St. Cloud Times from Saint Cloud, Minnesota • Page 17

Sunday, Sept 17, 1995 Family St Cloud Times 5B Family Portrait: The Liedmans Questions From Kids Dr. Larry Putbrese Kimball couple V' 1 works way back from auto crash I ST I i I 0 2 was conscious, but he had severe injuries. He quickly was transferred to North Memorial Medical Center in Rob-binsdale. Meanwhile, Alex was at home getting ready for work. At about 7 a.m.

the phone rang. Police had found her billfold in the Metro, where she'd forgotten it the night before. A nurse from the hospital informed her Jesse was in a serious car accident and was being treated in the emergency room. Alex recalls the nurse telling her Jesse had suffered multiple fractures and lacerations. "When I hung up the phone, I just sat for awhile," Alex recalls.

"It was like I was in shock. I felt sick. Then I called Jesse's mom." When Alex, Jesse's mom and his brother arrived at the hospital, Jesse was still in the emergency room, and they had to wait for about an hour to talk to a doctor. Surprisingly, Alex said, she didn't cry. "I couldn't cry for three days," she said.

"I lost 5 pounds that first week." Jesse underwent four surgeries during the next few days and was listed in critical but stable condition. Doctors were forced to remove his severely damaged right eye. He also had torn the membrane that surrounds the brain. Fortunately, a CAT scan indicated there was no brain damage. Jesse's other injuries included a fractured leg and collarbone, as well as numerous facial fractures and cuts.

As family and friends kept a vigil by his bedside, Jesse remained heavily sedated to ease the pain. Because of losing one eye and damage to the other, doctors weren't sure if he would be able to see when he awoke. Finally, after two weeks, Jesse opened his left eye. "The first thing he said is Tm Alex said. Because they weren't sure of his reaction, Jesse's family delayed for about a week before telling him he had lost an eye.

Surprisingly, Jesse didn't notice. "I couldn't believe when they told TIMES PHOTO BY SHER STONEMAN Jesse and Alex Liedman had been married only a short time when a car accident left Jesse severely injured. He broke numerous bones and lost his right eye, but he is recuperating well. The couple lives in Kimball. 6 When I hung up the phone, I just sat for awhile.

It was like I was in shock. I felt sick, ft Alex Liedman RECALLS HOW SHE FELT AFTER HEARING OF HUSBAND'S AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT young couple's life. Jesse remained in the hospital for 31 days. He goes to therapy three days a week and is in the process of being fitted for an artificial eye. A sports lover, it didn't take Jesse long to get out on the golf course, and, while he's added a few strokes, he remains a good golfer.

But when it comes to catching a football or playing tennis, his depth perception problems are more apparent. He hopes that eventually will improve. There is not a trace of bitterness in his voice. "I just feel so good I can see," Jesse said. TIMES COLUMNIST 7th-grader feels caught by insults I have two mends who have known each other since third-grade.

We are in seventh grade, and they always insult and hurt each other's feelings. When I'm with one of them, they talk about the other. How can I make them at least stop for a while and stop putting me in the middle?" CONFUSED AND ANNOYED To avoid being caught in the middle, it is important you not allow either of your friends to talk about the other while in your presence. When one begins talking about the other, interrupt and say you like both people, and you don't want to hear bad things being said about either of them. Following this advice may be enough to prompt a change.

If it doesn't, there are a couple of things you can do. Change the subject. If you can be consistent in doing this, they will get the message. Another thing you can do is tell him or her you do not want to hear bad things about the other person and walk away. You shouldn't have to do this very many times before it becomes clear to the person that you mean what you said.

It may be that one of the things causing the problems between these two is the friendship you have with the other. It isn't unusual for people your age to be possessive in their relationships. They don't want to share a friend's attention. Because of the way people tend to feel about themselves during this stage of growth, these kinds of interactions probably have more to do with insecurity than anything else. It is likely your friends are feeling that if they can convince you the other person has some faults, you will like him or her better.

Regardless, you can begin to get yourself out from the middle by explaining to each of them, privately, that you like each the same and that saying bad things about the other is not going to change how you feel about them. Dr. Larry Putbrese responds to the concerns of adolescents ages 10 to 15. Mail questions to the St. Cloud Times, Box 768, St.

