Yesterday my dad got pinned under one of the wheels of his semi when he and my mom were doing some maintenance. Her quick thinking saved his life.
He was under the truck. The trailer brake released and the semi with a load on the trailer started to roll. He felt it and started scampering. Mom was in the cab watching the air pressure and was able to apply the brakes and reset the trailer brakes instantly, but Dad was trapped. He was conscious.
Not knowing the extent of his injuries, Mom ran to the neighbors for help in getting the truck off of him. They weren't home. She was able to flag down a passing vehicle with two men who came to help her with the hydraulic air jack to lift it up.
He had about 16,000 pounds of weight on his hip/thigh for what he said felt like ten minutes.
Mom loaded him in the pickup and started for the hospital. It just so happened that my husband and I were pulling into the drive at this time because we had been at a flea market nearby. Mom just yelled as she passed, "Follow me to the hospital! Dad's been hurt bad!" I heard Dad say, "Go! Go! Go!"
We were off.
At this point, I had no idea what had happened. All I knew was that Dad was conscious. My mind flashed to things like being cut with a saw or welder burns. I called my sister who was out on a lake to tell her that something was going on, but I wasn't sure exactly what. She and her family pulled their boat out of the water and started heading toward us.
Then Dad called me himself from his cell phone. That was the first indication I had that he had been pinned under the truck tire. All he said was, "It's my hip. I think I'm hurt bad. Come to the hospital."
I was praying my heart out between my phone calls with my sister. I passed on the bits of information I gathered to her as I was able to assemble them. We both were having visions of lots of blood, life flight, and worse. At the very least we were thinking his hip had to be crushed under all that weight.
Amazingly, when Mom got him to the emergency room he walked in on his own.
We waited in the emergency waiting room with Mom while they took him to x-ray. We were hoping for the best and fearing the worst. The x-ray technician finally came out into the waiting area. (It's a very small community hospital where everybody knows everybody) I asked her how bad it looked. She said, "I love it. The doctor has to look at it, but I see no break. He got a really bad pinch."
They decided to keep him overnight for observation. He's one tough man. He refused the morphine they wanted to give him because he thought it would make him feel funny. He went without pain medicine all night.
The only injury he sustained besides bruising was some serious road rash on his behind and arm as he was trying to scramble free when he felt the truck starting to roll. The wheel made about a 1/4 turn before the tire pinned him. Mom was quick in getting it stopped. She undoubtedly saved his life.
This whole incident could have been avoided had Dad not forgotten to block the wheels before they even started. He's a very safety driven guy. One slip up almost cost him big time.
Dad's biggest worry about spending the night at the hospital was that they would put him in the same room that my brother died in. He ended up three doors down from that room.
I'll admit that was a very sobering walk down that hospital hallway.
My brother will be gone three years this October.
Also weighing heavy on everyone's minds was the fact that my sister's little girl will be gone four years September 14th. She was struck by a vehicle and that was a horrible night at another hospital.
We've all been thinking about my 11 days in yet another hospital this time last year too.
As my nephew said, "When can our turn for bad things be over?"
We have so much to be thankful for today though. My dad is around for us to tease about his bruises and about being a tough guy. Laughing and joking eased the tension we were all feeling quite a bit of. Mom has been elevated to hero status deservedly so.
We could have easily been planning another funeral today.
Thanks to God for His miracles.
CW
CreativeWoman posted on Sep 01, 2008
| views: 225
Comments
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MissMimi said on Sep 01, 2008....
Oh dear Lord! CDub! Thank God for your mom's quick thinking. Your dad's one tough cookie. It truly is a miracle. This is a great day to celebrate. {{{{{hugs}}}}} -
CreativeWoman said on Sep 01, 2008....
Mimi,
Thank you. We celebrated with an early birthday cake for my mom today. :-) We're all on diets, but it truly was a special occasion.
CW
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Lucytorial said on Sep 02, 2008....
Big PHEW! sometimes its just damn bad luck, how else do you explain it. bet you guys are really appreciating your dad as wel as him his own life. PHEW again! -
CayenneMan said on Sep 02, 2008....
I'm glad your dad is ok just like MissMimi said your dad's one tough cookie. No man's body was designed to be used as a wheel chock. This type of accident happens more often then you would think. I'm glad your mother had good sense.This could have really been bad. Some of the blood flow to that part of your dad's body probably ceased flowing.When that happens time is critical. I've invested alot of money (money well spent) in the purchase of quality wheel chocks and I use them. Even for minor jobs. I never take a chance, not even if I'm on level ground. I'm sure your dad has them also and he should have been using them. Don't worry CreativeWoman your dad will be ok and I quarantee he won't forget this incident and will chock the wheels properly from know on. I saw an accident occur once where a guy was working beneath a heavy truck supported in the air with an hydraulic jack. He failed to choke the wheels and did'nt use any jack stands for additional support. The truck moved ever so slightly and the jack failed the truck fell on top of him crushing his legs. After seeing this incident I've always been careful. Whenever I see somebody taking these type of chances I try to explain the dangers and alot of time they ignore my advise. Take care CreativeWoman you told the story well. It was kinda like a cup of strong coffee to me.I'll probably be up all morning now. Just kidding, goodnight CreativeWoman. -
dailyachesandpains said on Sep 02, 2008....
WOW, CW!!!!I have no idea how you didn't suffer a heart attack when your mom was telling you "GO GO GO!" Thank God he's okay.I know, anniversary times are so tough. Just know that you and your family is being thought of and prayed for!{{{{HUGS}}}}Daily -
Mamie said on Sep 02, 2008....
thank God he is going to be alright! Prayers are coming your way....I hope you can visit him today and give him a lecture or two! blessings, mamie -
evil_twin said on Sep 02, 2008....
