It should be noted that earlier in the morning, Pastor Sam Abee and his son Daniel brought their 24 ft. extension ladder and they helped steady the ladder against the large White Oak Tree in the back ground and I cut the section that is on the ground that was about 22 feet up the tree.

NOTE:  One of my friends Robert Webster came over on 05-08-2021 from Hamlet, NC and cut the log above into firewood lengths and  his son-in-law Chris and his son hauled the firewood off destined to their log splitter in Lilesville, NC. 

Robert questioned me why I didn't post any pixs of him using the chainsaw, whereas I explained that my Canon 35MM DSLR was difficult to use with my left hand only, but it is doable as evidenced by the above pix!

Several have commented that I need to retire the chain drive come-a-long.......grin if you must!

That section of the tree did not put out new growth and decided to remove it.  Everything went fine without any safety issues, since I had a safety harness on and safety belt around the tree.  I told Brother Abee he left about 30 minutes too soon and he did offer me help.  Of course, we said a prayer before I ascended the tree and after I was back on the ground. 

BACK TO THE ACCIDENT

My left lower leg got caught on the taunt chain and I toppled over head first down the steep embankment like a fallen tree landing on my right arm and wrist.

As evidenced by the below pix, the terrain is steep indeed.

Below is a close-up pix of the chunk of asphalt material I might have landed on top of.

I immediately knew I was in trouble since my right wrist and arm was in the partial shape of the letter S; in other words crooked as a snake.  My left leg below the knee cap had a serious bruise and knot and skinned place.

TRIP TO ATRIUM EMERGENCY FACILITY

I went inside and advised my bride I was going to the Atrium Health Facility ER for treatment and drove with my one good arm to the ER which is around 2 to 3 miles from our home.

To make a long story short, they X-Rayed my arm and left leg and it was determined that I had broken the right radius bone about 1 inch from the wrist.  A temporary cast was placed on the right arm/wrist after several of the medical staff including Dr. Shimtov pulled on the arm/hand trying to get the broken bone back into alignment.  Two attempts, cast plus X-Rays, but the bones did not align perfectly.

ORTHOCAROLINA, MONROE, NC

An appointment was made with Dr. Briones at OrthoCarolina, Monroe, NC the following morning 04-20-2021 and I drove myself without any problem except for about a level 5 to level 6 pain.

Dr. Briones reviewed the X-Rays and due to a distal radius bone fracture/break, he recommended surgery with plate and screws to secure it in place while the broken bone healed, of which I gave consent.  I had forms to take to my family physician for blood work, EKG, and chest X-Rays at Atrium Health.  Dr. Briones stated it might be Friday or the following Monday before they could get the surgery scheduled at either Monroe, or their facility in Matthews, NC.

After getting the above tests completed in Ansonville & Wadesboro, NC and upon returning home, my bride stated that Atrium Health in Monroe, NC had called and had surgery scheduled for the following morning and be there at 11 AM and have someone drive me.

SURGERY AT ATRIUM HEALTH MONROE

I had our youngest daughter Lisa Gonzales drive me to the outpatient day surgery facility and she was allowed to stay in the waiting room area.

The surgery was scheduled at 12:45 PM, therefore there was plenty of prep time.

The surgery took longer than expected and Dr. Briones put two (2) metal plates and eight (8) screws to secure the broken radius bone.

X-RAYS TAKEN AFTER THE SURGERY

They administered a nerve block at the right shoulder and other medication to put this ole boy to sleep.  I remember looking at the overhead LED lights and the next event was talking to one of the day surgery staff.  There is no memory between the two (2) events and that is a good thing for sure!

After a length of time in the recovery room, our Daughter Lisa brought me my clothes and personal items.

According to Lisa, Dr. Briones stated after sixteen (16) weeks, he will have to do another surgery to remove the longer top plate and screws since it was there to keep the wrist from moving up and down while the bone healed.

It was late getting back to Wadesboro, NC and the pharmacy we use was closed.  I would have wait until mid morning on 04-22-2021 before getting the pain medication prescribed and about 6:00 AM, the feeling returned to the right arm and was horrendous pain.  I paced the floor and don't know how many times I prayed, "Help Me Jesus."   

My follow up appointment with Dr. Briones is at an undisclosed date at OrthoCarolina, of which I believe he will remove the stitches and place some other type of cast/brace on the arm.

GIVE GOD, THE PRAISE, GLORY AND HONOR

I had the opportunity to give God, the Praise, Glory and Honor through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, witnessing to those because I could have been hurt much worse; broken leg, back, neck or even death.

While in the operating room, a staff member asked me if I was a minister and I replied "No", but was a born again Christian.  She asked me what Church I attended and I told her the Wadesboro Church of God which she was familiar with that denomination.  It is amazing how God will open doors of opportunity for witnessing about Him, whereas we have to seize the moment!

I am right handed, but able to make do and my bride helps me when needed. 

A SPECIAL THANK YOU

All the medical personnel at all three (3) facilities gave excellent service and were professional all the way and were definitely concerned about my health issues.

FOLLOW UP AND THERAPY

On 05-04-2021, I had a follow up appointment with Dr. Briones, whereas X-Rays were taken, stitches removed and steri strips added over the three (3) incisions.

