Please include Beachbummett's brother, Steve, in your prayers. I just received a text from her saying he was in an explosion at work and is being Care-Flighted to UAB Hospital.
Replies
164
Beach Fanatic
BB my thoughts, love, and prayers go out to you and family. I will light a candle for you all.
SoWal Insider
Thanks to all of you for your thoughts, prayers, emails, phone calls and text messages. It makes it easier knowing friends and family are praying.
When I got the phone call at work around 10:30 a.m. I was stunned all I was told was "Your brother was in an explosion at work and they are life flighting him to UAB hospital. Life Flighting?!! This can't be good. I called UAB emergency and all they could tell me was "Yes, we know about it and he is in route." My family lives at least an hour and a half from Birmingham so I knew it would be a while before they could get here. I jumped in the car and headed downtown to the hospital.
All I could think of was my brother loves black pepper. So much so that we tease him at family meals because if he has forgotten his fancy little pepper grinder he will go get one out of his truck. When I arrived they told me to have a seat and a "patient advocate" would be with me shortly. The last time I heard "patient advocate" I was alone at the hospital with my beloved Grandmother and a "patient advocate" came to get me, took me in a room and told me she had died, so needless to say my knees about buckled. Then the "patient advocate" came out and told me he was there and they were working on him. That is when all I wanted was for everyone in my circle of friends to be praying for him and sent DD the text, I knew she would handle that business for me and y'all would handle the praying.
A little bit later two of his co-workers came in. It is a humbling site to see two big grown men with such looks of concern and sadness on their faces. One of the big men was with Steve when it happened. From my understanding it would not have happened if it had not been so unusually cold here, remember, we never have these temperatures here, my brother was cutting a piece of pipe with a chain saw outside of the plant, they cut it down so far and a lift picks it up to snap it in two, Steve was walking away from the cut with a running chain saw in his left hand when they lifted it and it snapped "explosively" and hit Steve when he was walking away. They do this all the time, but because of the extremely cold temperatures it was extremely brittle. The pipe was a foot in diameter, but the walls were about 5 inches thick. It is used to run water to where they get the coal byproducts that they now use to make heat/coal pellets to heat homes.
My brother is fifth generation of my family in the coal business, my great-great-great grandfather came to Alabama for the coal belt and started a coal mine waaay back then. Times have changed and our business changes with the times, my father came out of retirement a few years ago to help build a pellet plant to use the waste of all the coal mines that have been around our part of the world and now my brother works there. I have always been around this business and I guess I forget how very dangerous it can be. My father was in an underground mine collapse when I was in Texas in college and I did not know about it for two days. I could not help but cry like a baby when those big men at the hospital started telling me about one of them holding Steve's head up while they covered him with blankets and all those big tough men took their coats off and held them around my brother to block the wind for about 45 minutes until the ambulance came. Keep in mind it was around 19 degrees here and windy.
Steve endured five hours of surgery yesterday and it is not a green stick fractures as we first thought. He had to have screws and plates put in his leg and arm and will have to have bone grafts surgeries done. We have not told him yet that they said it would be 5 to 6 months before he could walk on it. My brother is like me, he does not sit still very much. He has a farm (he does not live on it, his wife does not enjoy the country like he does) and has around thirty some odd cows to feed every day and take care of the farm, he hunts a lot and basically does not sit still. Some of his friends are going over to his house this weekend and build ramps for him.
Please keep him in your prayers that he will heal faster and better than they have ever seen. He is only 38, very healthy, eats right, non-smoker and very fit so I think he is going to amaze them with his recovery time. He can't stand pain meds so night before last he had a morphine pump and it was making him sick, when they came in at 2:00 to give him loratab he told them to just bring him tylenol! TYLENOL!!! Geez. They did! He was taking tylenol until they wheeled him up to surgery.
When I got the phone call at work around 10:30 a.m. I was stunned all I was told was "Your brother was in an explosion at work and they are life flighting him to UAB hospital. Life Flighting?!! This can't be good. I called UAB emergency and all they could tell me was "Yes, we know about it and he is in route." My family lives at least an hour and a half from Birmingham so I knew it would be a while before they could get here. I jumped in the car and headed downtown to the hospital.
All I could think of was my brother loves black pepper. So much so that we tease him at family meals because if he has forgotten his fancy little pepper grinder he will go get one out of his truck. When I arrived they told me to have a seat and a "patient advocate" would be with me shortly. The last time I heard "patient advocate" I was alone at the hospital with my beloved Grandmother and a "patient advocate" came to get me, took me in a room and told me she had died, so needless to say my knees about buckled. Then the "patient advocate" came out and told me he was there and they were working on him. That is when all I wanted was for everyone in my circle of friends to be praying for him and sent DD the text, I knew she would handle that business for me and y'all would handle the praying.