Cloud, MN 56302. All Wooden Openback hrames In-store stock only. Tole Acrylic Painting Books Reg. $3.99 $10.49. All Grapevine Wreaths All Single Floral Stems Winter Fleece Remnants Reg.

$4.99 Prices good while quantities last through Friday, Sept 22, 1995. me," he said. "I looked down at my hands and said 1 can As for the accident, Jesse's mind is blank. Although he was conscious and talking when being pulled from the wreckage, Jesse has no memory of the crash or the immediate aftermath. He credits his seat belt for saving his life.

Jesse and Alex are grateful for the support they received from family and friends. Jesse's family has remained at his side during the entire ordeal, and Jesse's brother and Alex's twin sister flew to Minnesota after the accident. Friends and neighbors in Kimball also have been very supportive with visits, phone calls, cards and numerous other thoughtful gestures. "Everyone has been great," Jesse said. "I just love small towns.

So many people care about you." Aftermath of the accident: The accident had a great impact on the Laser Treatment (Wrinkles, lines, scars) Protruding Ear Surgery Reconstructive Survery (Trauma, cancer) Eyeliner enhancement 'Alpha Hydroxy Acid products and peels Husband suffered severe injuries 2 days before 1st anniversary Family portrait is a look at one of the families at the heart of life in Central Minnesota, What makes families work? And how do they play? Family: For Jesse and Alex Liedman, the first year of their marriage represented the best and the worst of times. "I'd always heard people talk about the first year of marriage as being rocky, but ours went great," Jesse said. But tragedy struck two days before the Kimball couple's one-year anniversary. Jesse was on his way to work early June 27 when the vehicle he was driving was involved in a near-fatal crash near Rockford. "It was so-o-o bad," Alex said.

"It was the longest day of my life." i Background: Jesse, 21, is a Kimball native. After graduation, he enrolled in the Non Destructive Metals Testing Program at Hutchinson Technical College. He was on his way to an intern-sjup job in St. Paul when the accident occurred. Alex, 22, was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia.

She came to Central Minnesota as a high school exchange student, and after returning tjo Colombia for one year, she came back to Minnesota to attend college. he is studying electrical engineering qt St. Cloud State University. She also works part time in Spanish-speaking customer service at Fingerhut in St. Cloud, i How did you meet? Alex spent the J990-91 school year at Kimball High School.

Soon after she arrived, she picked Jesse out of the crowd. "I liked him because he was so tall," she said. Jesse asked Alex to dance one night. A week later, Alex asked him out. They were a steady twosome the rest of their senior year.

Saying goodbye at the end qf the year was hard. "It was sad and exciting," Alex said. "I wanted to see my parents and my (twin) sister, but I didn't want to lave Jesse." The young couple remained apart for year while Jesse enrolled at Hutchinson, and Alex began college in Bogota. The following June, Jesse spent three weeks in Colombia visiting Alex and her family. In August, Alex returned to Minnesota to attend college.

The Liedmans were married June 29, 1994, in Florida, where Alex's parents were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. Plans are under way for a church wedding scheduled for Dec. 30 at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Kimball. Tragedy strikes: Jesse left for work shortly before 5 a.m.

on June 27. Less than 45 minutes later, the GEO Metro he was driving was involved in a head-on crash with a pick-up truck. When rescue workers arrived, they found the entire front half of the Metro had been sheered off by the force of the crash. Amazingly, trapped inside, Jesse mured What face will you show to the future? Increase moisture 87 in 3 Reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles 64 in 3 Visible improvement in skin smoothness and tone 78 in 3 Murad's scientifically researched products are formulated to deliver visible results! Prepaid package of 6 Glycolic treatments with Janet $180, SAVE $30. Call GB Co.

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"Jesse is my life." Julie Haag Bulau Do you know a Jamily" traditional, single-parent, big or small that the Times can profile in future Family Portraits? Send you suggestions to Family Portrait, St. Cloud Times, Box 768, St. Cloud, MN 56302. 8a.m.-10a.m. Be An Early Bird AND GET 25 ENTIRE PURCHASE Offer valid tar reg.

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