What was your worst injury?

[pdqdl]

I take it they found your nose?

 

[RVALUE]

Pdqdl asked if I would tell the rest of the story, so here it is.

First off, I was in my mid 20's and knew how to operate a saw. I knew nothing at the time on how to cut trees. I cut quite a bit at work and cut firewood growing up. I am glad to survived to eventually learn better and safer ways to cut.

I has posted this story on an offroad forum years ago, and I had to go back to find it.

I got a helicopter ride, 5 hours of surgery, 4 titanium plates and 20 screws to put my face back together.

I was working and cutting a relatively small tree (10 to 12 inch white oak) that I didn't notch. It barber chaired and kicked off the stump, hitting me in the face.

I had under cut the tree, then started angling in from the high side. The tree started to go and leaned into another tree top. The trunk was at a slight angle.
Better judgment was over ruled because we were behind a deadline and I was pushing it way too hard. That tree was cocked cannon.

I stepped in beside the tree, touched the heart of the tree with the saw.
I saw a flash of wood and felt pain in my shins.
I opened my eyes about 15-feet away from the tree, laid out on my back with the saw still in my hands running. I sat up, turned off the saw, yelled for help and started the damage assessment.

I stood up, and couldn’t see my nose. I knew it was broken (understatement – I didn’t have a nose anymore). I thought, “I bet I lost some teeth in this one”, and ran my tongue around my mouth feeling my teeth. Oddly, they were all there, but I couldn’t figure out why my upper right rear molar was where my front teeth used to be. My front teeth were rotated around to the left side of my mouth. I was bleeding badly.
The guys I worked with got there and wanted to see the damage. I didn’t want them to freak, so I reached down grabbed my hat, put it on, and told them “Get me out of here.”

Here is the second big mistake of the day. The truck was about a ¼ mile away. We took off running toward the truck, while one guy steadied me on each arm. As I ran, blood way spraying out in front of me and I can still recall hearing splatter on the leaves.
I thought, “I’ve killed deer that didn’t bleed this much.”. Don’t EVER let someone that is hurt run, it just pumps the blood our faster.

We got to the truck and one guy got in back, me in the passengers seat and another guy was driving. We left the fourth guy on the hill with the equipment (he was in radio contact of another crew). He was in shock and never moved from behind the survey instrument during the incident.

We were driving off the mountain, but the guys didn’t know how to get off the mountain. We had surveyed up one side the previous two days, and that morning I hiked off to get the truck. I drove around to the next town, and up the other side of the mountain.
I was fading in and out due to blood loss. They kept yelling at me saying “Matt, stay awake – which way do we need to go.” There were a lot of logging roads that zig zagged up the mountain. I stayed conscious and pointed the right direction off the hill.

We hit the highway and Wes was burning rubber. I told him, “Man, I’ve already had a bad day – slow down, I don’t need to be in a car wreck too.” By this time my head was clearing up.

Part 2

We pulled into Elkins General Hospital, not the place you want to go for a trauma injury.

Wes ran in to get help as Phil helped me get out of the truck. I was walking toward the door when a security guard casually came pushing a wheelchair out the door to get me.

I walked over, and sat down. The security guard just stood there in shock. I thought “Great, I’m going to have to walk on in.” Mind you that this is the front door of the hospital, not the ER.
Phil grabbed the chair and wheeled me inside. I was met by a large number of astonished staff. I imagine that people in the waiting area were amazed that some guy with no face just came in the front door. I remember seeing a woman with the horrified look on her face as she was covering her child’s eyes.

They started working on me. They started to cut off my carhart bibs and boots. I stopped them and told them I would take them off myself. I raised up and they helped undress me. That was a lot of money they were getting ready to cut up, and I didn’t want them to ruin a good set of carharts or rocky boots.

As they worked on me I talked some. Most avoided looking at my face and tried to comfort me. Most of the nurses were wearing short sleeved white shirts. I was amazed at how much of my blood they had all over them. On their arms and splattered on their shirts. At one point one made a comment like, “we’ll fix you up.” I said, “I used to have a nose. It was something like hers [pointing to one nurse], but not quite as pointy. It was more like hers [pointing to another nurse]. That nurse turned white, walked out of the room, and never saw her again. I figure she is a librarian somewhere nowdays.

They tried a cat scan but I couldn’t stay laying down long enough because I was drowning in my blood. The guy running the machine was rude and said “You have to remain lying down for 3 minutes until we are done.”
I told him that I could only hold my breath for about 1 minute and that I was going to drown in 3. After several attempts they quit trying.


