We have just walked in the door after our Charleston Donor Getaway event, and are very thankful to be home! We flew to Charleston Wednesday afternoon and began to set up for the event starting early Thursday morning. As I was working on setting up our check-in table and assembling resources, Eric was working with the other men to set up the staging. This includes a pipe and drape backdrop and two large TV screens. Right around lunchtime, he was heading down a ladder and missed the last step. As soon as he fell back, trying to break his fall with his right hand, he knew that something was broken. A friend who was helping to assemble sprung into action. This Eagle Scout/ volunteer firefighter/FamilyLife staff member built a splint out of cardboard, duct tape, and cloth banquet napkins to stabilize things before we headed to the closest ER. X-rays there confirmed Eric’s suspicions – a fractured radius and an ulnar styloid fracture. The doctor said that he would need surgery and recommended a hand surgeon due to the location of the breaks so close to the wrist. The offer was made to get surgery there, but they would not have been able to get him in until Tuesday 10/7 at the earliest. The decision was made to temporarily cast his arm with instructions to get surgery within 1-2 weeks max.
When we returned to the hotel, we were truly unsure of how long we would be staying at the event. FamilyLife offered to fly us home the next day if needed, but Eric decided to rest up and decide in the morning. After an awkward night’s sleep, with the help of pain medication, Eric actually felt up to participating in the event. The opportunity to connect with guests who had come from all over the country to learn about FamilyLife was just too valuable (and the pain was under control with the cast and the meds). We had also begun to realize that, with the weekend coming, insurance was not going to get anything done very fast anyway. I’m proud to say that Eric and I were able to attend every event and fulfill our staff duties at the Charleston Getaway!
We arrived home at about 3 today (Monday) and have seen that our prediction about the pace of the insurance process was correct as well. As of today, we do not have an appointment set up or surgery scheduled. Please pray along with us that we are able to get those things in place and take care of the surgery as soon as possible. Also, pray for patience during recover. With the announcement of the FamilyLife move to Orlando, we have developed quite a long list of house jobs we would like to get done before we have to sell this house. That list will have to wait or at least be reconsidered as Eric has to work on healing. We appreciate your prayers!
Wow !!
So glad all other parts of his body are ok!! So sorry for all that with the pressures of the conference and the ripple effect to fill in those set up needs. God sure provided thru your fellow staff and gave you strength and stamina to endure the rest of your time there. We will pray for insurance to move on appointments/surgery in good time or for God to set and heal his arm and he won’t need it.
Awwww! So glad it all went well! Thinking of you and praying!!!