I was at my part time job where I work as a medic at a sportsman resort. You've read about Durhamtown and its where I have raced and ride as much as possible. Well Mark and I were out patrolling the trails and on the "B" trail there are these 2 hills/jumps that are blind doubles. They're meant for bikes, but if you're on an ATV and you hit it fast enough, you'll fly right over the 2nd one. Well, since we weren't riding hard, and when working we're on utility quads, I came over the first part and hit nose heavy in between the 1st and 2nd jumps. Instead of rolling right over the 2nd part, the quad bounced and me and the quad went rolling. After rolling about 40', and kind of taking inventory of everything, I realized my right hand was hurting.... a lot!!! I pulled my helmet off with my left and saw from the tears in my glove that my right hand was really messed up. I was able to pull my glove off (later you'll see how I don't understand how I could do this), and once my brain acknowledged that it was MY hand that I was looking at the wave of pain that washed over me was indescribable. I prayed to pass out but it never came. Mark finally realized I wasn't behind him, listened to me scream and ramble as he packaged me up, and I was off to the closest hospital which is about 50 minutes away. Unfortunately, the medic that I was with couldn't get a line so I had no pain relief while en route. The lidocaine block once in the ER was SO wonderful. They realized I need both a hand and vascular surgeon specialist, so I was shipped over to Atlanta. Thank goodness!!! I have been blessed with an amazing doctor!! So.... the outcome?
After the first surgery, which ended up being 8 hours instead of the expected 4, due to the damage and amount of dirt in the wounds, my doc grafted about 8" of veins from my forearm into my fingers in an effort to save them. After 2.5 days, and watching my middle and ring fingers turn black, they amputated them just past the last knuckle. The tip of my pinkie was lost in the incident. We're not sure what exactly crushed my fingers, but it sure was a doozy of an injury. You'll see in the xray pics that all four fingers had significant injury. But there is much to be thankful for. Even though I now only have nubs for 2 fingers, which gives me a permanent "rock on" hand sign, my thumb was not injured, my index finger was able to be saved, and the rest of me only received road rash.
My mom was able to come up for the last 2 weeks, and I've had some awesome and amazing friends by my side since minute one. My doc is stating 6-8 months for full recovery, I'm setting a personal goal of 5 months. Now that I'm not AS doped up on narcotics, its been good being at home to start setting a schedule for myself for physical therapy. My fourth surgery was yesterday, which they took skin grafts to cover my fingers and other wounds. Hopefully this will be the last one for a while. I have included pictures of the xrays, and links to the pics that are more descriptive in case those of you with weak stomachs don't want to see them. Sine I now have lots of time, I will try and keep this updated, albeit with PT stories instead of field stories for now.
Here are the links to some pictures that I took once I had the lidocaine block as well as some the medic took for on my way to Atlanta. *** WARNING *** they're graphic.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/gaffmedic/injury015.jpg , http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/gaffmedic/injury013.jpg , http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/gaffmedic/injury014.jpg , http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/gaffmedic/pre-surgery.jpg , http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/gaffmedic/pre-surgery2.jpg , http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/gaffmedic/pre-surgery3.jpg , http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/gaffmedic/injury3003.jpg
So.... while this is definitely a challenge for me for the next few months, I'm up for it. So, play hard, and get dirty.
***** Update*****
Here are some pictures from the "now".... still getting used to it. Have good days and bad. Now that the weather is getting colder... you know how your extremities hurt when they're cold and you hit them on something. Yeah... it hurts even more when I hit my nubs on something. Have 2 more surgeries next year that we know for sure. Life has been busy with a baby on the way, so my concentration on my hand has been diverted, which is a good thing.
