Just in case you didn’t read our Christmas letter, here’s the relevant exerpt:
On October 16h, Cal tripped over a hose and took a header into our front wall. Crawling to the door, he hit the bell and was driven to the urgent care center, then off to the Barrington hospital where Michele and her brother (Dr.) Joe held leadership positions. Joe was in town and provided the most comprehensive explanation so far.
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I guess I should have added that my wife had suggested I put away the hose.
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After a CAT scan, a woman, presumably a doctor, came to the Emergency Room and said, “You broke your
neck.” Brace on neck, off to a hospital room. The next morning, an MRI. Never saw the neurosurgeon, just his Physician’s Assistant, who said she’d release me that afternoon, but the hospitalist wanted me to stay another day.
Turns out Cal is a walking miracle: God spared him a brain bleed and the fractures to vertebrae one and two are on the outside with no damage
He’ll be a flexible neck brace (shame collar one wag observed) until sometime after you receive this letter.
A Kiwanis friend said Cal had “a lucky break.” Our Crystal Lake minister told Cal, “We always knew you had
a hard head.”
Michele was in Cape Coral enjoying her “alone time,” but, being the good wife she is, offered to return to Crystal Lake. Cal suggested they save the money and enjoy herself with the Tiffany Courtiers, her neighborhood women’s group. (They have wine glasses and tee shirts.)
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On January 1st, I tried walking a mile again, but only made it about 1/10 of a mile.
Seems I got a secondary injury when my knee hit the bricks in our sidewalk.
Now, for prolonged standing or walking, I have to wear a brace to hold a bone in my lower leg in the proper position.