A little bit later two of his co-workers came in. It is a humbling site to see two big grown men with such looks of concern and sadness on their faces. One of the big men was with Steve when it happened. From my understanding it would not have happened if it had not been so unusually cold here, remember, we never have these temperatures here, my brother was cutting a piece of pipe with a chain saw outside of the plant, they cut it down so far and a lift picks it up to snap it in two, Steve was walking away from the cut with a running chain saw in his left hand when they lifted it and it snapped "explosively" and hit Steve when he was walking away. They do this all the time, but because of the extremely cold temperatures it was extremely brittle. The pipe was a foot in diameter, but the walls were about 5 inches thick. It is used to run water to where they get the coal byproducts that they now use to make heat/coal pellets to heat homes.
My brother is fifth generation of my family in the coal business, my great-great-great grandfather came to Alabama for the coal belt and started a coal mine waaay back then. Times have changed and our business changes with the times, my father came out of retirement a few years ago to help build a pellet plant to use the waste of all the coal mines that have been around our part of the world and now my brother works there. I have always been around this business and I guess I forget how very dangerous it can be. My father was in an underground mine collapse when I was in Texas in college and I did not know about it for two days. I could not help but cry like a baby when those big men at the hospital started telling me about one of them holding Steve's head up while they covered him with blankets and all those big tough men took their coats off and held them around my brother to block the wind for about 45 minutes until the ambulance came. Keep in mind it was around 19 degrees here and windy.
Steve endured five hours of surgery yesterday and it is not a green stick fractures as we first thought. He had to have screws and plates put in his leg and arm and will have to have bone grafts surgeries done. We have not told him yet that they said it would be 5 to 6 months before he could walk on it. My brother is like me, he does not sit still very much. He has a farm (he does not live on it, his wife does not enjoy the country like he does) and has around thirty some odd cows to feed every day and take care of the farm, he hunts a lot and basically does not sit still. Some of his friends are going over to his house this weekend and build ramps for him.
Please keep him in your prayers that he will heal faster and better than they have ever seen. He is only 38, very healthy, eats right, non-smoker and very fit so I think he is going to amaze them with his recovery time. He can't stand pain meds so night before last he had a morphine pump and it was making him sick, when they came in at 2:00 to give him loratab he told them to just bring him tylenol! TYLENOL!!! Geez. They did! He was taking tylenol until they wheeled him up to surgery.
SoWal Insider
Wow BB, thanks for the update. I was wondering about him this morning. I'm sure he'll recover much faster than they think. Will and determination hold much more merit than Doctors give credit for.
My Steve was told he'd never walk again without surgery. He was not only walking, but riding his motorcycle within 40 days!
Your brother will be up & around in no time!
Keep us posted!
My Steve was told he'd never walk again without surgery. He was not only walking, but riding his motorcycle within 40 days!
Your brother will be up & around in no time!
Keep us posted!
Beach Fanatic
Glad to hear everyone is on the road to recovery! We'll keep ya'll in our thoughts.
margarita brocolia
Thanks for the update BB. Your brother sounds like one who will work hard to get up and going again. And I can tell he'll have much support from family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers for him and your family.
.
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SoWal Insider
BB thank you for the report. Our continued heartelt prayers are with Steve and you and your family. Please let us know if there is anything we SoWallers can do for him.
hmmmm......can't remember
I'm so glad to hear the story from you, BB. You and yours are very dear--tell Steve he has a whole bunch of cheerleaders on his side. Love to you all...
Beach Fanatic
This just texted in (with her blessing to share with all of you):
"We have the same blood type so I have to donate blood."
I would be a little bit scared to get BB's blood. I would suddenly be cooler than I could stand.
I'll be praying until further notice...I'll check back often for updates. I'm sure a little of his sister's blood will pink him right up.
If he suddenly has a passion for pink and jewels, we'll know why! quote]
He can't stand pain meds so night before last he had a morphine pump and it was making him sick, when they came in at 2:00 to give him loratab he told them to just bring him tylenol! TYLENOL!!! Geez. They did! He was taking tylenol until they wheeled him up to surgery.
I'm so glad I finally decided to log in to Sowal this morning to catch up. Dang Grapefruit- hope you are holding up OK. You know you've got the greatest family, extended family and pillar of strength (Peter) a girl could ask for.
I'm not going to call, as I'm sure you are inundated, but my phone is on when you need me.
