sailboat, I hope your wife is okay.

[Northern_Piper]

Very glad to hear the prognosis is good. Tell her that there are people all over the world on the Dope, cheering for her recovery!

[CairoCarol]

Thank you for the update, Sailboat. So glad it sounds like she will be okay.

[purplehearingaid]

Sailboat thank you for taking time to update us on your wife condition and pleases tell your wife anyone that protest against hate crimes is a hero to me !
I am glad she is recovery .

[Mighty_Girl]

I am relieved to hear that she will make a full recovery, and saddened that she had to go through this. Yes, she is a hero to me, nothing she can do about that.

[stolatt]

Thanks for the update. It is a little light in the wake of something so awful. I have other adjectives for this, but I won’t spoil the thread. Hoping for a speedy recovery. Be safe.

[E-DUB]

Thank you for the update. Hope her recovery proceeds without a hitch.

[Muffin]

Sailboat, I hope that your wife – your hero and many people’s hero – is able to recover fully.

[yanceylebeef]

Thanks for the update, Sailboat!

[Helena330]

I’m so proud of her for standing up for what so many of us believe in, and against. I wish she weren’t in pain, but I’m glad she’s receiving good care and has a guardedly optimistic prognosis.

I wish strength for you, as well. I know the focus is on her, but her support staff (you) needs to take care of themselves, too. Be sure to eat enough and get your rest.

[Sunny_Daze]

Thank you for the update Sailboat! Lots of us were worried. I know she has a rough road ahead of her, and I wish the easiest and smoothest possible recovery for her. I am proud of her for taking the time to go to the march and represent us all against this evil taint that lingers over our country.

Is there a way that we could send cards or other small items to a PO Box for your wife? I completely understand that you want to protect her privacy right now.

[BigT]

I’m grinning ear to ear. Glad she’s okay, and hoping for a speedy recovery.

And if she doesn’t want to be a hero, then tell her she has to be a heroine.

[oft_wears_hats]

@Helena330

I wish strength for you, as well. I know the focus is on her, but her support staff (you) needs to take care of themselves, too. Be sure to eat enough and get your rest.

This. Caregiver fatigue is real. Make sure you have people you can talk to and rely on as needed. Comfort in, dump stress out.

As someone who has been on both sides of the caregiver equation in the last year, I can personally attest to the importance of a robust support network. I’m sure you’ve got people in your support network, but if you ever want someone to anonymously vent to, I’d be happy to chat on the SDMB Mumble server or something.

[Baker]

I too was shocked when I heard about a guard being posted.

But it might not be just for safety of First Mate’s person. It could be to keep media people of any type from harrassing her for interviews. Or lawyers for he Nazi side may try to get statements while the patient is weak.

Sailboat, call on us for whatever you need.

[zoid]

@Sailboat

Thank you everyone for the thoughts expressed in your posts and private messages.

I am in a hurry, so a couple of random updates:

She is recovering and (tentatively) expected to eventually be rehabilitated to full function.

We immediately assumed the perp was a Nazi and not just a garden-variety racist, and ironically the news seems to bear this out – he is specifically a Hitler aficionado.

A reminder that we are not alone in suffering the consequences of Nazi terrorism. There were 18 others injured or killed in this attack alone, and another 15 injured in Charlottesville in other incidents, plus two police officers lost when their helicopter crashed. Our thoughts are also with them. At least one of them is a friend we knew before C’ville.

Also with those injured, killed, traumatized and bereaved by this hatred previously, including in World War II.

I was not present, being more or less literally on the homefront this time. A physician in the crowd was the first to contact me from the site. My wife never lost consciousness.

We are okay with people talking about it but are trying to leave identifying information out of social media for her safety. The hospital has posted a guard.

In the interest of minimizing identification, I will be a bit vague about her specific injuries. She has several broken bones and has endured the first of what we hope will be only two surgeries (although they did more than one limb in that first surgery). Her pain is considerable, but her spirits are good. She is in very good hands by all accounts.

We have received a ton of support offers so far. Eventually some sort of funding engine may be set up (several people are already doing this but we haven’t even decided if we should identify her yet, so we wouldn’t know what to say).

I told her she is a hero and she categorically rejected the idea with embarrassment. I’ll settle for saying she is MY hero. My Dad’s Bronze Star for fighting Nazis sits on my dresser, but he had an 81 mm mortar.

If there’s anything we can do please reach out - I know that I, and I expect the community here, are anxious to help in any way we can.

[koeeoaddi]

She is absolutely a hero! Best wishes for her full recovery, Sailboat.

[Thudlow_Boink]

Yet another Thanks for the update, and best wishes to you and your wife.

[rocking_chair]

thank you for your update. i understand that ice cream is very important for healing bones.

i am very sorry that this has happened to your wife. thank her for standing for what is right; she is indeed a hero.

[Fluffy_PickleSniffer]

(((Sailboat & Hero Wife))) I’m glad your wife will make a full recovery, best wishes that the path won’t be too long and painful.

[AHunter3]

Thanks for keeping us posted and best wishes to your entire family.

[kambuckta]

Thanks for taking the time to give us news Sailboat. And all our best for Mrs Sailboat, hoping she heals quickly and without complications.