Iolan Joyce Atkinson, long-time art instructor at Iola Middle School, remains hospitalized in Overland Park Regional Medical Center’s intensive care unit, following a two-vehicle accident west of Iola Sunday.
Jayme Kral, Atkinson’s daughter, told the Register this morning her mother remains in good spirits despite the severity of her injuries.
“She’s always smiling, and she’s never complained once,” Kral said. “As bad as all this sounds, she has looked and sounded like normal once the initial shock wore off.”
Atkinson, 65, was turning from U.S. 54 onto 1000 Street shortly after noon Sunday when her car was hit from behind by a Ford pickup driven by Tye Taylor, also of Iola, according to the Allen County Sheriff’s Department report.
The age of Taylor, a juvenile, was not released.
The impact of the collision forced Atkinson’s car into a vehicle driven by Jack Redden Jr., 64, Riverton.
“The scary part was seeing her car afterward,” Kral said. “It doesn’t even look like a car any more. That’s when it hit me just how lucky she was.”
Atkinson, Redden and a passenger in Redden’s car, Lavene Redden, 63, were taken to Allen County Regional Hospital. Taylor was not hospitalized.
Atkinson later was transferred to the Overland Park hospital when the severity of her injuries became evident. She suffered 21 broken ribs, a thoracic compression fracture and several smaller fractures to her vertebrae. Both lungs were punctured.
So hard was the impact of the accident, Atkinson suffered a cut to the back of her head, Kral said. “They think it came from the back bumper.”
Atkinson continues to wear a cervical brace and a larger brace for her back, which greatly restricts her movement. She remains on oxygen, and chest tubes are in place to drain blood.
“She’s still too weak to do a lot, but she sat up all day Wednesday,” Kral said. “That doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a big deal.”
Kral said her mother hoped to be released from the ICU as early as today, and transferred to an in-patient rehabilitation center by Friday.
Her mother “is amazed and humbled” by the cards, flowers, visits and well wishes she has received since the accident.
A card shower for Atkinson is in the works. Correspondence can be sent to her at 197000 W. 96th Terrace, Lenexa, KS 66220.
Iolan recovers from Sunday car accident