Part 3

My supervisor showed up and asked if he wanted him to call my wife. They had already called the life flight in and were moving me to Charleston (160 miles away by road). I said, “Call my wife and tell her that I have a broken nose and they are taking me to Charleston for surgery. He called and told her.

Unfortunately, the guy we left standing on the hill had already called our office. The owner of the company had already called her and said that I was injured with a chainsaw to the face. She said after that call she couldn’t stand up out of the kitchen floor.
The latter phone call eased her nerves enough to where she could drive to the hospital.
As I flew in, I was in and out. I raised up as we flew into Charleston and I looked over on the hill where my Dad was building a new house. I thought, “I wonder why no one is working on the house? The weather is great.” It was because they were all waiting at the hospital for me.




Part 4

We land, and they started to unload me. The flight nurse left the IV bag in the helicopter as they tried to pull me out. They tugged 3 times, I was screaming in pain and finally grabbed the nurse by the arm and tried to put her in as much pain as I was in. Yes, an IV line and a surgical sized hepernlock (sp?) in your arm will keep 3 men from pulling the gurney out of a helicopter. It did some major damage to my arm and bent the needle into a “J” shape.

I saw my wife, mom, and dad before surgery and woke up sometime the next afternoon. I couldn’t open my eyes due to swelling. I laid there and listened to people come and go and talk about my condition. The next morning I had enough strength to open my eyes and motion people. I went home and was back at work 5- weeks later because workmans compensation sucks so bad, that I was about to go under financially. I showed up for work and went back out. I worked 3 weeks before I got my first check from Comp. The same day I got my first pay check from work. I was starting to have bills that were late.

I don’t look the same after, but overall my appearance is normal. My teeth don’t mesh right, and I have weird feelings and sensations in my face now. My vision isn’t as good, and have pain sometimes.

I was eventually compensated for my time off, and didn’t sue or get any settlements. I was the supervisor on the job, I was running the saw, and the accident was my fault. I’m just happy to be alive, close to normal, and still employed. No one was at fault besides myself, so no owed me anything. I’m greatful for modern medicine and good surgeons.
Overall, I’m happy to be here and happy to be alive.

Well written story, especially the 'ending'. Great that you are able to write it!

PS I've kidded with the doctors and nurses every time I've been in the hospital. Not always the best way though. Some librarian, classic. I've had the doctors take out the humor pretty fast too, when they get your attention.

Good Post.

 

[RVALUE]

I take it they found your nose?

OR just re-arrange the splinters into something that looks reasonable.

 

[LarryTheCableGuy]

Good lord. This is the kind of story we all need to read from time to time.
Thanks, and I hope you never need write another story like this again.

Yeah, it certainly gets your attention!

I'm glad that you healed up as well as you did - I also admire your ethic.



.

 

[Burvol]

Mercy....

 

[silverzuk]

I take it they found your nose?

They made me a new one. It doesn't look the same, but you really can't tell what happened unless you look at old pictures.

I am living proof that you have to be tough to be stupid. I learned that when I foul something up to turn off the saw, study it, and think of what can happen.
If I'm not very confident that I can do it safely - I don't do it.

Getting in a hurry will get you killed.

 

[gwiley]

Thanks for the story - you have convinced me to never skip strapping or chaining leaners or anything that I think is at risk of barber chair.

 

[outofmytree]

I am living proof that you have to be tough to be stupid.

Brother after that story and this statement you have my utmost respect. Anyone can make a mistake. Real men are those that tell you about em, admit to em, and laugh about em.

Repped.

 

[trimmmed]

Broken ribs aren't hardly worth worrying about. They hurt for a while, but you get over them in about a month. I guess some folks get perforated lungs, but that is pretty uncommon.

I have to disagree with the ribs being nothing to worry about! Ribs suck!

I did a 2 story free fall off a scaffold that gave way. Landed with a thud. Gravity sucks! Broke my ribs, doc's said nothing they could do, try and take it easy and maybe they will heal.
Well 20 years later they still act up every now and again, if I get in just the right position under load. Carrying 4x8 sheet goods can do it. Then something goes twang! and I'm on the couch for a few days, painful to even sit up. Then it goes away. The go away periods have been longer and longer over time. But ribs suck!

