I was sent this via a friend in England.
Leann
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Prayer Request for Child in Amarillo, TX

This has been a really hard week for our family.  Last Friday about
12:30pm. my three year old granddaughter, Lauren Renee Pingel and her
babysitter were on their way to do some shopping in a Ford Taurus. At an
intersection North of Amarillo and around River Road area a large Pickup
with a Rhino Guard Bumper failed to yield right of way and ran a stop
sign.

The pickup hit  the car. Lauren was buckled in her car seat in the
middle of
the back seat.  The pickup hit the side of the car about the middle.
We are not sure  what caused the terrible injury to Lauren.  She had
no broken bones or other injuries but severe head injuries. We have been
told it was the Rhino Guard Bumper that hit her. She weighs about 25
lbs.

She was rushed to Northwest Texas Hospital where they put the pieces of
her
little skull back together with metal pins and all the pieces were
there. Some broken glass was also removed. A few hours later as her
brain began to swell the doctors told Suzanne and Brad that if they did
not perform a craniotomy she would die, and if they did perform it she
still might die or surely not fully recover. She was rushed into surgery
again, and it was
performed.

She has improved some slowly. The first 72 hours were very difficult
with several trips for CAT scans in hopes of seeing how the brain was
reacting. We have now stopped worrying about the brain so much and are
concentrating on the other vital organs. Her heart beat is strong. Her
lungs are filled with fluid and they have diagnosed her with Adult
Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Some of the tissue in her lungs has
hardened.  They are doing
respiratory work every 2 hours. Her kidneys were not functioning
properly
but have improved. Her little face is swollen as tight as it can swell
with both eyes swollen shut, it is also starting to bruise.

It is so hard to see her lying there with all of the tubes. We have some
great doctors and they have all been really good to talk to us and try
to be compassionate. Her main doctor said today that we are maybe
halfway through the worst part. (I can't imagine what will happen next)
BUT....he also said today that we were not taking inches anymore but
maybe steps now.

We think she can hear us when we talk to her. I read her a book tonight
and her blood pressure dropped 2 points (a good thing). It did go back
up. I am taking a couple of her favorite books tomorrow to read to her.

Ron and I came home tonight hoping to be able to get a good nights
sleep. Of
course the kids (Brad and Suzanne) can't leave the hospital, and neither
would I. They sleep in Lauren's room. One of the nurses where Suzanne
works took the baby-Jodi-8 months old today-home with her.

Please pray for Lauren and Her doctors that she will have the strength
to endure the treatment and her body will accept the medicines that they
prescribe.

Her doctors names are: Dr. Habersang- Pediatric ER Trauma Specialist,
Dr. Levy-Pediatric ER Trauma Specialist, Dr. Ortiz-Resident with Dr.Levy
and
Habersang, and Dr. Steve Cone-Brain Surgeon. Also pray for the many
excellent nurses and therapist that are working with her.

Names: Lauren Renee Pingel, age 3
Brad and Suzanne Pingel, Parents
Jodi RaeLynn Pingel, 8 month old sister
Ron and Janace Ross, Maternal Grand parents
JoAnn and Robert McCoy, Paternal Grand parents

I hope to have a prayer chain going around the world with the help of
the
internet. Her name has been given to a missionary in Africa and they are
praying for her there. Please send this request to anyone you know that
will pray for us and the healing of our precious baby girl- Lauren.