My Injury
I was not going to use this blog to talk about my injury. I feel I have to. It is about my life's journey.
The date was August 31, 2005. It was a nice sunny day with a slight breeze. My boss and I were going to raise one of the radio towers on top of the building we work in 20'. I had been working 30' up on the tower for about 20 minutes when a slight breeze appeared. I heard my boss yell lean back. I had no idea what he was talking about until I looked back and noticed that one of the guide wires had let go and I was falling toward the roof.
The fall seemed real slow. My boss said it was fast and I had enough time to yell, oh shit. I tried to jump from the tower about 10 feet from the roof. That was pretty much a waste of energy because I was strapped to the tower. As soon as I jumped, I was brought right back to the tower.
I hit the the roof, then the tower and the roof again. The first thing I thought was okay I can breath and I know were am at. Thats good, that means I'm alive. Then the I felt the pain in my left ankle. I thought for sure my ankle was broke. As I laid there for a few more seconds I felt the pain in my right ankle, ribs and both wrists. I figured I had quite a few broken bones.
The next thing that came to my mind is I had to get my left shoe off. It was hurting bad. My boss had already been yelling for someone to call 911 at this point. I tried to move and he was at my side telling me not to move. My next concern was how were they going to get me off the roof. I was 2 stories up. We had to climb through a small opening in the roof in order to get onto the roof. No way was I going to be able climb back through that hole.
It did not take long for the paramedics to get there. They asked if I had lost consciousness. I said no. I told him I really need to get my shoe off before we go any farther. They removed my left shoe and I felt so much better. He also unstrapped me from the tower and let me lay flat on my back. That made me feel a lot better. They then proceeded to ask me a bunch of questions, like what day it was, were I was, what I was doing.
Once they felt I was stable, I was moved to a backboard and strapped down. That was not a fun feeling. The paramedic was about to put in a IV and I said wait, is that really necessary. I hate needles. Of course he said yes I need to have one. I asked if we could wait until I was down on the ground hoping I could talk him out of it. I was able to put him off for a little while longer.
The fire department had to come over with the ladder truck to get me off of the building. Since they had to take me down the ladder of the fire truck I had to be put into a basket. That meant being strapped down it the basket on the backboard. Wow did they make it tight I was not moving. Before they started moving down the ladder the paramedic talked me into putting in the IV on the roof. I gave it a valiant effort, and lost.
I knew the one fireman who was in charge. He was standing over me as they were getting ready to lower me down the ladder. I informed him I knew who he was and I would not be to happy it I had to take another fall today. He assured me that I was going to be okay. The ride down was uneventful for me. Do not know how it was for the firemen. They did a great job.
Never thought I would have the joy of riding in the back of an ambulance. That was one of the roughest rides I have ever been on. I hope that was my
last ride in a ambulance.
The next four hours were spent in the emergency room. I ended up with a crushed heal, bruised ribs, ankle and wrists. Not to bad. I feel pretty lucky.
The date was August 31, 2005. It was a nice sunny day with a slight breeze. My boss and I were going to raise one of the radio towers on top of the building we work in 20'. I had been working 30' up on the tower for about 20 minutes when a slight breeze appeared. I heard my boss yell lean back. I had no idea what he was talking about until I looked back and noticed that one of the guide wires had let go and I was falling toward the roof.
The fall seemed real slow. My boss said it was fast and I had enough time to yell, oh shit. I tried to jump from the tower about 10 feet from the roof. That was pretty much a waste of energy because I was strapped to the tower. As soon as I jumped, I was brought right back to the tower.
I hit the the roof, then the tower and the roof again. The first thing I thought was okay I can breath and I know were am at. Thats good, that means I'm alive. Then the I felt the pain in my left ankle. I thought for sure my ankle was broke. As I laid there for a few more seconds I felt the pain in my right ankle, ribs and both wrists. I figured I had quite a few broken bones.
The next thing that came to my mind is I had to get my left shoe off. It was hurting bad. My boss had already been yelling for someone to call 911 at this point. I tried to move and he was at my side telling me not to move. My next concern was how were they going to get me off the roof. I was 2 stories up. We had to climb through a small opening in the roof in order to get onto the roof. No way was I going to be able climb back through that hole.
It did not take long for the paramedics to get there. They asked if I had lost consciousness. I said no. I told him I really need to get my shoe off before we go any farther. They removed my left shoe and I felt so much better. He also unstrapped me from the tower and let me lay flat on my back. That made me feel a lot better. They then proceeded to ask me a bunch of questions, like what day it was, were I was, what I was doing.
Once they felt I was stable, I was moved to a backboard and strapped down. That was not a fun feeling. The paramedic was about to put in a IV and I said wait, is that really necessary. I hate needles. Of course he said yes I need to have one. I asked if we could wait until I was down on the ground hoping I could talk him out of it. I was able to put him off for a little while longer.
The fire department had to come over with the ladder truck to get me off of the building. Since they had to take me down the ladder of the fire truck I had to be put into a basket. That meant being strapped down it the basket on the backboard. Wow did they make it tight I was not moving. Before they started moving down the ladder the paramedic talked me into putting in the IV on the roof. I gave it a valiant effort, and lost.
I knew the one fireman who was in charge. He was standing over me as they were getting ready to lower me down the ladder. I informed him I knew who he was and I would not be to happy it I had to take another fall today. He assured me that I was going to be okay. The ride down was uneventful for me. Do not know how it was for the firemen. They did a great job.
Never thought I would have the joy of riding in the back of an ambulance. That was one of the roughest rides I have ever been on. I hope that was my
last ride in a ambulance.
The next four hours were spent in the emergency room. I ended up with a crushed heal, bruised ribs, ankle and wrists. Not to bad. I feel pretty lucky.