The Aftermath

After weeks of silence, we're back with a deeply personal journey through trauma, healing, and the mysterious corners of the South that continue to call to us even in our darkest moments.

The devastating head-on collision that abruptly ended our previous episode left me shattered – both legs broken with compound fractures, broken ankles, shattered kneecaps, four broken ribs, and a surgically reattached left foot. July exists as little more than a foggy haze of pain medication and the natural, uncontrollable sounds of agony that came with each movement of freshly broken bones. Despite the severity of these injuries, doctors remain hopeful for a complete recovery, with physical therapy beginning in late October.

Beyond the physical trauma lies another battle many Americans face: the fight with insurance companies who dictate medical care despite physician recommendations. When deemed "too broken" for rehabilitation but "stable enough" for discharge, my family faced astronomical costs – $5,500 weekly for essential at-home care and $250 per medical transport appointment, none covered by our insurance despite faithful payment of premiums. This reality forces us to examine a healthcare system that routinely places corporate interests above patient wellbeing.

Yet even confined to a hospital bed, my storyteller's mind wanders to hidden southern mysteries waiting to be shared. While the promised Mothman episode must wait until pain medications no longer cloud my thoughts, I offer something equally intriguing: Atlanta's Doll's Head Trail. This 2.5-mile path through Constitution Lakes Park showcases eerie art installations created from discarded doll parts, abandoned appliances, and industrial remnants – a reclamation project transforming environmental neglect into something hauntingly beautiful. Visit at dusk, when shadows stretch long and you might hear childlike voices whispering stories of being treasured, discarded, and reborn as art.

Join us again in two weeks as we return to our regular schedule of spellbinding southern legends, beginning with the dreaded Mothman. Your support during this difficult time has been the greatest medicine of all.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:12):
Good evening, my friends.
I trust that you've alllistened to the last episode of
Front Porch Mysteries titled theDate.
The outpouring of love andconcern from all of you has been
overwhelming, and I'm movedbeyond belief by the kindnesses
we've seen from family, friendsand from complete strangers.

(00:33):
I know that in the last episodeI hinted that we'd be taking a
look at the age-old southernlegend of the Mothman.
This creature is as elusive andimprobable as Bigfoot.
Still accounts persist ofrun-ins with Mothman, so we have

(00:53):
to explore them, don't we?
I had hoped that be bringingthat episode to you within two
weeks of the head-on collision,but my body and my physicians
had other ideas.
If you don't mind, then I'llshare with you the things that
have taken place since the dateended so abruptly on June 25th.

(01:15):
Oh, and then I'll share alittle tidbit with you that will
leave you with something tothink about in the daylight.
That will leave you withsomething to think about in the
daylight.
The month of July is a foggyhaze to me, as doctors were
using some high-powered painmedications to keep me
comfortable in the weeksfollowing the wreck.

(01:36):
Both of my legs were broken,one with several compound
fractures, as were both of myankles, my kneecaps, four ribs
and my left hand.
I learned recently that my leftfoot had been surgically
reattached.
My family kept several thingsfrom me throughout this journey

(01:58):
and I suppose I'm glad that theydid.
I got a fleeting glimpse of mylegs and feet before I lost
consciousness inside our carback on June 25th, but later I
thought I had imagined theimages I saw A bare foot splayed
at an odd angle, big whitebones I'd never seen before.

(02:19):
The damage was extensive.
In the hospital, anytime nursesor techs had to move me for any
reason, I was in pure agony.
I've done my share of screamingand moaning this summer and
I've learned that those soundsare simply natural reactions to
the movement of freshly brokenbones crushed ankles and

(02:42):
compound fractures.
Bones crushed ankles andcompound fractures.
I've heard people scream ormake similar noises to get
attention or to overreact, butI've never until now heard those
sounds coming from myself,almost as if I were watching
this nightmare from a distance.
These sounds came from me justas naturally as a hiccup or a

(03:03):
giggle might.
I had no control over them.
I was in the hospital forexactly one month.
I've been home for about threeweeks now and the road has been
a bit rocky.
At least I'm surrounded by myhusband, my children, our dogs
and our wonderful friends.
I truly believe that healingcomes more naturally and more

(03:26):
quickly at home.
I'm happy to share that.
Doctors expect completerecovery from me and they're
hopeful that I can beginphysical therapy in late October
.
They tell me that I will walkagain.
I will say that one of thebiggest demons to arise from
this incident was the matter ofinsurance.

(03:47):
My healing was going well inthe hospital because of the
world-class care I receivedthere, but when I was deemed
medically stable I wasdischarged, not because my
doctors were in a hurry torelease me, but because my
health insurance companydemanded the release, and I
agree.
The plan all along was for meto go straight to an acute

(04:11):
rehabilitation facility to helpme work to regain the ability to
walk again.
However, two broken legs, twobroken ankles and a broken hand
do not lend themselves to suchintense rehab.
My body must heal to a pointthat I can begin climbing that

(04:35):
mountain.
I can't even stand on my feetand legs until late October.
In other words, my body is toobroken to be rehabilitated right
now.
My insurance company's solutionto that was go home and good
luck.
We received a hospital bed anda wheelchair for help.

(04:55):
Our health insurance, which myhusband acquired through his
employer, does not pay for anytype of nursing care or help of
any kind.
My husband works full-time.
Our children have their ownchildren and jobs.
They're here as often as theycan be, but let's face it, I am
completely disabled right nowand I need constant care.

