Got a call from my sister in Cleveland Wednesday before 10pm. I work at a TV station. I never get a call from my sister this late. She just had a kid and I knew she would be putting little Casey to bed, or both would bein bed by now.

She says, first thing, that "dad's okay; don't worry." My sister goes on to say, my father, who turned all of 60 in February, fell off of a ladder while on the job working for a roofing company, about 25 miles east of Cleveland.

He fell on his head, cracked his skull, broke some vertebra in his neck, broke a few ribs and broke his right wrist on the fall. I talked to my mother after the 10 p.m. show when she called and got more details, but I didn’t ask my mom or sister what was the distance he fell from. Dad also has a black eye.

His wrist surgery is next week mom says. My brother-in-law is a paramedic firefighter in Lake County and was there to initially treat my dad.

Dad is at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland in their trauma unit, room 1138. Funny -- 1138 -- a Star Wars reference. Cool.

Presently, I am still in town and will be otherwise. Things are day to day since it's the inital 24 hours. I might be going home this weekend, but unsure if my dad will be home. My family and I are trying to get my sister home. She lives in San Diego.

On a side note, mom and dad had a Caribbean trip planned for next week. Mom canceled it and she had insurance so they can go another time, but the sound of my mom's voice and her words point to my father not working ever again.

As I said it's the initial 24 hours and he's in the trauma unit. There is no inital swelling on his brain or anything like that. Presently dad is in good spirits, in a lot of pain, and was watching / listening to the Cavaliers-Celtics game when my sister called me.

My dad is tough, he's been through a lot. He's old school. He's had numerous surgeries, total knee replacements, ugly staph infections, but this is having an effect on my mom.

Me? I’m doing okay and will move when I’m told to move. I think I should go home this weekend. Dad is the lawnmover man, always has been and always will. I know the big lawn will need to be cut.

This is so strange. Just needed to share.

***UPDATE THURSDAY***

Hi thanks everyone for your support.

I know a little but more. Found out the newspaper I worked for near where the accident happened covered it in today's edition. I called the paper because I know them and was wondering if anyone from their staff heard anything? I am just trying to assemble the pieces. Here it goes -- this is jumbled with the newspaper brief and my family's info.

The accident happened at around 3:30pm, close to when he was going home. He was on a ladder, and my mom says something was wrong it with it. He was measuring a roof. It was also misting, light rain, since rain was moving through Ohio Wednesday. The accident happened at a house in Kirtland, Ohio.

Dad fell about 12 feet to a deck with a brick-like surface. In addition to what I said, dad has a concussion and a broken nose. Initially he was taken to Lake West Hospital in Willoughby but transferred by air ambulance (helicopter) to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

A spinal specialist and his own doctor are acessing the situation and he's still in the hospital. He probably will be for the next few days -- which is good, very good.

The entire family and I (extended) are all handling it well, but it is weird that I can remain calm about it. Maybe it's because I have been working at the TV station or a newspaper and I am de-sensitized to "ugly" stuff.

Anyway, it's the first 24, and dad is stable. Mom says it's a workman's comp issue and that his medical bills will be covered and he will receive 2/3 of his salary. But it appears he will not be working for quite some time and because of this situation things have changed -- summer plans, vacation plans, playing golf with me and my brother-in-law, etc.

I am not going home to see my dad until I get my sister on a flight from LAX / SAn Diego to Detroit. Once she is in Detroit I'll get her and we will go home together.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers.


***UPDATE FRIDAY***

I have been having some tough times sleeping. I sleep but remain tired. But I will sleep good this Friday evening because my father called me on the cell phone! He called to let me know he was discharged from the trauma unit and hospital and was driven home by my mother.

Dad says he has sprains all over his body in addition to what I said above. He also clarified in saying he has a chipped bone in his neck and that is is not "broken" per se, which is great. He did say that these next few days will be the roughest, but he knows that he will be doing a lot of resting.

I am not going home this weekend, as previously thought, but will be going home next weekend for the Memorial Day holiday. I did tell my sister to call me any time if dad takes a turn for the worse. I know we will take care of him.

Dad has been prideful but he needs to take it easy and say "enough is enough." My entire family is worried, but we all know he will pull through in due time. But it will take some time.

Once again, thanks for your prayers and thoughts and well wishes.
[Edited 5/16/08 22:20pm]

awwww arrgggg my heart to you.

My father is/was ( 70) a contractor. Nail guns became the tool of choice as of the 90's. The problem with them in rare but solid cases is deflection. A nail shoots followed most directly by another. The second nail deflects upon the first. Meaning to say, heads in another unintended direction. In his case, it deflected into the direction of the main artery in the left arm. ( Not a good thing to be certain!)

I arrive at the hospital some solid 3 hours after the incident. Due to the fact the nail may have nicked a major artery and they are waiting on film verification, thus he has been given nothing for pain as he may require surgery in which case they need his blood to be clean.

