The Accident

On Friday morning, December 8th, about 8:00am, dad was at work at Genesis when an employee called him over to check a machine. He was wearing a fleece coat that he usually doesn't wear at the shop. As he was leaning in take a look, the zipper of his jacket got caught on the drill and it immediately sucked him into the machine. The drill was still spinning and wrapped his jacket around his neck and pinned him against it. A few employees cut him free from the machine, but he had no pulse and was not breathing. An employee (we love you Rudy) performed mouth to mouth and his heart began to beat again. By that time the paramedics were there and dad was taken by Flight for Life to Froedtert. They found that there was an imcomplete spinal cord injury between the 5th and 6th vertebrae. Although the vertebrae had been fractured and pulled apart, the spinal cord was damaged but not severed. There was also a large amount of tissue damage in his neck where the jacket had strangled him. He underwent a long surgery during which they repaired the vertebrae, and much of the damaged tissue. The surgeon was very positive about the procedure, although his prognosis was very much unknown. About two hours post surgery, dad was able to wiggle his toes and gave a weak thumbs up. This was excellent news. Friday ended with a positive attitude and high hopes that dad was on his way to recovery.

Saturday was a good day. Dad was strong enough to breath on his own so the breathing tube was removed mid morning. He was able to lift his right arm at the elbow and now able to speak. His first words to mom were "will I walk?", mom responded with a "yes". As he realized his condition, he became quite aggitated and restless, wanting to move, asking when we could go home, obviously groggy and confused from all the meds. He drifted in and out of sleep most the day, and we left him alone. It seemed that him hearing our voices made him more aggitated, as he was angry he couldn't talk to us or communicate. We left him Saturday night to get some rest.

It turned out to be a rough night for Pops. About 9pm, mom got a call from the hospital saying that dad was having heart trouble. His heart had failed and he lost a pulse. They resuscitated him quickly but had to reinsert his breathing tube as he was unable to get adequate oxygen on his own. The doctors said that heart failure is common with spinal cord injuries and it did not necessarily have anything to do with his prior heart history. He was soon back in stable condition, but the night continued to be rough as his oxygen levels fell. They realized there may have been some injury to his lungs that they couldn't see on x-ray. They continued to monitor his oxygen levels closely. They had to tether his right arm to the bed because the old stinker kept trying to pull his tubes out. (He is really not a fan of the tubes). It was difficult to see him in that postition, being even more restricted than he already feels, but it was good to know that he's got enough strength in his arm to take a whack at a nurse or two. He is feisty, but determined. That is why we love him...

He was more heavily sedated for the duration of Sunday. This allows him to relax and give his body peace and quiet. We spent most of the day in a nearby lounge, going in to see him once and awhile. There is something so soothing about seeing him sleeping peacefully, no fighting, no frustration, no pain...praying for his broken body to heal....praying that all will be calm tonight. If he remains stable for the next 24 hours, there is a surgery scheduled for Tuesday that will further repair his spine. This surgery will require him to lay on his stomach, which means he must prove to be stable enough to endure it. Our biggest prayer right now is that he remains stable and there is no regression in his condition so the surgery can happen as planned. Once this second surgery is complete, then rehab can begin....no surgery, no rehab. As we go to bed tonight, we pray the phone is quiet, that we get no surprises, and that in the morning when we see him he looks as peaceful and rested as when we left. Thanks for your continued prayers.