I showed our youngest Daughter Lisa my hand and told her the thumb looked like a chicken leg quarter and I thought she would tear a gut loose laughing so hard.........grin if you must!

As evidenced by the above pixs, the hand, wrist and arm is super swollen!

Dr. Briones stated everything looked good and scheduled hand therapy starting on 05-06-2021 with Tonya Crooks, OT.

HAND THERAPY WITH TANYA CROOKS

On 05-06-2021, I had an appointment with Tanya Crooks, OT and after completing some questions which determined I was doing simple chores and things with moderate to high difficulty using my left hand only.

Tanya did a test using some type of equipment and then applied moist heat treatment to the hand and arm which felt wonderful! 

She massaged the fingers and hand to help reduce the swelling and we did a series of hand exercises to get some movement going in the fingers and hand which had limited movement of motion for sure.

Tanya placed a tube type compression sock on the hand/arm and individual fingers to help reduce the swelling. 

She wanted to schedule me at least two times a week for therapy, but would have to check with my insurance company to see what they would approve. 

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 05-07-2021.

UPDATE:  I called OrthoCarolina a couple days ago and talked to Brittany and she stated she would check with my insurance company and call me back, of which she did.  She stated the insurance company would allow sixteen (16) OT treatments and was scheduled for today 05-13-2021 and Tanya will administer two treatments for the next few weeks and hopefully the swelling will go down!

Tanya replaced the compression sock above with a Norco compression glove which seems to work better.  The insurance company would not pay for it, but I paid for it myself!

ENDEAVOR TO PERSEVERE

I found out quickly, there are limitations and challenges to using only one hand, especially your non-dominant hand!  For example; tying shoes, opening jar lids, using a manual can opener, using chefs knife, stirring contents in a pot, buttoning pants and/or shirt, etc.  

However, some of these tasks are getting much easier due to practice and purchased an electric can opener, aid to help open jars and shoes without laces.  I am using a utility razor knife to open stubborn food packaged items, a large roast fork to help hold items on the cutting board and using pressure from my right arm near the elbow against the top of the fork handle which is flat.  I used my right foot to press the rollers on the mop bucket to squeeze out the mop.

I ordered a long handle back body brush/soap applicator and in the mean time modified a long handle commode brush by adding a wash cloth over the stiff bristles and used a large rubber band to keep the wash cloth in place.........grin if you must!

A few of the items ordered and/or used to make things easier.

I had to tie a cord from the choke on the lawn tractor to the hood cover and pull it into position and wrap a few turns of the cord to the throttle in order to crank the lawn tractor.

I can turn the ignition switch on the car left handed and change gears left handed, however I could not turn the ignition switch on the Ford Ranger which was difficult to turn right handed.  I can turn the ignition switch from the passenger side of the vehicle (standing outside) left handed which allows more leverage.

I have also learned to tie the kitchen 13 gallon trash bags one handed.

On order is a peppermill Trudeau One-hand Thumb Pepper Mill, 0713017,whereas you use your thumb to activate the grinding mechanism.  Also on order is a moist heat microwavable applicator pad to hopefully help reduce the swelling and pain.

Both items above work great!

NOTE:  I ordered another microwavable applicator pad on 05-24-2021 to have one pad below and one pad above my hand/arm as per what the OT does!  With the pad in the microwave for 2 minutes, there is plenty of moist heat which lasts a good twenty (20) minutes!  I have several layers of a bath towel used as insulation to hold the heat.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 05-21-2021 and 05-24-2021.

The old cliché, "where there is a will, there is a way" is definitely true.   

My bride helps me do things that I can't do one handed and thankful for her!

There are many, many people with such physical challenges and they do manage to meet the challenge and my hat is off to them.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 05-10-2021, 05-11-2021 and 05-21-2021.

TOP PLATE AND SCREWS REMOVED

The top plate and screws were removed by Dr. Briones on 07-28-2021 at the Atrium Health Day Surgery in Monroe, NC and everything went well!

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 07-29-2021.

USING RIGHT HAND AND ARM

With my right hand and arm definitely on the mend, I started catching up on some of the overdue home projects; e.g., wheelchair and deck staining.

I never did hear anything back from Tanya Crooks, OT concerning additional therapy treatments via Humana Ins. and continued to do some home PT exercises.

I started on the wheelchair ramp on August 23, 2021 and it took about seven or eight installments of working about an hour each morning before the temperature got too hot.

Above pix of the completed staining job.

We have experienced a couple good rains since the wheelchair staining and the stain is working real well as evidenced by the water beading on the wheelchair ramp.

I started staining the deck on August 27, 2021 and ran out of stain and ordering another 5 gallon pail and will get back on the project on September 6, 2021, our Lord willing of course.

The red arrow indicated where I stopped staining.

Visit my Yard Projects 2021 for full details on the staining projects.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 09-04-2021.

FINISHED STAINING THE DECK

I finished staining the deck on 09-06-2021 and it should be good for another year or two.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 09-07-2021.

LEAVING ON A SPIRITUAL NOTE

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please take this moment to accept him by Faith into your Life, whereby Salvation will be attained.   

Ephesians 2:8 - 2:9 8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Open this link about faith in the King James Bible.