DandJofAZ

[Red Badger]

Doug no sooner gets a green light from cancer and moves up north then tries to burn himself up with a kerosene device... reports are sketchy, but I believe Russell had some part in it also... Doug called and told me he was still with us but won't be doing any typing for a while. 

I think we need to start a gofundme page for a rubber room addition to the new house :)

RB 

[russell shaffer]

The rubber room might be a fine idea.  For once, Russell was innocent.  He was using an old Montgomery Ward burner that consisted of a pump can with a shoulder strap and a hose to the burner.  The hose split, sprayed kerosene everywhere and, of course, caught fire.  He managed to get it out with lots of water but it took too long.  He has third degree burns on his right arm and second degree on the left hand from pulling burning stuff off. He is currently residing in the burn unit of Emanuel Legacy hospital in Portland, Oregon.  He had skin grafts from his thigh to his arm yesterday (10-14) and made it through the surgery fine.  The surgery was nervous making because he has a problem with anesthetic. He is doing as well as can be expected today, Tuesday, so I came home.  The bandages over the skin grafts will be left on for 5 days so the grafts can take.  Then the real fun can start with PT to get the arm to move.  He is going to be a sore puppy at best for a long time.  Best estimate right now is three more weeks in the hospital if everything goes right.  The clock starts again if he needs more grafting.  The cancer is a complication plus his age.  Still, all is looking very good right now.  I wouldn't have come home if he wasn't looking and sounding good.

[russell shaffer]

As an aside, the J in D and J has decreed that anything that burns kerosene is going to the scrap pile.  Guess she has some input - she drove him over 400 miles starting at 5 AM to get him to the burn center.  It's a good one, the only one in Oregon and the only one between Seattle and Sacramento.   Portland is good for the family, he has a daughter 3 hours from him and I am about 5 hours away.  So, I will be going back for a visit once he starts rehab and is more ready for "helpful" suggestions from his brother.  I did offer to give him his shot on Sunday, but the nurse wouldn't go for it.

[Patocazador]

Man, that's a bad deal. When it rains it pours. Poor Doug, he had enough going on and certainly doesn't need this. Third degree burns are very serious.

[russell shaffer]

Just to clarify some things, I was 600 miles from Doug when this happened.  He had sprayed the back lawn at his new house to kill the grass so his neighbor could rototill it for a garden next spring.  He was burning off the dead grass with his antique.  If he hadn't had a water faucet somewhat near this would have had a whole different outcome.  For some fortunate reason his kerosene soaked overalls did not catch fire. He called me the day after while he was waiting for the ER in his very small hospital to clear out enough so he could get back in for more attention.  I told him to get in the car and go to Spokane to a bigger hospital but that didn't happen.

[Hanshi]

He certainly has my best wishes for a full recovery.

[William]

Man, I'm gone for a few days and this place falls apart!

I gotta check much more often or the membership is going to self destruct!   

[old salt]

Man if it were not for bad luck those folk wouldn't have and lick at all. moved them back to the top of the prayer list.

Old Salt and Blue Bird

[beowulf]

wish him a full and fast recovery ! burns are not a good thing in any way !

[redhawk]

My thoughts and prayers are with you Doug for a speedy recovery. Sounds like I need to send you another eagle feather!

[Dogshirt]

Sad to hear this. Hoping for a full recovery.

[russell shaffer]

Yesterday, Saturday, they took off the bandages to check on the graft progress and all is good.  The staples were removed - that wasn't fun-  and rebandaged.  He was hurting bad last night but he doesn't want too much pain killer because that shuts down his functions and causes more trouble.  The plan is to take another hard look on Wednesday and make decisions on future care.  The docs are leaning toward sending him home to do his PT on his own with his wife's help.  So, we should know more on Wednesday.

[Watauga]

Prayers going up for a speedy full recovery.

[Hanshi]

Good.  Sounds very promising.

[russell shaffer]

Doug is home and doing well. He goes to Spokane Monday for a visit with a burn recovery Doctor. He is still weak and using a walker to go out but he IS going out. Their internet and tv have been out so he is out of the modern world for now.