Hey guys,
I have a friend who's just gone through a life-changing accident who could use your prayers.
His name is Chris Neilson, he's 25, just got married this last Summer, and he
used to work at a gravel pit not far from where I live. I've known Chris since he first moved to my old hometown in Thorsby Alberta about 12 years ago. Him and I used to be inseparable, but as life has its' ways we both went our own ways after college. He finished his degree in Theology and I headed in a different direction.
Well, just today at about 1700hrs he texted me saying he was in the hospital, and his left arm was missing. At the time I was in Wendys eating supper and thought it was an odd time to be throwing jokes like that around. I asked him if he was kidding, and he said he was very serious. I picked up my wife, headed over to the hospital and found him with his wife in their hospital room, and sure enough, his left arm was gone just above the elbow.
Of course my first question was "How did it happen?", and this was his answer: He says he was working near a conveyer belt gravel crusher with a tiger torch. Well the torch got caught in the belt and was pulled in, which ended up snagging on his glove pulling his hand into the belt. From there it pulled his whole arm in, breaking it backwards, and began tearing up his arm from the elbow down. His co-workers ran to shut down the belt and got it turned off, but his arm was now stuck in the belt, and he couldn't free himself. So they reversed the belt and he began prying at his arm with a piece of metal trying to free himself. He eventually got the arm out, but the part that got sucked in was not recoverable. The ambulance came and he was taken to emergency where they cut the arm off above the elbow and had to dispose of it. He now has about 2-3 inches of bicep left, up to his shoulder.
I have to admit I was taken back when I went and saw him. A lot of you on here have military backgrounds and/or are in the military yourself, so it may be less shocking to you, but it still leaves me in disbelief. This is a guy who's always had 2 arms, and now, barely more than 1. It's freaky to think about it.
Please keep him in your prayers and be safe at work.
Update #4: Chris was released from hospital and is now back at home. On meds, but home. As soon as possible ima get a nice down'n'dirty picture of the stump. I know we all want to see it.
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Update #3: Chris after 2nd surgery. Now he can get up and at least shower, eat, etc.
Update #2: picture of Chris and his wife. (dec 3.2012):
Update: heres a picture i took from today (dec 2.2012):
Heres from before:
I will be posting more pictures of his recovery so you can all see the progress for yourself.
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