Wednesday, April 9, 2008

It was a tree that was my downfall and American Idol

I was asked by David McMahon at authorblog (http://david-mcmahon.blogspot.com/) to explain how I had received a broken neck. And my "mostly recovered" comment. To put it quite simply, one morning Mac and I were pruning the big old pecan tree out front and feeling 22 rather than 52, I was swanning about on a ladder that was leaning against the big old limb that Mac had been working on when the chain saw got caught in the cut. So, he asked me to hold onto the chain saw and idiot that I am, I obliged. You know I never do what he asks me to do till I've had time to think it over and decide what lies in my best interest. I should have stuck to that policy, but noooooooo. I grabbed hold of that chain saw (whose motor was still running...no one thought to turn it off) with one hand and wrapped my arm around the limb of the tree. He pushed up on the limb and I swear it exploded like a gunshot in my ear. The limb (which had to have weighed forty five pounds) hit the ladder, leaving me holding the chain saw and no place to go but down. And down I went, (wondering if the chain saw was still going) breaking two ribs and as it turned out, my neck, in the process. Lucky girl that I am, later when the paralysis hit (neck to toe) and the doctor told me I'd never walk again, I just asked him to do the best he could, that I would leave the rest to God. I knew a lot of people were praying for me and I just felt it in my heart. No one was more surprised with the outcome than Dr. Santiago. While I don't dance much, I do indeed walk. While the swing in my stride that Mac once adored is more of a halting movement, it's movement. Sometimes it's more halting than others, depending on the weather. I still tend to get a bit of paralysis if I sit to long (hence no long trips if it can be avoided). And of course, there is no tree climbing anymore. I ran into a friend a few weeks after leaving the hospital who had fallen off the roof of her house while repairing the chimney. She told me we were getting to old for climbing trees and doing roof work. I tend to agree. But in my head, I'll be climbing trees when I'm ninety.

I was so bored last night with American Idol, it's hard to put into words. K(C?)risty Lee Cook was the only one I stopped cleaning the kitchen for. David Cook sent me back to heebie jeebie land...what ever made him choose that song, and then that cheesey "give back" written on his hands? My prediction is Syesia and Brook will be sitting in the bottom two...I just hope next week is more entertaining!
Hope your week is a great one.

38 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Sandi,

This really sounds like you were given a miracle. You had to be so scared during all of this. I'm glad you are doing well today and are able to enjoy your garden. And I forgot to watch Idol again until the last minutes when the girl sang the Carol King song. I watch HGTV and get so involved watching it I forget to change the channels. LOL

PAT said...

Wow Sandi, you are amazing! Yes, I do believe you are a walking miracle! Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful story of survival!

J's brother put a chain saw through J's brogan when they were sawing logs, one Fall. This was when they were all grown up..a couple years before I met J. The saw bit through the shoe and into J's little toe. He spent 9 days in the hospital and 6 weeks on crutches. J and the toe survived. There is a Bass mount hanging here in J's lodge. He caught that prize sized Bass, while on crutches, during that recuperation. That's only one little survival story, of J's...the first began when he fell out of the barn onto his head, as a child. Yes, he's a walking miracle too!

Pat

Anonymous said...

Amazing how fast accidents like that can happen...usually followed with an "...if I only...". I'm glad to hear that you are up and around.

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

Stay away from chain saws! You don't need to be pushing your luck.
We love American Idol...I think there are a lot of unique singers this year!

Kari (GrannySkywalker) said...

I soooo agree with you on the A.I. picks. I love David Cook...but even I thought the comment on his hand was a bit much. Hope next week is better...

Sam Fox said...

A miracle indeed, Sandi, and thank God that old chainsaw didn't make things worse...

Lovely to have you check in on me today - drat - thought I could lure you for a visit too!

Thanks for sharing your story - you must be very strong to overcome an injury like that.

Vee said...

You've talked about this before, but it sure hits fresh all over again just what you've been through. I am impressed with the faith that says, "Do your best and I'll leave the rest to God."

Do the doctors say that the RA is a result of this? My mother's docs say that hers is probably a result of toppling over an embankment. Apparently, about 50% of RA patients had a major trauma in the months before they were diagnosed. (Yup, here I go again! LOL!)

Well I'm sorry that your boy blew it last night. Hope that he comes back strong next week.

Anonymous said...

Girl you are a miracle. I had no
Idea you had been through all that.
God bless you.
I agree with you about Idol..she is my fav. right now.

Mima said...

Sandi what an incredible story, and I had absolutely no idea, another reason to think what an amazing woman you are. To have gone through all of that and come out fighting. Just promise me that you will keep thinking about Mac's requests before you do them in future!!

I can't wait to see Idol, even if it is disappointing this week, I am so hooked!

Tom said...

Hi Sandi
I called to say thank you for your comment and visit today over on my blog.. I of course read this post and I must say I admire your outlook..
Thanks again
Tom

Akelamalu said...

You are literally a walking miracle aren't you? You have a wonderful outlook, thanks for telling your story.

Preity Angel... said...

Sandi, I came over from San's blog..Congratulations on your award from her.

I really deserve this.. its very nice blog.

Jamie Dawn said...

What an amazing story!! It is such a thrill to hear that someone who wasn't supposed to be able to walk is now walking. I love to hear good news stories. They help balance out all the bad stuff that goes on in our world. How scary that whole ordeal must have been!
You seem like a very brave, tough woman, so I think your body had no choice but to recover.
Your tree climbing days are over, but your walking days are NOT!
Thank God for that!!!
:-)

Jan said...

I always thought you were amazing...now I KNOW you are!! : ) What an amazing story!!

I didn't see AI on Tuesday (see my blog about the power outage) but I looked at some of the contestants on Youtube. I didn't think anyone was spectacular. *sigh* They have to become a little more exciting!! : )
Take care!

