My brother (Justin) and I were being boys. I grew up mostly a country boy in SD and CO, riding dirt bikes and playing with guns. Justin was driving a car and I was following him on my dirt bike. Of course we were goofing around and racing. He was fishtailing the car so that I couldn’t pass him and lost control. He ran off the road into a cornfield and pretty much closed his eyes and put his foot down hoping to hit the break and hit the gas. I could see that this was going to end badly and got off my bike. He ran into a telephone pole and the pole fell. As I was running the wire snapped and landed on my head zapping me pretty good. I will spare the gory details but most of the electricity traveled through my body exiting in my left knee, taking a huge chunk out of my leg and paralyzing my left foot. Some of the electricity surfaced around in my chest and slowly burned it’s way out, leaving burns from the inside out on my chest, back and left arm. Most of my organs pretty much got micro waved. I was out for a good five minutes while Justin ran to the neighbors call 911, they already had so he came back to me just as I was waking and then ran to our house about a mile away to get my parents. When my dad got there I was obviously in a state of shock having no clue what happened and trying to get back on the bike, he settled me down as best he could and we waited for the emergency people to arrive. After a small hospital in Sterling, CO I was sent to a hospital in Greeley, CO for the 1st week and then transferred to the Shiners Burn Institute in Galveston, TX where they took care of me until I was 21. Obviously lots of surgeries (40+ on the knee alone) and recovery but those are the basics. .

Since that time I have been pretty stubborn about keeping the leg, always hoping / praying for more to be available in terms of an alternative to amputation. In the past, Dr’s have not wanted to do a knee replacement for a # of reason’s: age / maturity, lack of muscle, the foot, but mostly because it just doesn’t make sense. For the last six months, I have been seeking out opinions again as I have grown a ½ an inch in the last couple years. I’m 28 is that still suppose to happen? With that the knee has been changing a lot and I have been breaking knee braces every couple of months, which has not only gotten expensive, but has also taken its toll on the knee. The last few times it has occurred I’ve dislocated the knee, and I’ve have to put it back. Anyways, after this last round of seeing Dr’s, Tara and I have made the decision to amputate. This is something that I have thought about everyday since the accident and have been trying avoid, but now as pain has been dramatically increasing, it is time. I saw one Dr. that was willing to do a replacement, but his estimate at best would only last 5-8 years with the replacement, and more than likely I’d be faced with the same decision as now. It would solve the pain problem, but not give much more activity than I have now. The amputation opens so many other doors for activity making it the best decision. With a baby coming soon, Tara and I have decided to have the surgery at the end of May, 2007, which will give a couple months recovery time before the little one arrives. By all estimates I should be starting the process of learning to walk by that time, and be available to do my part in taking care of baby. The 1st year after amputation is said to be the hardest, as there is a lot to learn with the many changes my body will go through.

This is where you can help.
Please pray for us:

We are still very much a newlywed couple, and while we do have what I would consider great communication, all that is going on will be taxing on the relationship.

$$$ – I have decent insurance, but with everything going on right now day to day money is and will continue to be tight. I have a great employer that will allow for whatever time I need, that has a lot to do with the fact that I am a 100% commissioned employee. Pray that the business keeps coming in while I am out.

My own mental health, even though I know this is the right decision and have been prepared for this for 15 years, it will be a difficult transition mentally. Depression is already easy for me to get into and will no doubt be there after the leg is gone.

Tara- this woman is amazing and is so supportive but this will obviously be a very interesting time for her as well. Pray for her health, and for the development of our baby, as the last few months can be pretty uncomfortable and tiring.

Thank you for your support and prayers.

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