9:30am
I received a phone call from my lover that I have nightmares about... I was on my way to meet Erika to drop her car off and go to Costco. I was about to get on the Turnpike (for those of you who don’t know I was about 20 mins into my 35 min drive) when Sam called. I couldn’t understand what he was saying. He DID NOT sound like my husband...I immediately knew something was wrong. He repeated him self and said "Babe, I’ve been burned really bad and I need you to come get me and take me to the hospital..." WHAT. I LOST IT!!! (I knew earlier that week he had been doing some land clearing on the 47acers behind our house. I did not know he was going to been burning a pile of brush that was the size of our house that day) I just said OK...and hung up...not realizing I was 20 mins away! I called Erika hysterical and told her I couldn’t meet her and why. Then I called him back and told him that I was so far away...and that I was calling 911. He insisted that I didn’t call 911 and that he was going to drive himself to the hospital because he was in too much pain. (This is the man that has the highest pain tolerance I know...he drilled his fingernail out and didn’t even skip a beat) I really thought he was going to pass out in shock on his way and die in a car accident, so I called our poor dear neighbor Linnea who also practically lives on the 47 acres. (Shout out to Linnea and Bryan for being the world's best neighbors) I asked her to go get him since I was so far away...she headed out to look for him not knowing that he had already started driving himself to the hospital. When she couldn't find him she PANICKED and thought he was in the fire! When I called her to tell her he was on his way she came right to the hospital to be with Austin and the kids. (She really is GREAT) I ran into the ER to tell them that he was on his way and to be ready for him...and then WAITED…………….
9:45am (not knowing what to expect)
I see his car pull up...and he walks through the doors as I start sobbing because there he was...He still had his cutest nose, his lobealicious ears and his kissable lips. I didn’t know what he was going to look like...I was expecting to see his face melted off and his clothes burnt. After being in the ER for about two hours we were so SO SO relieved to find out that he had 1st degree burns all over his right arm and all over his face. He also had 2nd degree burns on his hand and the right side of his face. There will be NO scarring and he will be back to work in about 1 week. Things could have been so much worse because he had carried the 5 gallon gas tank in the Bobcat with him and it had splashed on his clothes. His clothes should have caught on fire…(I know why they didn’t…G’s !)
SO you asked yourself how did this happen?
Wednesday they got their permit to burn. He had started the pile on fire by pouring gas on a small section and then lighting a little fire about 5-10 feet away that would quickly ignite the gas. He then went around to the other side of the pile and repeated the process...only this time as soon as he flicked the lighter the gas EXPLODED in his face. He was crouched down and had his eyes wide open, not expecting it to happen. (He says he saw the fire touch his eyes... not good) He jumped back shut his eyes and mouth and started swatting his head to put the fire out. In the frenzy, he scrapped off the skin on the side of his face, his eye lashes singed shut and his lips melted together. So, needless to say, he freaked out. He thought his face had melted off. After he popped his eyes open he saw the Bobcat was still right by the fire... he ran over to move it and began trying to drive it home (the man was in total shock!!!) as he drove by the Ford work truck he realized that would be faster. (The bobcat would have taken an hour to get him home) After he was off the property and was driving down the road he realized he had forgotten to shut the gate and his beloved cows could get out, so he TURNED AROUND and shut the gate! Luckily he made it to the hospital and was immediately taken care of and given some good drugs! Serious thanks to the quick repsonse of Daniel and Brother Folsom in getting to the hospital and giving Sam a blessing within minutes of him being there.
Austin, Kate and I are so blessed to have our husband, lover and father home and safe with us. It is so good to know that the Lord looks out for us and knows our needs (I need my husband).
THANK YOU, to all our family and friends that had us in their prayers and kept our bellies full. The dinners were delicious!
Pictures in the hospital
(noticed the singed hairs... our house smelt like one big singed hair for a long time!)
That night... looking a little swollen from the trauma
The second day the Dr. wanted all the spots that lost skin to be covered with cream and bandaged... my little wounded solider.
The third day... less skin = more bandage
Saturday night...
Aw, cute little sleepy cousins hitchin' a ride together.
