On Friday October 22,2021 our whole world changed.

 

Dave had been sick that entire week. I talked him into getting a Covid test on Thursday, but it came back negative. We woke up that Friday morning and he said to me “I really don’t feel like working today. I wish I could just have 1 more day here at the house to recoup, but I know I need to work” (He is our sole provider since I am a full time student, I will graduate from nursing school in December).

 

He kissed me goodbye and headed out the door.

 

I took the kids to school and headed back home. I was sitting at my computer doing schoolwork when my phone rang at 0830. The caller ID showed his cousin (who is also his coworker). I knew, I just KNEW something was wrong. I answered the phone and I could hear the panic in his voice, a moment in time I will never forget “Candice! There has been an accident. You need to get here immediately”

 

I don’t remember the drive from our home to his jobsite, but I arrived as they were putting him in the ambulance. I recall seeing so many people from his company standing around; his coworkers, the owners his cousin was talking to a police officer as I ran by. When I got to Dave, I grabbed his hand and he said to me in a calm clear voice “I can’t feel my legs and I am scared.” They shut the doors and drove away.

 

That morning we had received a fair amount of dew. It was the coldest day of the year so far. They were working at the Oasis Hotel in Springfield, MO. Dave was first up on the roof that day. Harness on and rope in hand he arrived at this tie off point. As he began to tie off his cousin came up in a lift and stepped off on to the roof. His cousin began to slip, and Dave reached out to help him. His cousin got tangled up in the basket of the lift, and Dave …… Dave fell off the roof and landed on a scissor lift.

 

I arrived at the ER and was asked to wait in the waiting room. It felt like hours but was probably only a few minutes. A chaplain came out to get me. They shuffled me around from room to room; a waiting room, then back to an empty trauma room where I stood and stared at the pants, they had cut off my husband and his belongings thrown in the corner, then they moved me back to a consult room. The whole time no one could tell me what was going on. The whole time I was yelling “Where is my husband? How is he? “ I sat alone in the consult room with the Chaplain uncertain of everything. Dave’s mom, stepdad and cousin arrived. We were eventually taken back to the Trauma room where Dave laid.

 

He was awake, conscious and in extreme pain. He was so worried about his legs. They are just broken right? I thought and hoped to myself. The surgeon arrived in the room. “CAT scan shows a disjunction fracture of the T12-L1. This is a very bad break, and is staged at an Asia A. His spinal cord is likely severed. I am taking him to surgery immediately. “ Dave looked at the Doctor and asked “Will I ever walk again Doc?” Without having to say anything we all knew what he was getting ready to say, that Doctor looked at Dave and with sorrowful eyes said, “probably not”.

 

I rubbed Dave’s forehead and told him everything would be okay as tears streamed down his face. We would make it through (though I didn’t know how). I could feel the room closing in on me – I could feel my knees beginning to buckle – I needed out – I needed air – I could not breathe. They rolled him out for surgery.

 

8 long hours. 8 hours of sitting and waiting and wondering. People coming and going. We were lucky enough to have a friend of mine able to communicate with those in the OR and provide hourly updates. I knew the CRNA who watched over Dave that day and that brought me much relief in a time of complete panic. I can’t imagine how many families just sit and wait without knowing what’s going on. It’s unbearable.

 

The surgeon was unable to completely realign Dave’s spine. MRI showed his spinal cord was not severed – that in itself is a miracle. Due to the severity of the break – they thought for sure it would have been severed. Dave spent the following 6 days in ICU before moving to a step down unit. He will be going to another state for rehab where he will spend weeks/months.

 

Right now, Dave is paralyzed. Doctor’s keep telling us ‘Only time will tell’. I believe in miracles, and I believe if anyone can do it – Dave Can!