 

[Jumper]

Broken back and broken arm while jumping out of a perfectly good airplane in
Zagreb, Croatia when I will still in the Army. Still have the souvenir plate installed in my arm by a US Army Orthopaedic surgeon at the American Forces hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, near Ramstein, AB.

 

[Grace Tree]

Broken back and broken arm while jumping out of a perfectly good airplane in
Zagreeb, Croatia when I will still in the Army. Still have the souvenir plate installed in my arm by a US Army Orthopaedic surgeon at the American Forces hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, near Ramstein, AB.

Thanks for your service and your sacrifice.
Phil

 

[RVALUE]

I have to disagree with the ribs being nothing to worry about! Ribs suck!

I did a 2 story free fall off a scaffold that gave way. Landed with a thud. Gravity sucks! Broke my ribs, doc's said nothing they could do, try and take it easy and maybe they will heal.
Well 20 years later they still act up every now and again, if I get in just the right position under load. Carrying 4x8 sheet goods can do it. Then something goes twang! and I'm on the couch for a few days, painful to even sit up. Then it goes away. The go away periods have been longer and longer over time. But ribs suck!

Would this be a good place to put: WAA WAA WAA WAA ?

 

[pdqdl]

I have to disagree with the ribs being nothing to worry about! Ribs suck!
...

Sorry yours didn't turn out so well.

SEE! I told you I heal well. Mine have never bothered me again, once I got them set. And I have done it three different times.

[Short ribs are the most painful, as they are closest to where you bend at the waist, and they are not supported on both ends.]

 

[RVALUE]

I have a non-recommendable soloution to the bending problem. Have your back fused, and get a titanium cage.

Again, not recommended.

 

[semiferger]

My first major injury i dont remember at all, but i was about two years old and i guess i was messing with a dog who didnt exactly take kindly to my playfulness. basically i pulled on its tale and it proceeded to bite my cheeck off, yes i said off... well it was barely hanging on my face and they were able to reattach it... all i have now is a dimple when i smile real hard.

at the age of six i wiped out on the pavement like a little retard and skinned my thumb knuckle down to the bone.

age 16, my friend decided it would be cool to push me over a speed bump (meant for cars) in my wheelchair, while running as fast as he possibly could. well, we hit the bump together and i flipped backwards knocking him on his ass and we both skid a good five or ten feet, resulting in the most blood i had ever shed in an injury.

 

[Saw Seller]

I cut a large maple tree limb from a ladder, only about 7 feet up. I reached over & was about halfway through when the limb came back at me from about 4 feet away. It split odd & tore me off the ladder & I fell on my side. I had tossed my chainsaw as far as I could, nevertheless when I fell my leg went across the powerhead. Guess what fell on top of that leg then? The tree branch pinned my leg to the saw. I lifted the large branch enough to free my leg while laying down. A large man that came to help couldn't lift it off my chainsaw while standing up. This was a short fall but a bad one. I don't saw from ladders anymore, Randy

 

[dandandatreeman]

Well about two years ago I fell 40ft. I was tied off walked out on a limb about 20ft from tree when the limb I was on and safetied to broke and sent me on a ride. On the top of my backswing the top broke out and landed on me. After I went 40ft to the ground. One of my friends was there and broke down the neighbors door to call an ambulance. Now I have a reminder on my left wrist on how I don't need to take stupid risks. Broke that wrist and have shrapnel in it for the rest of my life. Also had bad concussion and cracked pelvis. Back to climbing after 4 weeks. Glad to ne here to tell the story.

 

[ryan_marine]

I had a beach tree that was cut all the way trough. It was leaning in to some small cherry trees. I decided in my bright mind to pull the bottem of the log out. Well the beach snag came back over and dislocated right shoulder broke 4 ribs. Thank heaven that the tractor was not hurt. Tractor is a 1956 John Deere 320.

Ray

 

[doogiegh]

Omg!

I am the oldest of four brothers, I remember we told my lil bro to jump off of our two story house with an umbrella. I got the whippin of a life time for that!
Jeff

THAT is freaking hilarious!!

 

[jefflovstrom]

The next whippin was we were moving to California from Florida and we took our cat. Every time the cat pooped, my dad had to stop at a rest area to throw away the poop. I guess the cat was not comfortable in a car ride 2000 miles. After we got thru the pan handle of Florida, my dad said the next time the cat poops, just pick it up and throw it out the window. Sure enough, about 2 hours later, I threw the cat out the window.
Jeff