ATV accident
On March 1, 2008, I was involved in an ATV accident in which I came in contact with a down power line and was electrocuted (7200 volts). I was taken via ambulance to Owensboro Medical Health System, where doctors determined that my injuries were too severe to be treated at their facility, so I was airlifted to Vanderbilt Burn Unit in Nashville, TN.
By the time I arrived in Nashville, the burns to my hands/arms was so bad that the toxins in my system were causing my kidneys to shut down and in order to save my life, the difficult decision to amputate both arms just below the elbow was made. I was fortunate to be under the amazing care of Dr. Jeffrey Guy and his staff, and though at first they didn’t know if I was going to live and they thought I may be in the hospital for a matter of months, I was released to go home after only 12 days. Those twelve days I couldn’t imagine how my family and friends felt. After being in a coma for 3 days I woke up to discover what I was missing. Even though I was awake all the way until I got to nashville I remember everything, but the main thing was I told my wife before I was air-lifted that I was going to be OK and I loved them. I was glad I was right, I’m glad I can see and talk, I’m glad I’m alive to share those moments with my family and those two little girls I helped into this world.
Upon returning home, I decided to begin immediately to teach myself how to learn a new life with the situation I was in. My road to recovery has been hectic as I’ve taught myself to do the things I love, such as driving, hunting, and most of all, holding my two young daughters.
