Trials and tribulations..

[jm minica]

I've been told this by many people, "Hawaii will test you to see what your made of". Well the tests were stepped up a notch today. I was out falling some albezia trees that were around our catchment, and too close to the house and I had one falling the direction that I wanted it to go and I was getting out of the way in the opposite direction when it clipped another tree, rolled to the side and slid right back at me and broke my leg... It folded my ankle completely over and broke my tibia about 6 inches up from my ankle, so I have a badly sprained ankle and a broken bone... Just when it looked like I might be getting some work going, now I will be out for at least 6 weeks. Fortunately I have insurance, but this is a very unwelcome situation for our income. But we're not gonna let this sway our resolve, there is no better place to live than here and we're not goin anywhere. Now just to get through 6 weeks of looking at my surfboard, fishing pole, and snorkel gear and not being able to enjoy any of them...
Aloha,
Mark

[mella l]

Gosh Mark, oweeee, just reading this gives me pain and chills up the back. So sorry to hear of this turn of events. So good to hear you have insurance! Oh so glad to hear that your resolve holds!!

Between Matson and now the bum leg you've had quiet enough testing!~. Hope that after a while they will give you one of those walking cast type things that Velcros on so you can go in the water for some water therapy, like swimming.

I broke an ankle 7 years back, think I'm way older than you, and I worried that I'd get arthritis. When the PERMANENT cast came off, I got a walking cast, and I had to do contrast baths. Used office size plastic garbage pails very hot water in one and lots of ice and water in the other. Think I started with 15 minutes in ice water then 15 minutes in hot hot water, three times a day for a week. This helped reestablish the circulation I'm told. No pain no fuss luckily. Perhaps down the road your Dr will give you this therapy if so I thoroughly believe it is why I have no current problems with the leg.

Oh yeah I was out in a Navy boat of some type on Mission Bay with my step son. We were jumping waves on our way to a Night evolution training. Acting like 10 year olds with a new toy jumping waves, was great fun for an old lady, until I came down and landed wrong and zingo I crumpled to the deck!! As a guest I quietly sat thru the evening exercises and when we got to dock, I had two darling hospital corpsman get me out of the boat ice my ankle down and deliver me home.

So Paul Bunion do you need a lumber jack referral for those remaining trees?

Take care and get all the sympathy and good cooking you can, the ocean isn't going anywhere! Aloha, Mella L

mella l

[JerryCarr]

Aloha Mark. What a bummer! I suppose we could say it might have been worse, but from where you are sitting that would be small comfort. Glad you were able to get insured medical care, and I admire your positive outlook.

If those trees need clearing right away, I know some guys who got a bunch of intertwined snake-root (cecropria, misspelled no doubt) trees left over from the previous owner from around my water catchment. They go by Da Puna Prunah, and I think I still have their number somewhere. They were not the cheapest bid, but they showed up when promised and did very good work.

Get well soon,
Jerry

[Lee G]

Mark,
Sorry to hear about the accident. I never operated a chain saw before I moved here and I got 3 acres of rain forest. No albizia's but lot's of trumpet trees that I had to cut down. A felled tree can do strange things and kick back at you too as you know. I had a few close calls myself that easily could have turned ugly especially when running away from a falling tree. Be careful Bro your family needs you!
Lesson learned could have been worse!
Lee

[David M]

Sorry to hear about your mishap Mark
Perhaps on the brighter side, good therapy would be the chance to enjoy with your family some of the relaxing stuff the island has to offer. Heal well and quickly.

David

Ninole Resident

[Lori]

Wow Mark! So sorry to hear about your accident. Hope you heal quickly and can get back to work and all the fun things too! Lori

[HADave]

I'm feeling your frustration Mark, I had a tib/fib incident myself 10 years ago during construction of my home, not good, broke in two, when they got me to the hospital they told me 2-3 months, I said "no-way!" they would have to come up with a better plan than that. They called in a surgeon and he opted for putting my leg back together with a titanium rod, told me I could put weight on it w/in a couple weeks. I was back framing in two weeks, at the end of 3 months they removed the rod from inside my leg and I've been good as new ever since. It was queer how it broke a simple torque steer while walking on ice, turned to go the opposite direction and, snap, down I went foot and leg no longer connected. No pain, unless I try to move it.

You might want to consider getting yourself a vehicle mounted winch and snatch block for falling trees. Keeps you in better control of wants happening and assures you which way the tree will fall.

Remember this too will pass, Good luck and keep your chin up. Keep Smiling, Your Living in Hawaii.........)))

HADave




Edited by - HADave on 04/01/2006 09:57:13

[Royall]

Geez Mark, I guess I won't try to take my albezias down! I'm sorry to hear that you're going to be slowed down for so long. I think about getting hurt every time I go up a ladder at our job site. Hope you are able to get around soon and get on with what you like to do.

Royall

What goes around comes around!

[taildrag]

Sorry to hear of your bad luck.Thank God you weren't injured more seriously! Every time I was up on the scaffolding last week I thought about falling.Heights and I aren't friends.Here's hoping for a fast recovery.We'll keep you in our prayers.
Don & Lek
"Living the Dream"

[jm minica]

Thanks for all of your thoughful support! I really am lucky it wasn't worse, and I guess there isn't a better place to be recouping from an injury. Hopefully I won't have to have surgury, I see the ortho doc on Monday...
Aloha,
Mark