Life is never boring ~ Feb. 8th

Hi everyone, I have a different focus in my writing today. Many of you know my amazing Dad, Art. Well yesterday, just after noon, he shocked us all again by breaking the same leg almost 30 years later in an usual accident. He was selecting a door for a project at a business, holding the first door upright of a pile so the employee could slide one out further from the back. Many of the doors were heavy, solid core ones and somehow the doors came forward (think dominoes) and knocked Dad over, crushing his left leg over the right one. Three employees lifted the doors up, maybe about 8 doors?, as he pulled himself backwards and out. He became very chilled lying on the cold ground awaiting the ambulance. The paramedics were able to see it was a compound fracture of the femur, splinted him up and took him to emergency. (Dad joked that he lost a good pair of jeans...) X-rays revealed the lower leg, the tibia, was also fractured below the knee. He waited all night for surgery, at 5 am this morning. My brother Rob was able to stay with my Mom, giving her some time to sleep briefly at home before 2 am. (The time they were told for surgery.) I saw everyone for two hours last evening after my day shift, and Scott and I went up this morning. Dad was in the post-anesthetic recovery room still, and was awaiting transfer to the orthopedic unit when we left before noon. He appears comfortable, is very drowsy and as sweet as ever.

 Dad helped find Lewis a work table for Christmas... was the best surprise!

I will be working the next three evening shifts, so will need to be able to focus well. I think overall work will be a good distraction. My co-workers will be comforting I'm sure, once the entire grapevine is out. (I left work yesterday in tears after Scott's phone call... but I thought he said it was a car accident, so was feeling some deja vu from being 16 again.) I'm okay now, as my Dad comforts everyone even when he is the one suffering.

I already know he and our families are being prayed for, whether it be the nurses and surgeon we encounter, the songs of encouragement on the radio, or your heartfelt emails. We will do our best to communicate, but are hoping for not too many visitors right away. My Mom still remembers the day that 24 visitors came to visit at VGH... Dad was exhausted. All I know is that she won't be going to Saskatchewan on Tuesday like she planned, even though Dad said she still could. :) Will keep in touch, love Susan.