Oh my God, that is so scary! I can't believe he wasn't hurt more than a bruise and some road rash. That's amazing. Not only did your mom save his life, he must have an angel looking out for him too. I'm so glad he's alright.
-evil_twin LA
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secretlife said on Sep 02, 2008....
thank God he's ok!i don't know if i could think so clearly as your mom did in such an emergency!but he's one very lucky man.give him a big ole hug today! -
skald said on Sep 02, 2008....
It was a good thing that your mum thought so quickly. I am glad it did not come to worse and that your dad is O.K
I am glad he was not put in the room where your brother died. I am sorry about your brother. -
Me-Myself&I said on Sep 02, 2008....
i teared up thinking of how the fear went thru you all. wow. i am glad the heavens were watching and all was/is well! lordy hon....wow.
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Battycat said on Sep 02, 2008....
Wow - thank goodness he's ok. It seems like this is a really bad time of year for your family. Take care (((((((hugs))))))))))) -
day2day said on Sep 02, 2008....
hi cw,Wow, i got chills just reading this post. I'm glad ur mom kept her witts about her.She is a hero. It's a miracle that he didn't have major problems. Good.day -
uniquely-ironic said on Sep 02, 2008....
Wow, the angels sure as heck had their work cut out for them that day. I'm so very glad that your Dad got off with a nasty bruise and road rash. Your family must be very happy that this was not another tragedy. Your mom rocks, BTW!! -
sammies_place said on Sep 02, 2008....
I love it!: "He got a really bad pinch" -
nanchu said on Sep 02, 2008....
Thank you very much for the great information. Thanks halloween flags -
badasianmom said on Sep 02, 2008....
Wow, what a story! I'm so glad your mom was able to save your dad. I'm sure he'll be checking to make sure every single thing is locked down and safe before he works under a semi again! -
woman said on Sep 02, 2008....
How wonderful that your Dad came through this in such good shape. I'm happy for you. -
Sandman said on Sep 02, 2008....
Hello CW :It's been awhile since i was on soulcast and the first thing i read is your post . As an over the road trucker myself and owner operator i know how fast things can go wrong with big trucks . I'm very happy for you and your family that all worked out ok and he will be up and about quickly . This is a good reminder to us all to always take saftey precautions . Hows that old saying go --- An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure .Tell your dad this trucker said drive safe !Sandman -
gingersoul said on Sep 02, 2008....
CW......i am glad to read your dad is fine ......oh, your mom is a sharp one...:-) -
RollingC said on Sep 02, 2008....
Wow CW.... thank God that your dad is ok and for your mom's quick thinking.Her staying cool and not panicking saved the day.Rc -
CreativeWoman said on Sep 03, 2008....
Lucy,
PHEW! is right. .
CayenneMan,
My dad has the wheel chocks too. He said for some reason he forgot them this time. He is so lucky that it was a fleshy part of his body trapped and not an organ. In over 45 years of trucking and doing his own mechanic work, this is the first trip to the emergency room related to it for any of us. He always preached safety to us. We all spent a lot of time doing maintenance as I was growing up.
Daily,
I cried and prayed all the way to the hospital. I put on my brave face when I went inside to be with them.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I truly appreciate them.
Mamie,
Thank you for your prayers. We've all been counting our blessings. My sister said it best with humor back in the emergency exam room as she hugged him. She said in best Fred Sanford inflection, "You big dummy!"
et,
Thank you. I have no doubt his angels were there. Mom's too.
secret,
I did give him a big hug and I took him some fried chicken after he went home.
skald,
Thank you. I'm glad he didn't get that room either. It would have been tough on all of us.
MMI,
I was the most fearful following them to the hospital because I didn't know all the facts. I wanted to stay calm for mom as we waited. She was good, but shaky.
Batty,
Thank you. This time of year does bring me a lot of sadness. I need to find some happy fall memories for more balance.
day,
Mom surely is a hero. Dad thanked her over and over for saving his life.
UI,
She does rock! My niece that passed away used to tell her she rocked out loud. :-)
sammie,
Yeah. You should see the bruise.
nanchu,
ok...
bad,
Thank you. I'm sure he has learned his lesson.
woman,
Thank you.
Sandman,
I will do that. He normally is a safety first kind of guy. This time he made a major goof that he won't soon forget.
ginger,
Thank you. Mom surely saved the day.
Rc,
Thank you. She was flying on adrenaline, I think.
CW -
queenparanoia said on Sep 04, 2008....
oh...my...GOD!!!!!
woah!!! i'm speechless...no words really!!! thank GOD alright!!! i think the guardian angels (your niece) were looking over at your dad!!!! woah.... this is really indeed a miracle CW!!!
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CreativeWoman said on Sep 04, 2008....
queen,
It really is a miracle. He definitely was blessed.
CW
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silverwhisper said on Sep 07, 2008....
CW, that's absolutely fantastic that he got out of it! how's his recovery going?
ed -
CreativeWoman said on Sep 07, 2008....
Ed,
He was very, very lucky. His recovery is not going nearly as fast as he would like it to. He still has quite a bit of swelling in his thigh area. He can walk on it. I think he goes back to the doctor tomorrow.
CW
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lionesss said on Sep 08, 2008....
cw,,,i my dear, how is your dad, he certainly is a very brave man, and your mum was very quick thinking, im soory to hear that your feeling sad its hard to let go of loved 1s no matter how long they have been gone,,hope you get some good luck soon,~~lionesss x -
CreativeWoman said on Sep 09, 2008....
Lioness,
He's doing better. He went to the doctor today and had some fluid drawn off he wound. He's taking his doctor's orders seriously, so I'm sure all will be back to normal soon.
Thank you for asking.
CW
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