Story Published: Jan 26, 2012 at 12:38 PM PDT
Story Updated: Jan 26, 2012 at 12:38 PM PDT
From left: Taylor, Martin and Melissa Nachtsheim are seen posing with their youngest member, Lincoln, in the days after his birth.
On the news was a report about a fatal crash near her home in Enumclaw on State Route 410.
"They showed the picture overhead, and I immediately knew it was my husband's work truck," she said. "I was all alone in the room and bawling my eyes out. And I was very scared, because I couldn't get a hold of him."
Hours later, she finally learned the details. Her husband's truck had been hit by an oncoming car. He had sustained serious back and leg injuries. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery.
"His spine twisted over his spinal cord," Melissa said. Doctors also placed plates in her husband's leg to stabilize his fractured femur. "He's full of plates, and screws and knobs now. All kinds of hardware."
Martin Nachtsheim was moved from the intensive care unit earlier this week, but his troubles are far from over. Even after he is discharged, he won't be able to put any weight on his injured leg for at least three months. That means he can't return to his job as a welder immediately, if ever.
"There's a good chance he won't be able to return to construction," said Melissa. We own a home - not outright or anything, and we don't want to lose our home. It's our 1,000-square-foot castle, you know. It's scary."
Also in jeopardy is the family's health insurance.
"My husband's a union worker, so we don't know what's going to happen with him. Once you don't work a certain amount of hours, you don't have (health) insurance," Nachtsheim said.
'Severe pain I couldn't manage'
For the single-income family, Martin's injuries are just the latest addition to their growing list of woes.
After feeling sick for months, Melissa was finally diagnosed in December with a very rare form of cancer that affects red blood cells. Doctors don't know the cause of the genetic but non-hereditary illness.
"It could've kind of just rose up from my body from the trauma of having a preemie," said Melissa, whose son was born last June more than two months early.
Melissa's cancer has led to Budd-Chiari syndrome, a clotting disorder that affects the liver. It was complications from this syndrome that brought Melissa to the emergency room on the day of her husband's crash.
"I have many blood clots in my lungs and liver right now," she said.
The two ailments cause a tremendous amount of pain and constant fatigue for Melissa, who must make frequent visits to the hospital. She is scheduled to undergo surgery later this month.
"(The illnesses) gave me severe pain I couldn't manage with my prescription medication," she said. "I'm constantly tired and sick, and (have) a lot of fluid that's built up."
These days, simple tasks like getting in and out of a car or doing housework are overwhelming for Melissa. But she can't afford to stay in bed; she must take care of her young son.
A son in need
Born weighing just 1 pound and 15 ounces, Lincoln has needed extra care. In his first months, he has already suffered two brain hemorrhages and needed bilateral hernia repair, prompting his mother to quit her job and look after him full-time.
"It's been a scary, rough road," Nachtsheim said.
Now, healthy at 13 pounds, Lincoln is an active baby that demands more energy than his sick mother can give.
"I wake up and feed the baby, and get ready, usually, to take him to a friend's house so I can go visit Martin. Or if I have an appointment (with a doctor), I try not to take him, because he's at that active age," said Melissa. "We're lucky to have so many friends that are willing to take him. But then I just feel bad, because I'm not being a mom."
Nachtsheim gets a lot of help around the house from her 12-year-old son, Taylor. But she worries about his well-being.
"Martin is like his best friend. He's struggling here without his role model. All this stress on him -- he gets depressed and he worries a lot," she said. "And I don't have a lot of energy to do anything. Taylor wakes himself up, eats breakfast, walks to the school bus ... ends up making ramen for his dinner.
"I try to be strong, but..."
'I'm just so grateful'
For the Nachtsheims, their community has become a source of strength.
Local firefighters passed around a hat among themselves to raise money for the family. And friends and family members have set up a Facebook page, asking for donations to help cover the family's mounting medical costs. They've raised $6,000 so far.
The Nachtsheims' relatives are planning a fundraiser to be held next month. And firefighters plan to build a ramp at the family's home to help Martin get around once he is discharged from the hospital.
All of this has given the family the ability to keep looking forward.
"We've just had such an amazing support from our community," said Melissa. "I'm just so grateful."
