side at the back. Back window smashed in, windshield shattered, doors unable to open, steering mechanism broken, dashboard crumpled, and generally smashed up. The tow truck driver said it will be considered totalled for sure. We were only on the side of the road for 1 hour before the police came and 2 hours before a ride from a kind neighbour came to pick us up. Some how I got a $100 ticket for following too close- even though the truck I hit was in a different lane than us.We were very blessed to escape injury- truly a miracle. The officer took so long to get to us because there were several accidents in the area. The one behind us and another in the area involved cars that rolled- we are so lucky that didn't happen to us.Even with the crash we are glad we went so we could get Charlotte started on the steroids right away. We will keep you updated on her progress.