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Ruth Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 04 2006 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 4:44pm | IP Logged
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(Medieval Mama from this forum) Robynn's husband has just been rushed to the hospital. He is being take to the ICU right now because a tree fell on him while cutting wood. He has broken ribs, a puctured kidney and a collapsed lung. She had to hang up the phone right after she called, so I don't have any more info. I'll update as soon as I hear more.
Also, she was just told this week her father has lung cancer.
Please storm heaven for John.
_______________________________________
Update- Jan. 19th
From Robynn:
Yesterday John was cutting down trees around the property. There is a 3 trunk tree out behind the pool (one root system), and after making some calculations and planning his escape, he made the cut in one of the trunks, all three of which are about 50 feet high and approximately 18 inches in diameter. As the tree fell in precisely the desired direction, it unexpectedly snapped about eight feet up, forcing the cut end of it backwards and sideways into one of the other trunks of this tree. John could see what was about to happen, but he was too slow. The cut trunk bounced off the other one sending it into John's right shoulder blade and rib cage. He was thrown, by the grace of God, into the only clearing he could have safely landed in without sustaining further injuries. The area he was working in is thickly covered with dead branches, logs, and brush from other fallen trees. Fortunately, as far as external injuries go, he has only a small cut on his forehead, and an abrasion down his right side where the tree struck him. Unable to call for help, and realizing the danger of hypothermia he amazingly picked himself up and walked into the house. I could see as soon as we got his jacket off that his torso was deformed, the back being significantly caved in and the front protruding noticeably. He was having severe difficulty breathing and his pain was increasing rapidly. The paramedics rushed him to the local hospital where he is presently in stable condition in ICU.
He has seven broken ribs, some of them broken in several places. His lung was collapsed, and he has a chest tube to drain the blood, fluid and air around his lung, but it is working now--it was not punctured. His right kidney, still encased in the renal capsule, is otherwise pulverized. Thankfully, it is still making urine and everything is still flowing in the right direction. The Drs. are hopeful that it will heal itself, though it's too soon to tell if it is. If it doesn't then they'll have to do surgery and he could lose it. His pain from the broken ribs was excruciating for about six hours until they got an epidural in him and he's able to breathe much more eaily, now. They're also hopeful that the ribs will heal without intervention, though there's a chance he'll need surgery for that, too--something to do with blood in or around the bones--I wasn't exactly following.
Without any complications, he should get out of ICU tomorrow and be in the hospital at least until Friday. He'll need another week or two on bed rest at home for the kidney to finish healing. Somewhere around 10 days from the injury there's a chance of latent bleeding, which they'll need to do another scan to check for. The ribs will take many weeks to heal, and his activity will be determined by his ability to endure the pain. Having to sit still for that long will be at least as painful for him as the broken ribs, I'm sure!
From all of us at Schamelot, thank you for your prayers, your calls and e-mails and offers to help us through this time. I'm sure it is all your prayers that are carrying John through all the dangers surrounding him right now and insulating him and the kids and me from realizing the full impact of this accident--especially in light of what could have been--until there's time for those kinds of thoughts. God is good in the good times and He is good in the bad times. Thanks be to God!
Robynn
____________________________________________________
For some reason Robynn is not able to log in, so she asked me to post this update here.
Thank you all again for all your amazingly powerful prayers! Today John had a second CT scan and we've got all good news. Dr. Goodwin, who, by the way sounds (and even sort of looks) exactly like Billy Bob Thornton, showed me the scans, and even my untrained eye could see the improvement in his kidney. It's working as it should and the damage is healing just as we'd hoped. His right lung still has some blood and space around it keeping it from fully re-adhering to the inside of his rib cage, and there's a little bit of separation in his left lung (from going 6 hours without really being able to get a good deep breath in), but there's no cause for worry, the lungs look good and he's blowing full steam on what he refers to as his "party bong"--although John asks that you keep up the prayers (as do I!). He should be out of ICU this evening or tomorrow morning at the latest. His ribs appear to be doing what they're supposed to without any further assistance. His pain is tolerable, due to the epidural, I'm sure, and he'll be able to keep it that way at least until he comes home, hopefully still Friday. I talked to his boss this morning and his disability insurance is good to go so no worries there. The kids and I are holding up fine and we really appreciate all the offers for meals and especially help with the fire wood situation. Those of you who have ever been to Schamelot in the dead of winter know how "warm and cozy" (blistering hot!) John is accustomed to keeping it inside so if we had to revert to the heat pump, especially while he can't move about as much as he likes, he might just freeze to death after all! Thanks so much to all you guys who have already been out to help with that.
