Then at 8:03 a.m. things changed…we had just stepped on yet another roller coaster ride for the year 2013. I called Mike from work because I realized I had lost an earring. I wanted him to check the floor at home to see if he could find it. Mike didn’t give me a chance to tell him. He was in so much pain he interrupted me to tell me just that. All I heard was limb, shoulder and nose. Immediately I said, “I am coming home!” Praying to our Lord and Savior I took off to find out what was going on…
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” John 14.1
As I was driving home my mother-in-law called and said they were headed to our primary care physician’s office. We have a great physician. He takes his time and truly cares about his patients. As soon as he laid eyes on Mike you could see the concern on his face. He asked Mike what happened and this is when I learned the details of his accident. Mike was about 15 ft. up on a ladder. He was trimming a tree limb with a chainsaw. As the limb came down it knocked the ladder out from under Mike and he fell to the ground. As he was falling he had the wherewithal to throw the chainsaw away from his body. His injuries indicate he hit the ground with his shoulder and nose because they took the brunt of the fall. After listening and examining Mike, Dr. Black asked me if I knew where we were going…as I looked confused he said , ” the ER!” He called ahead to the ER and off we went.
Psalm 34.17-20a
Mike was in pain! He was hurting! It was written all over his face. His demeanor was unlike I had ever seen him. As he crouched in the car he was speechless…he was aching all over. We made it to the ER. We prayed on the way…thanking the Lord for his hedge of protection and for the care He would provide. We prayed for the caregivers…and we prayed peace and calm. We knew we were very blessed. We knew this could have been so much worse. Earlier in the week we had just discussed a guy in Indiana who had fallen from a tree stand and was paralyzed from the neck down.
We spent the day in the ER. Mike had a CT scan and x-rays. They determined his nose was a simple fracture…which Mike set back on his own before ever going to the doctor…crazy! He did have a cut on his nose. They considered this an open fracture. But due to this fact they would not do surgery immediately. He had to wait until Wednesday of this week to have it repaired.
He was one tough cookie…I knew he was tough…but now I have NO doubt. Tuesday, November 12 Mike had a doctor appointment with the surgeon. The look on the nurse’s and the surgeon’s faces when they looked at the x-ray told us all we needed to know. It was bad…So bad that the surgeon said he would work Mike in the next day. He didn’t want him to wait. He said this type of break is as bad as they get – a 3 part proximal humerus fracture. So on Wednesday, November 13 he finally had surgery. He was last one to go under the doctor’s knife on Wednesday. We were told to be there at 1:30pm for a 3:30pm surgery. He was finally rolled back at 6:45pm. Needless to say it, was a long day! We were clinging to the Lord’s promise that He would provide. And he did.
Before Surgery… After surgery…Mike’s NEW hardware!
This blog was started yesterday with intent to finish it last night. Pain…Mike’s pain…reared its ugly head and I did not get a chance to finish. The pain has been yet another roller coaster ride. We were told not to let it get ahead of us because it would be hard to catch him up…boy were they right. We have followed all the directions to a tee but we found out later we could have done things a little differently to make sure he stayed ahead of it…now we know. The pain roller coaster is on an even stretch as I type and I pray it stays that way. The ups and downs of the ride have been difficult for Mike but our prayers for relief have been heard!
Let me say…I don’t like roller coasters. I don’t like the way they jerk you around. I don’t like the way your stomach leaves you for a while. I don’t like the speed in which you fly and then the sudden stop at the end. The ups and downs paired with the fear of what’s next is unnerving. But, when I step on them…even though I don’t like them…I trust that when I am buckled in that the ride will not last forever. It will have thrills along with chills. I also trust the designer and builder with my life…without knowing them. My trust is in the park that they are maintaining the ride and it is safe. I don’t know them either.
With all of this being said…if I trust those I don’t know…then why should I worry and be fearful while Mike and I are on this roller coaster? I shouldn’t! Today, God provided the perfect scripture once again for this season of our life:
We are trusting God during this time. Our job is not to try to understand why it happened but to trust during the ride. Mike wants others to learn from his mistake…knowing he could have done so many things to prevent this…Safety first…always! We thank and praise God it wasn’t any worse…we know are truly blessed. We will praise Him in this storm once again!
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
thenextmailboxboston 
I hope this is your last roller coaster for a long while. God used you to help me and is now using you again to help Mike. He will give you strength.
Excellent Tricia! Have a Blessed Week. Mike you will endure and remember the word ALL which as times we do not understand, but he does. Love to you both, Dad
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
(Isaiah 41:10)