[Gathnet] Need for prayer for a Gathnet member-- Dennis Orr

[altgrossvater]

Dear Gathnetters,   Please keep Dennis Orr in your prayers as he 
recovers from this horrible accident-see letter below.
 
Thankyou

  der alt Grossvater
------------------------------------------------------
Hi Stu & Anne -
 
We had a horrific experience last Mon. eve from which I'm still not 
fully recovered...Dennis was in back yard replacing rotten wood in the 
pool deck area and was on his last piece of redwood when his skill saw 
slipped, ripping thru his left hand almost severing his thumb...Scott 
rushed into kitchen where I was preparing supper and yelled "we need to 
get dad to the hospital NOW!!!"  We bundled up his injured hand in towel 
as it was bleeding heavily...thank God the ER wasn't crowded...they got 
him in and mobilized with an IV drip and pain meds-a hand surgeon needed 
to be called in to examine him and ultimately he went up to surgery for 
about 2 hrs where they needed to suture all the tendons, nerves and even 
bone - the Dr. said he needed to put a pin in the bone to stabilize area 
where the saw blade dug in...Dennis was in so much pain but he never 
complained!  I was afraid he was going to faint on way to ER - he was in 
shock and white as a sheet.  He was released to go home in the wee hrs 
of the a.m. with pain meds & anti-biotics to stem infection and a big 
old cast up to elbow with thumb stabilized.  He goes to Dr. next Thurs 
at 8 a.m. to get it looked at and possibly some stiches removed...doctor 
said he thought it would be ok for us to fly up to WA - it will be 
difficult one-handed to be sure!  But the time away from work and the 
stress of all this will be good for him - he'll be forced to relax!  We 
have insurance but our medicare suppliment policy with Blue Cross Senior 
Secure will pay everything after the first $2000 - I need to get out the 
policy to review it again.  Don't know what Medicare will pick up for 
surgery, hospital, ER, etc.  Scott thinks it will be a pretty expensive 
accident!  So far the 4  fingers on his left hand are pink and he can 
wiggle them and has feeling in them...the thumb got the worst of the cut 
and doc said it will take 3 mos of therapy to get hand working again and 
possibly a year before back to normal.  We understand that the nerve 
damage in his thumb is probably permanent, but he should still be able 
to use the computer as before. 
He's keeping the arm elevated while watching TV and sleeping - the pain 
med vicatin helps with the pain but also makes him sleepy!  We are 
reminded again of God's sovereign grace as this accident could have 
severed his thumb completely and several fingers as well.
Now we have to adjust to his one-handedness and since my hands are in 
bad shape, we are pretty pathetic trying to button and pull on socks and 
shoes - I couldn't button his jeans, so I guess we'll have to go and buy 
some pull on sweats to wear up in WA!  He can get in the shower by 
wearing a big plastic bag around cast and keeping arm up from the 
water.  I guess we have to see the comical side of this all to keep from 
getting too depressed as he's loosing work time just as he was trying to 
get projects all completed before going on vacation. 
 
On the same day earlier in the morning, Dennis had his annual eye exam 
and was told he had the beginnings of cataracts and should have them 
removed as soon as possible.  They could also correct his astigmatism 
and possibly near-sightenness at the same time.  Need to check out what 
medicare will pay for on that one!  All this sure isn't a great 
beginning to Dennis' 70th year!  Keep him in your prayers!!  I'm so 
thankful Scott was home that night as he was a big help just being there 
with me in waiting room!
 
Happy Easter!!!
 
Much Love, Beth