Unless there are any unexpected complications I think it's safe to assume that John's out of the woods and will be home by the weekend, and that this is the last e-mail you'll get from me on this subject. Again, thank you most of all for all the prayers--and while you're at it, please remember by Dad who was diagnosed with lung cancer last Monday. He'll be needing prayers for a much longer time than John.
May God bless all of you for your thoughtfulness and kindness. We are truly blessed to have so many loving friends and family.
Yours in Christ,
Robynn, John, Rachel, John Michael, Caroline, Robert, Justin, Caeli, McGregor and Marian
__________________ Ruth
mom to 7 miracles
My family blog
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trish Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 4:46pm | IP Logged
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Praying for John!
__________________ ~ Trish ~
Wife to Les
Mom to 8 Wonderful Kids
+AMDG+
Saintly Soaps
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Mackfam Board Moderator
Non Nobis
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 4:49pm | IP Logged
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Oh my goodness, Ruth!! I'm praying for John and Robynn!
Lord, have mercy!
__________________ Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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hylabrook1 Forum Moderator
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 4:54pm | IP Logged
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Praying! Ruth, please keep us updated if you could.
Peace,
Nancy
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Hallie Forum Rookie
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 5:18pm | IP Logged
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Praying for John, Robynn, her father, and their families!
__________________ Hallie
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Mama to Daniel (5), Jack (4), Sophia (2) and Lucy (born in April).
http://hallie.wordpress.com/
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joann10 Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 6:26pm | IP Logged
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sending prayers...
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guitarnan Forum Moderator
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 7:05pm | IP Logged
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Praying right now.
__________________ Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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mariB Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 7:08pm | IP Logged
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Praying for John...this is so scarey! I will keep him my intentions throughout the evening...
__________________ marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years
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kingvozzo Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 7:20pm | IP Logged
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Oh my, praying right now!
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Maddie Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 8:09pm | IP Logged
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O St. Joseph! Pray for this daddy!
__________________ ~Maddie~
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MaryM Board Moderator
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 8:27pm | IP Logged
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Praying!
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
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stefoodie Forum Moderator
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 9:20pm | IP Logged
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Praying for John!!
__________________ stef
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insegnante Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 9:27pm | IP Logged
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Praying!
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St. Ann Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 17 2009 at 9:43pm | IP Logged
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Praying for John and Robynn and their family.
__________________ Stephanie
Wife and mother to Hannah '96, Maria '99, Dorothea '01, Helena '03
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aussieannie Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 18 2009 at 11:17pm | IP Logged
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Ruth, this is awful news! We have been praying for John and will continue to do so!
__________________ Under Her Starry Mantle
Spiritual Motherhood for Priests
Blessed with 3 boys & 3 girls!
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Ruth Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 19 2009 at 6:24am | IP Logged
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Update on original post from Robynn
__________________ Ruth
mom to 7 miracles
My family blog
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4 lads mom Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 19 2009 at 6:51am | IP Logged
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Unreal, I feel so bad for all of them...praying for a quick recovery!!!
__________________ Mom of four brave lads and one sweet lassie
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crusermom Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 19 2009 at 7:58am | IP Logged
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Praying for him here!
Mary
__________________ Mary
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KC in TX Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 19 2009 at 8:30am | IP Logged
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Oh, my! Praying for continued recovery.
__________________ KC,
wife to Ben (10/94),
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Michaela ('01)
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Jordan ('05)
And, my 2 angels, Rose ('08) and Mark ('09)
The Cabbage Patch
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Booksnbabes Forum All-Star
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Posted: Jan 19 2009 at 8:45am | IP Logged
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A very blessed update! Continuing to pray for his recovery.
__________________ Wife to wonderful DH, mom to SIX beautiful gifts from God!
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