Important

[CarleyB]

Hi everyone. I thought I would let you all know our family's current situation because we need all the support we can get. Yesterday, Monday, my husband had an accident with the lawn mower and mangled the toes on his right foot. He was going backwards and bumped into something he forgot was there, the lawn mower lifted up, he slipped and his foot went under the mower.

The ambulance took him to the hospital where it seemed an interminable amount of time for him to be given pain relief that really made any difference at all. He is so kind and caring that he made me go home after being there about three hours and still waiting for the orthopaedic surgeon. My son stayed until about 12:30 AM.

They finally took him to surgery. He had multiple fractures in his big toe and third toe and lost part of his second toe. They kept him overnight to monitor the blood flow to his foot and his pain and pump him with antibiotics to prevent infection. They did not medicate him enough, and when my daughter, Mere, a nurse, called to check on his status she was very dismayed to hear what little he had been given. They are now giving him more but still not enough. I do not understand this. He is a big man.

They took him to PT to put weight on his foot and it was so excruciating you could hear him screaming practically throughout the whole hospital. That set off another whole pain cycle that when I talked to him was still trying to be brought under control. I am really disgusted with this hospital.

Thank God my son is living at home now, or I don't know what I would do. I depend on my husband for everything and this is just the kind of thing I have been in fear of for years. It is very overwhelming. He told me not to come to the hospital today because I have had a blasting headache, which is now just subsiding. I got online to try to distract myself. Also, Thans God that my daughter, Mere, the nurse, who lives in NJ, is off for a few days and is coming home tonight. She will make sure he is given the proper dose of pain meds.

I don't know how long he will be in the hospital. I hope they will keep him until he is able to manage the pain. I hope Mere will be here when he comes home because we have to figure out comfortable arrangements for his recuperatioon. He will be incapacitated for about 8 weeks. No golfing for him for awhile, I am afraid.

My son is going to have to pick up a lot of the slack around here, plus I am going to have to force myself to do more without overdoing it. My son goes back to school after Labor Day, plus works part time, plus studies to maintain an A average.

We will manage, but there will be a lot of adjustments to be made, and I am going to have to cancel all but the most necessary Dr. appts. My other daughter in NC said she could probably come home for a weekend to help out. I hope she can because we were planning a visit to see her and our grandchildren, although I don't know if she would bring all the grandchildren.

Please keep us all, and especially my husband, in your thoughts and prayers, which I know you will. I am mostly concerned about his pain and that infection doesn't set in, and that my son and I will be able to manage everything around here while my husband is laid up.

:thankyou:

[Melinda4Bama]

I hope that your husband has a speedy recovery. I will keep your family in my prayers.

[Robyn]

:( What a terrible time! Wishing that the healing process goes better for your husband, as well as you and your family.

[merrybari]

Oh Carley!! :hug: really don't what to say at this point but know that every thought and prayer are with you all and all my heart too!! Give my best to Joe!

[CarleyB]

:thankyou: everybody for your kind words and prayers. They really mean a lot. Mere just came home from the hospital and said Joe is doing much better with the pain. Thank the Lord! They just took him for more X-rrays. I am not quite sure why that is. I am hoping I will be able to go over tomorrow.

[LovelyRita]

Yikes, Carley! I am so sorry to hear this. I'm glad, however, that Joe did not lose more than part of one toe. How scary! :cryoutloud:

Please keep us posted, and take care of yourself. Best wishes to you and Joe. Sending good vibes for quick healing!

[tropicalbliss~Karen]

:( Oh my gosh Carley.... I am so sorry to hear that!!!!! I will def keep you and you family in my prayers, you sound like you have a very close family and I am glad that you will have help. I pray for quick healing and correct meds with less and less pain!!!! Keep yourself healthy and loving that husband of yours, sounds like a wonderful man!!! :pray:

[Ellen]

Oh dear!! :(

Thank God it wasn't worse! I'm sure your husband will recover from this trauma, and so will you.

Sending you a big hug and prayers for complete healing for all of you. :hug:

[nightowl]

My goodness, how awful. Hope your husband is feeling better. Best wishes for his recovery. :hug:

[tropicalbliss~Karen]

Carley, wondering how your husband is doing???? Have been praying for all of you :pray:

[CarleyB]

Glad to be able to report that my husband, Joe, is doing much better. He was released from the hospital today. We were all surprised that he would be in so long, but he needs a lot of physical therapy. He isn't home yet, but has been sent to rehab, where they will continue pain management and PT. I am glad that they do not want to send him home until he can manage pretty well without mishaps. Right now he is using a walker and learning to use the stairs.

Thanks to all of you for your kind words and prayers. It really means a lot when you know you aren't going through tough times alone. It could have been much, much worse and I know he will be home and back to new soon.

[tropicalbliss~Karen]

:) Good to hear he is out and doing much better....prayers will continue for healing, pain management and getting back to where he should be!!! :pray:

[merrybari]

Glad to see this update with good news of improvement. :hug: to all of you.

[elover]

Carley, I'm catching up and I just read this about your husband. I'm so sorry to learn of his accident, but I'm glad he's improving. :pray: and :hug:

[CarleyB]

Thanks so much. He is in rehab now and getting quite a work out. He has become quite conscious of how he needs better health habits, so perhaps this whole experience will be good for him in the long run. He will most likely not be home for several more days. When he does get home he can continue his work out on the Total Gym which we are going to set up in the living room for him and for my son and me too.

My daughter, Julia, is coming Fri. from NC to help prepare some meals and freeze them. I am starting to clean today and get the house ready. Have to clear away some stuff and move some stuff so he won't be tripping and have clear paths to navigate. Just have to be careful that I take my time and not try to do too much at once. Everything in moderation is the word.