I walked in young and startled. I asked pertinent questions to which he responded, please, you are breaking my concentration and making me aware of the pain. Tears rolled down his face. One of THE most daunting moments in my life.

we get the film back later and it reveals an amazing truth: The main vain was making a U turn right around the nail that had his arm snapped in half and puckered out backwards. They could numb him and wrap the arm up... he was back at work and building homes in less then 6 weeks.

Really sorry to hear this, I hope he recovers quickly.

oh man, that is not so good

hope he is back on his feet soon again

I'm soooo sorry to hear about this.

My dad is 75 and he's walking slower and slower. It hurts me to watch him like that.

Thanks for all the concern and love and hugs. Much appreciated.

Keep you posted as I learn more.

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

thus he has been given nothing for pain as he may require surgery in which case they need his blood to be clean.

NONONONONONO

AND no again.....you have been fibbed to my dear

either you misunderstood or that is a major case of mistreatment

nobody NOBODY in ED should ever ever have pain

and the clean blood???

clean blood?????

ive just shown my colleagues this in ICU and were all stunned!!

perhaps the person who told you that was dressed up as a nurse/doctor and had actually escaped from the looney bin

your poor dad

NO PAIN RELIEF

karen as a charge nurse and being very familiar with that kind of injury having worked in resus for a good few years i cannot believe that happened

his nurse/doctor should have had their asses kicked

that is a black and white case of mismanagement

jonylawson said:

Ok, let my novice self be clear, As I was told, their concern was the artery was nicked thus presenting complication should they need to knock him out.

even if they thought it was "compartment syndrome" they could still give him something

man thats annoyed me!

i feel sorry for you and your dad

a2grafix said:

oh, and the other stuff too....

I'm so sorry Tim.

Oh, Tim. I'm so sorry. Check your orgnotes.

A few years ago my dad was cutting down a tree. To make a long story short it fell the wrong way and onto him. He suffered a severe traumatic brain injury among many others. Lots of the same injuries as your dad.

He was in rehab for a month (inpatient) and then a few more months outpatient.


I hope your dad does well.


My dad has lasting problems, but is living on his own. Just make sure to watch for any changes. Even weeks after this.

So sad.. May he heal quickly.

Hi thanks everyone for your support.

I know a little but more. Found out the newspaper I worked for near where the accident happened covered it in today's edition. I called the paper because I know them and was wondering if anyone from their staff heard anything? I am just trying to assemble the pieces. Here it goes -- this is jumbled with the newspaper brief and my family's info.

The accident happened at around 3:30pm, close to when he was going home. He was on a ladder, and my mom says something was wrong it with it. He was measuring a roof. It was also misting, light rain, since rain was moving through Ohio Wednesday. The accident happened at a house in Kirtland, Ohio.

Dad fell about 12 feet to a deck with a brick-like surface. In addition to what I said above ^ ^ ^ ^, dad has a concussion and a broken nose. Initially he was taken to Lake West Hospital but transferred by air ambulance (helicopter) to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

A spinal specialist and his own doctor are acessing the situation and he's still in the hospital. He probably will be for the next few days -- which is good, very good.

The entire family and I (extended) are all handling it well, but it is weird that I can reain calm about it. Maybe it's because I have been working at the TV station or a newspaper and I am de-sensitized to "ugly" stuff.

Anyway, it's the first 24, and dad is stable. Mom says it's a workman's comp issue and that his medical bills will be covered and he will receive 2/3 of his salary. But it appears he will not be working for quite some time and because of this situation things have changed -- summer plans, vacation plans, playing golf with me and my brother-in-law, etc.

I am not going home to see my dad until I get my sister on a flight from LAX / SAn Diego to Detroit. Once she is in Detroit I'll get her and we will go home together.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers.

Keep your chin up, Darlin'. A lot folks will be here for you wishing for the best

OMG Tim! I am very very sorry to hear that this happened! I pray for his full recovery and for your and your familie's strength

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Richie! Thank you sir. Unfortuantely with this setback I have to cancel my June trip to see you in Anaheim. I will make it up to you and hopefully we can see each other up in Detroit this summer with our Detroit Crawl friends.

I hope that he pulls through with a full recovery.

I have been having some tough times sleeping. I sleep but remain tired. But I will sleep good this Friday evening because my father called me on the cell phone! He called to let me know he was discharged from the trauma unit and hospital and was driven home by my mother.

Dad says he has sprains all over his body in addition to what I said above. He also clarified in saying he has a chipped bone in his neck and that is is not "broken" per se, which is great. He did say that these next few days will be the roughest, but he knows that he will be doing a lot of resting.

I am not going home this weekend, as previously thought, but will be going home next weekend for the Memorial Day holiday. I did tell my sister to call me any time if dad takes a turn for the worse. I know we will take care of him.

Dad has been prideful but he needs to take it easy and say "enough is enough." My entire family is worried, but we all know he will pull through in due time. But it will take some time.

Once again, thanks for your prayers and thoughts and well wishes.