On October 14, 2008 I was injured at work when I was accidentally crushed by a side-loader (tow motor). The most significant injury was Compartment Syndrome in my leg which was severely injured with damage to muscles, blood vessels and nerves. This caused my leg to swell, which required a six hour surgery to repair and reroute the arteries to stimulate blood flow and circulation to my right leg. I also had another surgery to repair my severely fractured right ankle.
You have to understand what my leg looked like at that time. My thigh had a measurement of 36 inches and my calf measured 29 inches. To give you some visual perspective, my waist is only 34 inches. My leg would stay that size for a very long time.
I spent six months at MetroHealth. It has been a long journey, which has required many hours of physical and occupational therapy, another surgery to further repair my ankle fracture, which is still healing, and several skin grafts surgeries. In my last surgery, which was on March 23, 2009, doctors removed my external fixator device (used to keep my fractured bones stabilized and in alignment) and they used my back as a donor sight for the new skin grafts. The skin finally graft took hold.
During my stay at MetroHealth, I think I had a room on every floor in the hospital. I spent the most time in the Burn Unit where I still continue visiting the outpatient clinic for checkups on my wound and skin grafts. Tammy Coffee, nurse practitioner in the Burn Unit, has been amazing. She's really taken good care of me over the past few months. I don't know what I would do without her. The other nurses and staff on the 5th floor burn unit have also done an amazing job. I can't thank everyone enough. The entire hospital has been great.
From the new job I really enjoyed, to my working out in the garage and my woodworking stuff, I have been derailed.... for now! I had to make this recovery happen. I kept telling the doctors that I was not leaving MetroHealth until I could walk out on my own two legs.
It is now August 2009 and I can happily say that I go back to Metro for therapy, but the best thing is I also go back for just checkups - a long way from where I started! I remember the first time I heard them say that they might not be able to save my leg -- my heart dropped. I’m a long way from that point now. Where I am now in life is probably where I'll be for the rest of my life.
My leg is still swollen, though, and should remain like that for awhile, but I am hoping it continues to get better. When I first got home from the hospital, I was in a wheelchair. Then I went to a walker, crutches, and finally, a cane. That's where I'm at now - walking with a cane. I’m also getting a walking brace to keep my foot up. It's tough because you take things for granted, like driving to the grocery store. Hopefully I will be able to drive soon.
Finally, I would like to thank my wonderful family for always being there for me - I love all you guys! Thank you to all my friends - I didn’t know I had so many. You guys are great, thanks for all of the support and love you all put into this with me.
Bruce Houdek