Accidents happen...

My dad had an accident happen on February 11th. He was out in his yard with a chain saw in hand, cutting some branches off a big cottonwood tree when a large tree branch bowed back and took the ladder out from underneath him and he fell about 10 feet down to the ground, landing on his back with the branch partly underneath him and his chainsaw to the side of him. Lucky for him, he realized something was wrong and instantly killed his chainsaw as he went backwards and in the air. He laid on the ground for several minutes trying to catch his breath, he said he had never had the wind knocked out of him so hard before... major feelings of panic! He knew he couldn't really move and he needed help. He managed to get his cell phone out of his pocket to call my mom. She was in town having lunch with friends when she got the call. He was so short on breath that all he said was, "I need help - come to the front driveway." It took a lot for him to be able to get that much out slowly... and that was it, my poor mom's heart sank, her emotions ran high and she raced home, with her mind goining a million miles an hour, just recalling that he had a chainsaw in his hand when she left... she was wondering how bad and what did he cut??? When she got there she didn't see him right away, she had to look for him -she found him lying where he fell still struggling to catch his breath. She immediately helped him and they ended up in the emergency room. He spent a night and a day in the hospital. After running several tests, it was determined that he had one really bruised lung, broken and cracked ribs, and in his back he broke 5 small bones that were to the side of his spine in the section of L1-L5 in his lower back, all were basically broken into several tiny pieces. His elbow was swollen and bruised and his head hurt. He was miserable and could hardly move and when he did, it was very painful. His recovery has seemed long and miserable for him. My mom has been a great nurse! I know it's been a long 3 weeks for both of them! It's definitely been hard for him not being able to sit, eat, sleep or lie down without help and a TON of pain! It was a day neither one of them will not soon forget, but I can guarantee you, next time he will call the tree removal service! Dad we are glad you are okay and still recovering well! We love you!