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FINAL SURGERY COMPLETED !!!
[ note: long ]
Some of you may know, but I believe that most Lugnetter’s do not know, that I
was involved in a major motor vehicle accident in December 2000. I have not
felt the need to broadcast this information until now.
I have been employed filling vending machines for almost 6 years. I started
with a small company and now currently I am an employee of All Seasons Vending
--> www.allseasonsservices.com I very much enjoy the job of filling and
servicing vending machines, driving a truck full of soda and candy, and
meeting
the food and refreshment needs of all the customers on my route. However, the
last time I was able to do that was December 24, 2000. On that fateful
evening
I had just left my last location and was driving the vending truck back home
and looking forward to the next day - Christmas.
As it turned out, it would be four whole months before I would be home again.
The short story of what happened is that I was driving on my usual route; due
to snowy weather conditions all day and the road ahead not plowed, I was
traveling at a slow rate of speed -- not more than 35 miles an hour. For
reasons I do not know, I had latched my seat belt upon entering the drivers
seat--an act that saved my life but not something I was in the habit of doing
while driving truck. Within minutes of leaving my last vending stop, I
approached the top of a hill in the road. Unknown to me was that there was a
huge snow plow truck sitting at the bottom of the hill. I still do not know
all of the details as to why this snow plow was there, but the likely reason
was a turn-around. By the time I spotted this obstacle blocking the entire
road, there was no way to stop the 4 ton truck I was driving, much less slow
down on a steep, snowy road. I do recall that I simply removed my hands from
the steering wheel and just let the collision happen.
There isn’t much to be done in the microseconds proceeding a crash.
Miraculously I survived.
I was able to maintain consciousness the entire time I was trapped in my
vehicle and gave my rescuers as much encouragement as they gave me. Time was
skewed, but I estimate that it took rescuers over an hour to extract me from
the wreckage. The snow plow operator was unharmed but upon seeing me trapped
in my truck assumed I was dead--that is how the first call for help went
out--Fatal accident. And by all rights, I should be dead.
I was flown to the Level 1 trauma center in Syracuse, NY at SUNY Upstate
Medical University. Trauma surgery took several hours. Due to a delayed
airline flight out of town for the holidays, my trauma team was led by the
leading Orthopedic Hand Specialist in New York State. If that flight had not
been delayed, the doctors working on me would have just been resident doctors
fresh from Medical College.
I have always believed in Providence, miracles, and guardian angels. Now I
have solid proof that all of these powers exist. Without these, I would not
be
here today and my successful recovery might not have been so successful.
My RIGHT LEG was corrected during the initial trauma surgery--the Tibia had a
rod inserted the entire length of the bone; various other fractures in my
ankle
and knees were put together with other hardware.
The LEFT LEG suffered worse as the tibia and fibula bones protruded outside of
my twisted leg; much soft tissue was also lost. To correct numerous fractures
of the ankle and knees, various metallic screws and plates were inserted. For
the tibia and fibula damage, I was fitted for 3 months with what is called an
external fixator which consists of various large screws inserted into the bone
that stick out through the skin and are attached together for support. I also
had additional surgery in order to replace soft tissue around the bone to
prevent infection. I donated muscle and skin tissue from other parts of my
upper body to be used for this purpose leaving additional scars on my back and
upper thigh areas. After the external fixator was removed, I underwent a
bone graft operation in March. Again I was my own donor and bone was taken
from my hip bone (Iliac crest) for this purpose. An internal fixator was then
attached to the tibia with 12 screws.
If this bone graft procedure was successful no one will ever know. Three
weeks
later I developed a very severe fever that indicated infection. Staph
bacteria
was identified and then I underwent 4 separate leg operations within 15 days
to
rid the bones and tissue of any infected material--the bone grafted material
was also removed, effectively reversing the procedure. Six months would now
have to pass before any further surgeries could be planned. And, for the next
4 months I took high levels of antibiotics, first by infusion then orally, to
defeat the Staph bacteria. The next time this leg would be on the surgical
table would be November 16, 2001.
Losing the ability to walk was a big blow, but one that I know is temporary.
My smashed and mangled Right hand was a different matter entirely. What about
work, what about sports, what about household chores, what about building with
Lego??? etc, etc. I underwent months of intensive occupational and physical
therapy but was faced with so many limitations on strength, motion, and
extreme
hyper-sensitivity that my spirits were crushed again and again. The crash
left
me with several bones of the wrist completely pulverized into a powdery form
with no chance of healing; my hand also suffered extensively and left me with
a
hand that would not function and also looked like something out of a horror
movie. After waiting 8 months, my hand and wrist finally got their chance to
be surgically corrected. More intensive hand therapy followed. Overall, I am
pleased with the results--all incisions have healed and disappeared except
two,
my fingers and knuckles all work great, grip strength and endurance have
improved, and I feel like I have an almost-normal hand again. I am a bit
disappointed about my thumb but I know my surgical team did all that was
possible for them to do with the bone fragments and tendons that remained.
