Local woman faces serious health issues weeks after car accident
Thursday, March 28, 2013
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Leora Mason
JD has spent hours and hours beside his wife's bedside at hospitals in Bloomington and Indianapolis hoping and praying that she will recover.
Today, JD's wife, Leora, is facing an uncertain future as she lays in the surgical intensive care unit at IU Health Hospital following what was a very unusual course of events after a traffic accident last month.
The wreck happened on the evening of Feb. 21, on an icy State Road 54. She was traveling west about 7:30 p.m. and lost control after she 'tapped' her brakes and ended up at the bottom of what is known as "Blue Barn Hill". Her 1997 Expedition hit a ditch on the northside of the road and landed upside down, according to her husband.
JD said his wife's seatbelt maybe have caused some of her current injuries.
"No one knows how long she was in the seatbelt before she was able to maneuver to release it," JD told the Greene County Daily World.
Leora was reported at the accident scene to be not hurt after being checked out by EMTs.
Her three children who were in the car ---- six-year-old Jayden Mason, five-year-old Madison Mason and 16-year-old Taylor Mason ---- were also not hurt.
"She thought she was okay," JD recalled on Thursday morning. "She went to Zumba the week following the wreck and was doing fine ... I guess she was hurt more than she thought she was."
Leora, who is the Human Resources Manager at Glenburn Home in Linton, reported to work the following day and she was admittedly sore, but didn't know something more serious may have been wrong.
Serious medical problems surfaced for the 37-year-old woman the evening of March 5.
The John "JD"and Leora Mason family.
(Submitted photos)
(Submitted photos)
The call was followed by a round of the 'dry heaves' that lasted for more than three hours.
About midnight, 911 was called and Leora was transported to Greene County General Hospital in Linton.
Two hours later she was transported to IU Health Bloomington Hospital and the family learned that Leora's stomach was essentially clinically dead after a CAT scan exam was completed.
Apparently, blood flow was cut off during the wreck, causing serious damage to the stomach and intestines, JD said.
Leona, who formerly attended school at Bloomfield and graduated in 1994 from Loogootee High School, was placed in a medically-induced coma.
She underwent a pair of surgeries that night and another one the following day.
The Linton woman was then transferred to IU Health Hospital where two more surgeries were done that day ---- March 6.
All of Leora's stomach and large intestine have now been removed. In addition, 85 percent of her small intestine has been taken out.
She remained in a medically-induced come until March 19.
The mother of five is still very ill, according to her husband.
"It's a day by day thing," JD said.
Currently, she's on a ventilator, has a tracheotomy tube to provide an airway and to remove secretions from the lungs, and is getting her nutrition from a feeding tube.
The realities of Leora's condition are very clear to her husband.
"She's never going to be able to eat regular food again," JD slowly said.
He says his family is worried and concerned about their mother's health and future.
The younger children don't really understand everything that's happening, he said, but his older daughter realizes that things have changed for the Mason family.
However, he's confident his wife of eight years can make a recovery.
"I feel 100 percent that she's going to make it. It's just going to be a long road to recovery," JD stated.
Finances are a concern for JD.
His health insurance is being strained and he says it will 'run out' on March 31.
He's applied for Medicaid, but hasn't been approved yet.
"We're fighting for Medicaid. I'm off work due to he being in the hospital and trying to take care of things," JD stated.
The children are being cared for by his mother, Jayne Gregory and step-father, Ken Gregory, of Linton.
"We're just trying to do everything we can to help with all of these bills," he noted.
The Linton man says there has been a big outpouring of help, encouragement and prayers from many friends ---- especially his buddies at the Plummer River Rally.
Lucas Gechtman has organized a benefit raffle of a special Stihl chainsaw that was autographed by members of the band, Jackyl, that performed at the 2011 Plummer River Rally.
Ticket are $5 each or 5 for $20.
The raffle will end sometime in May, JD said.
Other fundraisers are in the planning stages.
A car wash is also being planned for the second or third week of April at the Auto Zone parking lot in Linton.
The first weekend in May, a softball and corn hole tournament is being organized in Jasonville.
Also, a motorcycle benefit ride is also being planned.
The family has established a special fund at Crane Federal Credit Union to help with Leora's medical expenses. Anyone can donate to the account by specifying that the money should go to the Leora Mason Fund.
To send a greeting card to Leora a special post office box has been set up. Mail all correspondence to Leora Mason, P.O. Box 326, Linton, IN 47441.
"We're just trying to do everything we can to help with bills," JD stressed.
As for the future, it remains unclear, but JD and family remain strong in their belief that things will work out.
"I believe thoughts and prayers 100 percent will help her," he concluded.
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