(05:17):
We're able to pay for that fora few weeks, but after that I'm
honestly not sure what we'll do.
And let's face it, we're veryfortunate to be able to pay
about $5,500 a week for at-homecare, even for a few weeks.
There are more families in thiscountry who can't do that, and

(05:38):
what do they do in such asituation?
Every time I go to a follow-updoctor appointment, we pay about
$250 for medical transportbecause my legs don't bend
enough to sit and ride in a car.
Insurance does not help to payfor that either.
We were not at fault in thisaccident.

(06:00):
We carry both automobileinsurance and health insurance,
which we're forced to carryright.
We pay a lot of money for theseinsurances because we have to,
and this is what happens whenyou need the supposed benefits
of these insurances.
I suggest you all.
Talk with your lawmakers aboutthe fact that insurance

(06:21):
companies override physicians'orders and prescribe medications
.
I suggest you talk with themabout passing laws that place
the insurance company'sinterests above the individual's
.
Talk with them about putting apatient at risk by sending her
home to fend for herself insteadof at least helping to pay for

(06:42):
minimal in-home care, of atleast helping to pay for minimal
in-home care.
Insurance companies must bereined in because right now
they're out of control.
They dictate everythingconcerning your health care,
your well-being, and that shouldalarm every one of us.
Okay, enough of that for ourpurposes here.

(07:09):
When I begin to let theinsurance leviathan creep into
this life-altering experience, Istop it cold and I go back to
my stance of gratitude andthankfulness.
I survived a horrific head-oncollision.
We did, and that alone is ablessing.
We'll navigate the rest of theroad as it comes.

(07:36):
I've had a lot to think aboutwhile in this hospital bed.
My wheels have been spinningfor weeks, pulling up files and
tabbing research that my amazingpartner has found for this
podcast.
Yes, the next full episode willbe about the Mothman, simply
because the terrifying creaturecan't be ignored when discussing
Southern legends.
When my brain is again firingon all cylinders.

(07:58):
You'll get that episode.
Right now.
I don't trust my reading andcomprehension.
While I'm on pain medicationsthat sometimes make me
hallucinate and usually make meconfuse and forget facts.
Very soon I won't need them anylonger, so I hope you'll hang
with me.
Our stories and journeys aretoo intriguing to walk away from

(08:20):
.
In the meantime, here'ssomething I want you to think
about.
In Atlanta, georgia, there's atwo-and-a-half-mile hiking trail
in a place called ConstitutionLakes Park.
The trail is only about 10years old.

(08:43):
It was created by Joel Slayton,a builder, who began exploring
the park and was both intriguedand dismayed by what he found.
Many bird species call the parkhome, and the natural beauty is
breathtaking.
However, in a remote area ofthe park, he also found trash

(09:04):
and junk, things like discardedappliances, bicycle parts,
bottles and clay tiles A hint atthe area's industrial days.
So Slayton built somethingthere, because, as a builder,
that's what he does.
The first vignette he built wasmade from an old stove and

(09:31):
pieces of a washing machine.
And Slayton found somethingelse in this remote area Doll
parts, pieces of dolls that hadbeen discarded over the years
Mostly heads, legs and arms, butoddly no torsos.
Slayton kept building withdismembered doll parts and other
items of interest he found inthe park, including old

(09:56):
brickwork left there from aquarry that hasn't been active
for more than 100 years.
With the county's approval, thetrail and its treasures began
to grow.
Other people began adding toSlayton's collection using doll
heads and parts, discardedappliances and machine parts.
It's quite an experience to bewalking the trail at dusk and

(10:22):
come upon a collection of tiresand metal and a baby doll's
glassy blue eyes staring back atyou.
Doll's Head Trail in Atlanta isa wonderful example of how we
can reclaim nature from our owncareless actions.
People have begun creatingvignettes and sculptures.
Some call them interesting andsome call them downright spooky,

(10:43):
but this odd tribute todiscarded trash and toys has
inspired locals and visitors toclean up the park, to remove
some trash and repurpose more.
Clean up the park to removesome trash and repurpose more.
If you're ever in the area, Iencourage you to walk the loop

(11:04):
of Doll's Head Trail.
A doll head and chubby doll'sarm mark the beginning of the
trail.
Do it in late afternoon, whenthe shadows are long and the
sun's rays take on a differentquality, softer and more golden,
with a little bit of magicthrown in.
Walk carefully so you don'tmiss any of the artful and, yes,
sometimes spooky creations.

(11:25):
As the shadows stretch outlonger and the sunlight softens
and gives way to the shadows andthe dark stand very still.
Close your eyes and listen.
You'll hear the faint rustle ofleaves in the evening breeze.
You might hear the trafficthat's close, but seek so far

(11:46):
away when you're inside the park.
And there's something else.
Keep your eyes closed.
There are the voices voicessoft and childlike, some
giggling, some cooing and somequietly crying.
They tell the story of an areaof Atlanta that's long forgotten
.
They tell their own stories ofbeing loved and treasured by a

(12:10):
child, then being discarded asnothing more than trash and then
being brought back to life asunique and unusual art.
You should go, pay them a visit, but take along a friend just
in case.
I hope you'll join me next timeas we do indeed explore the
legend and accounts of themysterious and dreaded Mothman

(12:34):
and from that episode on plan totune in every two weeks as we
once again bring youspellbinding and captivating
fables that are woven throughoutthe South.
We want to thank you once againfor your kindness and your
patience while I and our entireteam gathered ourselves and I
prepared for the long road torecovery.

(12:56):
God bless my team and I used myown experiences along my
journey of healing following ourdevastating head-on collision
to tell part of the story.
We used personal experience andthe accounts of others to tell
you about Dolls Head Trail inAtlanta.

(13:16):
We also used the article titledAtlanta's Dolls Head Trail is
an eerily cool trailsideattraction with a great cause,
published in Rails to TrailsConservancy.