Surrealistically reflecting back over the last several days from the unlikely perspective of a hospital bed at Gulf Coast Hospital, I relive the instant that delivered me to this destination.
After an extremely long day of work, I decided to install a new ceiling fan that I'd had for some time in my family room with 18' ceilings. Although late, it seemed opportune, as my good friend Ric offered a hand. Contending with a high vaulted ceiling in a fairly small room, the location of the installation proved to be some challenge. Having no step ladder with the proper reach, we managed to maneuver a 22' extension ladder into position wedging it safely between the wall and the ascent in the ceiling. After shutting off power to the breaker supplying power to the fan, I climbed the ladder with ratchet screwdriver and flashlight while Ric provided both stabilization and sound advice from the ground. I easily removed the screws holding the assembly into the bracket and disconnected the wire nuts with my left hand while balancing the unit with my right. I managed to slip all of the hardware into my pocket and shift myself into place to facilitate the descent of the ladder when I suddenly lost my balance, allowing the fan to slip and fall toward me. The fan blades hit my face, slashing from nose to left temple. I fell approximately 12' after that sudden impact knocked me backward off the ladder and I, for a split second, landed on the shoulders of my friend Ric. I caromed off him and within milliseconds, the fan caught Ric square in the right arm, then hit the floor. I somersaulted off of Ric's shoulders and slammed the back of my head and my right shoulder into the fan on the ground. As Ric struggled to maintain his balance, he planted his left foot firmly on my chest.
I came to, seconds later, sitting on the ground wondering where I was. Ric attempted to rush me to the emergency room but as I became cognitive and more aware of my surroundings, I delayed him for a few minutes. Blood poured from the back of my head and face but my only pain emanated from my left chest. For a brief second, I felt that I had suffered a heart attack as I clasped my chest and gasped for air. At this point I did not realize that one of my four broken ribs had punctured my lung causing a partial collapse and the difficulty breathing.
I gathered myself together, anticipating a hospital stay, so I removed my contact lenses and jewelry, and located my spectacles and insurance card. Rather than calling for an ambulance, I texted my friend Beverly, who arrived quickly to whisk both Ric and I to Gulf Coast Hospital's Emergency Department.
After 10 hours in emergency, both x-rays and CT scans of face, head and chest, I was diagnosed with lacerated head requiring 14 staples, lacerated face requiring stitches and super glue, broken clavicle, four broken ribs, punctured and collapsed lung (pneumothorax) and contusion on the back of the damaged lung. Ric suffered a severely bruised arm, possibly broken, and was sent home in a sling. I was quickly admitted to MCU and spent the next five days there.
For the first two days, I could barely move, only able to slowly hobble to the bathroom in excruciating pain. I felt that the entire nursing staff at Gulf Coast Hospital performed in exemplary fashion ensuring that my basic needs were met and that my pain was kept at a somewhat manageable level.
I enjoyed the company of some rather unusual room mates during my stay; a young man experiencing shoulder replacement, a depressed man who overdosed on sleeping pills, and an elderly gent with 24 children, suffering kidney failure and experiencing some rather entertaining hallucinations. One night he envisioned himself outside "chillin", eating soul food with his son, then running through a hospital Halloween party naked, and another night he told his visitors from the church that he had sex with a 26 year old nurse.
The pulmonary specialist ordered x-rays of my lungs each morning and finally on the fifth day determined that my lung puncture had healed and I was able to go home. Beverly, and daughter Chelsea snatched me from the hospital and drove me home, grabbing my many prescriptions from Walgreen's on the way.
Now, it seems like every day I feel just a little bit better but it looks like it will be some time around Christmas before I'm putting around on the Harley again.
I would like to thank the MCU staff at Gulf Coast Hospital including Sarah, Shelly, James, Lynn, Veronica, Linsey, Lisa, Gina, Winsome, and Jackie and my transporters Johnny and James who gave me a ride to Radiology every morning. Thanks and God Bless all of you!
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