Adeline

Elvis anniversary trip takes detour to Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Center

For Gary and Adeline Bevan who live in Abergavenny, Wales, in the United Kingdom, a trip to the U.S. for a friend’s wedding in September 2007 promised to be the event of a lifetime. As it was close to their 30-year anniversary, they decided to expand their itinerary. In addition to New York, they would visit Graceland in Memphis, catch a few shows in Vegas, and finish with a helicopter ride and picnic over the Grand Canyon.

The couple expected to get closer to Elvis during their pilgrimage ─ Graceland, Sun Records and The Arcade, a favorite Elvis hang out. Instead, they experienced a different aspect of Elvis’s legacy, The Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Center at The MED.

While visiting Memphis and standing in a pedestrian median, Adeline was struck by a truck. Adeline’s injuries were so traumatic, her only chance of survival would be the Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Center at The MED.

Upon her arrival at The MED, the trauma team worked feverishly to stabilize her condition. She suffered two brain hemorrhages, a ruptured spleen, multiple fractures and broken bones, and a punctured lung. She could not breathe without a ventilator. Her right eye had been displaced from its socket and there was facial damage to the side of her head.

“For the first 24 hours there seemed to be very limited chance of Adeline pulling through this ordeal,” said Gary who was himself in shock having witnessed the accident. “Being so far from our home and family was very stressful,” he commented.

Gary endured long periods of time alone while the medical team was working on Adeline. He waited for news for what seemed like an eternity. With the outlook so bleak, he called for reinforcements. Their daughters Sarah and Rebecca flew to Memphis to be by their mother’s side for quite possibly her last moments.

At some point, Adeline’s fifty-fifty chances began to improve and the dark clouds of concern started to clear.

After 32 days in a coma and 17 procedures, Adeline was moved to the step down trauma unit. Ten days later, Adeline was flown back to the U.K. where she would spend another month in the hospital.

During the past two years, Adeline has maintained a positive attitude regarding her rehabilitation.

She and Gary, who own and manage two convenience stores, began raising funds to help say “thank you” to The MED. The fundraising efforts centred on celebrating life and having fun. The Bevan’s organized events, quizzes, treasure hunts and raffles. Gary raised $600 by getting his head shaved.

The highlight of the fundraising came when a family friend, Keith Davies, who has an Elvis tribute act, staged a tribute concert. It was based on Elvis’s famous “Aloha from Hawaii” concert. You never would have known that so many people in Wales had Hawaiian shirts. The event raised $3000.

Adeline and Gary never forgot their dreams of a picnic over the Grand Canyon. In January of 2010, doctors confirmed that Adeline was fit enough to travel. On their way to Las Vegas, the couple will make an important stop in Memphis. Adeline and Gary will present a donation of $6000 to the MED Foundation.

The gift is a small token of their deep appreciation for the care she received at The MED.

Click here to give to the Elvis Presely Memorial Trauma Center.