Jan

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful testimony of faith -- both yours and God's! I am so glad that David asked you to share this story.

Judy said...

Thanks for your kind words and thoughts during our difficult times this past week. Hopefully all goes well with your niece this time around.

What an amazing story you shared today! We tend to see life a little differently when we have been through things like that...each day is a special gift.

Adla said...

Sandi, Aww chainsaw in hand and all of that...oooo all too scary for me ! Like you said you should have listened to your instinct and said No to the hubby but then again everything happens for a reason. Glad to learn that you survived it all and have your sense of humour superbly intact.
By The way my American Idol Michael has had to say Goodbye, boo hoo hoo... I think it's time to cheer David Archuleta now!

chat soon, Adla

Vee said...

Today is the day that I'm trying the Angel Biscuits. Keep your fingers crossed for me! :D

smilnsigh said...

WoW, that is some story. -sigh-

After going through such, a little ol' NST is nothing, hu?

Mari-Nanci

Jeanne said...

What a shock that Michael was sent packing! Man are you ever lucky to still be walking.

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Sandi, what a story! You are blessed to be alive after a fall like that. It is a miracle!

Hugs,
Rhoda

Anonymous said...

After all that Sandi, you have every right to cry over shoes. My goodness. I too wonder if you RA is related to your fall. I am so glad I have gotten to know you through blogland because you are one special lady. xo Lynn
P.S. Am I the only person in the whole world who has never watched American Idol?

Pam said...

I was unimpressed by Idol this week. i didn't care for David's song but he's still one of my favs. I can't believe that one guy was "voted off".

kari and kijsa said...

What an incredible story...about an incredible woman!!

Can you believe he was voted off last night?!!! (We left the name off, just in case you didn't see the AI results last night...we though they wouldn't vote anyone of!!!)

blessings,
kari & kijsa

LivingTheLife said...

Well...I've always known you were special...and apparently God knows it, too! What amazing faith you have...I love your comment about leaving the rest up to God!! No more powerful words have been spoken! Thank you for sharing this story, Sandi...I know it has to be painful to remember...but thank the Lord we can't remember actual past physical pain!

Now my thoughts on AI...I am DEVASTATED I tell you...D-E-V-A-S-T-A-T-E-D!! I think someone else deserved to go over Michael Johns...I mean after he did his rendition of "It's all Wrong...but It's All Right"...well, that song...and the way he sang it...made me swoon! Yea...I have never SWOONED in all my almost 51 years...now my heart has skipped a beat...and I have lost my heart (to hubbin)...but swooned...NEVER...till he sang that to ME!! Yea...it was to me...I am sure of it....anyway...I did NOT think his song Tuesday was really bad...he did a decent rendition...and it was a song that was surely recognizable (unlike David Cooks...what the heck was that...and I'm a fan!!)...it certainly did not deserve to get him voted off...but I think that he is lost in the demographics of things...a.) he is 29 the oldest singer/contestant and B.) he's married so the young girls can't swoon over him like the single guys...so I think he just lost out....but it will be ok...this way he'll just be able to get his career started a wee bit earlier than the others! As he sang the other night...and I truly believe...America got it...wrong...wrong...wrong...wrong...wrong...WRONG...but it's alright! Ok sorry for that!

Blessings...
Teresa

Sandi McBride said...

I have decided to become the Unauthorized President of the I hate Ryan Secrest Club. Did I mispell his name? Do I care? No...NoOOOOO....I think they should stick by last years rule and kick off no one the night after Give Back...all in favor say AYE!
Sandi

LZ Blogger said...

Sandi ~ The story of the tree and the chain saw sounded ever so REAL to me... that is exactly what I was doing last weekend, well... except for the falling and injury part of the story! THX for stopping by! ~ jb///

Justabeachkat said...

Even though I knew the story, it still makes me cringe when I think about it. What a scary time, but what a miracle God worked in you. Thank you Lord!

Hugs!
Kat

Champ Townboy said...

A miracle, indeed!!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Hi Sandi!
Wow! I am so glad you recovered from that accident! That truly is a miracle.

I am back! And I am trying to catch up with all of my friends...I am having my 200th post giveaway...come enter :-)
Hugs,
Penny

LivingTheLife said...

AYE!!!...the way they handled that was just MEAN!!! I am mad, too!! Poor Michael!!

Carol said...

Sandi, I cannot imagine what must have gone through your mind while you were in hospital, you must have been blessed.
Hugs....
Carolxx

SandyCarlson said...

Sandi,
What an experience. I'm glad you had people around you and prayers aplenty and that your mobile again. May you dance always in the treetops! The imagination can survive just about anything. God bless.

maryt/theteach said...

OMG, Sandi! What a story about your neck! But I'm glad you can move around and you sound so positive! I'm glad David recommend you visit my TT post about what I wanted to tell the Pope and I'm glad you liked it! :D

Merisi said...

You lucky girl! What a scare to go through, it could have been a veritable chainsaw massaker (boy and their toys - don't touch them *chuckle*).

david mcmahon said...

You had me on pins and needles, Sandi.

``You know I never do what he asks me to do till I've had time to think it over and decide what lies in my best interest.'' - That's food for thought!!!!

Anonymous said...

Let me stop with the BS, you are not my Aunt Sandi, you are my mom sandie and I really wish you would stop with climbing trees in your head mom!!!

I've read the story of your injury before I reading it now seems like reading for the very first time again. I'm VERY thankful you are okay.

Loves!!

Terri Steffes said...

Sandi, that was riveting story. I didn't know this about you. You are even more wonderful than I originally thought! :)

Hey, did you think this week's Idol was better? I liked David Cook's song SO MUCH BETTER than last week.