I
am now back to typing with 2 hands, can hold dinnerware and use it well, and I
have RESUMED BUILDING WITH LEGO BRICKS !!!
By now, more than 10 months have passed since I went to work or walked in a
normal manner. Many lifestyle changes have occurred out of necessity or lack
of funds but I have dealt with those easily. The path back to normalcy is
within reach since just a few days ago on November 16, 2001 I was back in the
operating room. My Left leg, which has suffered so much , received another
bone graft procedure. Again, my own hip bone served as primary donor
material.
Now I can count 2 more surgical scars and at least 10 surgeries total. I am
beginning to feel like a professional medical patient. But the end result
is that within just 3 months, I can start to walk again.
Just hours ago I arrived back home from the hospital. I am still in extreme
pain but I cannot tell you how good it is to be back home again. I decided
that now is the time to share my story with all of you.
So many things about life look and feel different for me now. If I were to
make just one statement that statement would be
IT ONLY TAKES AN INSTANT FOR YOUR LIFE TO BE CHANGED FOREVER
The reason for this letter is not to garner sympathy, empathy, or support. I
have been blessed with family, friends, prayers, and excellent health care
providers throughout this entire ordeal; I feel like many people have endured
more stress and anxiety than I have and I salute all of their efforts. I
could
not have done this alone.
Fact is, the Lego community has been my silent support group all of this time.
I read Lugnet daily, have been active at Brickbay, have kept up with as much
of the latest news and happenings in the Lego world as I can handle, have met
with several local AFOL’s for the first time ever, and have gotten to know so
many of you through your Lugnet writings and rumblings, your creative uses of
Lego bricks displayed on Brickshelf, the joys and pains of LegoDirect, Lego
Legends, Brickbay, Ebay, etc.
I do not recall exactly when I became active online with Lego (about the time
of Auczilla 5 I my best guess) but I think of so many of you people as people
I
know personally. I have exchanged emails, bought and sold with you, read your
opinions, desires, and off-topic raves, and have seen everyone at work
building
with the little pieces of plastic that I love so much. Lego has saved me. I
do not think there has been even 1 single day where I did not have a single
thought about Lego. I have referred to Lego as therapeutic for several
years--this was my time to prove it to myself. Perhaps this letter to you is
my personal way to prove it to all of you, too.
With the spirit of Lego builders everywhere,
__Kevin Salm__
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Message has 6 Replies:
 | | Re: FINAL SURGERY COMPLETED !!!
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| (...) Kevin - first off, congrats on your final surgery being over, that's wonderful news :) second - your courage is amazing! I'm not sure I would fair as well in even 1/2 of an ordeal as you have. start building :) JLB (I wish I was more eloquent) (23 years ago, 19-Nov-01, to lugnet.people)
| | | Re: FINAL SURGERY COMPLETED !!!
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| Kevin, First, let me say that I am extremely gratified to hear of your recovery. Despite the pains and hardships you have endured, truly you are blessed to have survived this ordeal at all. Second, though I had caught wind of your accident, I had (...) (23 years ago, 19-Nov-01, to lugnet.people)
| | | Re: FINAL SURGERY COMPLETED !!!
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| Kevin, I joined Lugnet around the same time that you began your absence from here, so I didn't know you before your accident. But reading your tale of ordeal and recovery is inspiring, and I want you to know that my sympathies and best wishes are (...) (23 years ago, 20-Nov-01, to lugnet.people)
| | | Re: FINAL SURGERY COMPLETED !!!
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| Kevin & All, < snipped explanation > Wow, what an incredible story. I feel honored to be able to read it here. It is very encouraging and it is wonderful to see how well you handled it, Lord knows how I would. It is very hard to express my exact (...) (23 years ago, 20-Nov-01, to lugnet.people)
| | | Re: FINAL SURGERY COMPLETED !!!
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| (...) Kevin, There isn't much to be said that hasn't alredy be stated. Our hearts and prayers are with you during this life-changing recovery process. You've put yourself out there in a way that few of us ever could or would. Thank you for this. You (...) (23 years ago, 21-Nov-01, to lugnet.people)
| | | Re: FINAL SURGERY COMPLETED !!!
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| (...) Kevin, Thank you for a touching story. What a great message to us all. Of some small portion of your surgeries and recovery I can relate to, having been in surgery recently myself. Two things my experience has taught me, and which your story (...) (23 years ago, 22-Nov-01, to lugnet.people)
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