As for this blood donating thing: I know Steven isn't into the pain med thing, but Tylenol is not a good thing to mix with Martinis.:roll:
You know y'all are in my thoughts.
He will bounce back in no time, he is a very strong young man. And with your blood in him- he will be king of the world- though I don't see him in a pink tiara. However he may develop a craving for olives.;-)
SoWal Insider
BB, I'm sorry about your brother's accident. Will keep you and him and the rest of the family in my prayers. Here's to a speedy recovery.
bean
BB, thanks for taking the time to fill us in. I will continue to keep him in my prayers. I have a brother named Steve too.
Beach Fanatic
Thanks for the update, Steve must be a popular name for brothers, I have one too. Prayers will continue for his recovery.
SoWal ExpertAuthor
BB--you, Steve and your family remain in my prayers. I have no doubt he will be up and feeding those cows in no time. 
Beach Fanatic
BB, I'll continue praying for your brother's speedy recovery. Is there an address that we can send cards to? No doubt lots of sowallers are eager to offer Steve encouragement that way.
SWGB
BB we will keep your brother in our thoughts and prayers. Sounds like you and him need a vacation.
beats on hood
BB, so glad things weren't as bad as one would imagine after getting such an awful phone call. You know we're all praying for your brother and you all. Thanks for taking the time to update us.
SoWal Insider
BB, so glad things weren't as bad as one would imagine after getting such an awful phone call. You know we're all praying for your brother and you all. Thanks for taking the time to update us.
Ditto. Take care!!
SoWal Insider
Well, we told him yesterday about his time frame, he said "No, it would not be that long" He sat up yesterday on the side of the bed, and today a physical therapist had him moving his leg around. We will know in a couple of weeks if he has to have the bone grafts, let's pray it will heal itself and he won't need them.
Here is who you have been praying for, please keep it up, he has a long way to go....I'm just glad he's still with us.
This is my sister, Steve & I last summer.
The other one is one of our joint b'day parties, his is the day after mine.
Here is who you have been praying for, please keep it up, he has a long way to go....I'm just glad he's still with us.
This is my sister, Steve & I last summer.
The other one is one of our joint b'day parties, his is the day after mine.
SoWal ExpertAuthor
Well, aren't y'all just the cutest things! BB, as I said, I have no doubt Steve will be up and about in no time. I pray that he recovers without the grafts. You and your family remain in all my prayers.
Beach Fanatic
Tomorrow night's Global Prayer Project:
This week's prayer visualization
Tuesday is Inauguration Day for the new U.S. president. We'll visualize wisdom and success for this new administration, especially as it relates to the entire world. We'll envision leadership breakthroughs with all world governments concerning the economy; better coordination of world resources to resolve conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, and around the globe; and a new wave of balanced consumer and environmental protection at this juncture in history. Large group prayer efforts work. Help us bring thousands to set a positive image for this new beginning.
Follow-up discussion
What do we know about amplifying personal prayer power? It works.
_______
Teleconference:
Call 212/461-5860 OR 646/519-5860
Caller ID: 6999#
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In addition to the group prayer visualization, there is the opportunity to pray for your own personal needs, as well. I'll be praying for Steve to astound his doctors and therapists with his speedy recovery, along with the needs other sowallers have mentioned here. Please join us.
This week's prayer visualization
Tuesday is Inauguration Day for the new U.S. president. We'll visualize wisdom and success for this new administration, especially as it relates to the entire world. We'll envision leadership breakthroughs with all world governments concerning the economy; better coordination of world resources to resolve conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, and around the globe; and a new wave of balanced consumer and environmental protection at this juncture in history. Large group prayer efforts work. Help us bring thousands to set a positive image for this new beginning.
Follow-up discussion
What do we know about amplifying personal prayer power? It works.
_______
Teleconference:
Call 212/461-5860 OR 646/519-5860
Caller ID: 6999#
The phone line will open at 7:55pm EDT. Call the number above and follow the directions. Once you are connected to the call, please say your name and where you are from, and then press *6 to mute yourself so the noise level will be kept to a minimum. Each participant will be responsible for their own long-distance phone charges.
Live Webcast @ www.celestinevision.com
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Our twice-monthly gatherings have been making a powerful difference, both in people's individual lives and the world at large. Many of you have written us saying that the energy generated from this network of spiritually-minded participants is "indescribable," and we look forward to continuing this healing circle of focused prayer. Like all prayer experience devoted to helping others, many participants have felt the results in their own bodies and received guidance for their own lives.
Research tells us that the more people praying together, the more powerful the prayer and the greater the level of energy felt by the participants. We invite you to join the largest regular prayer network in the world. If you would like to take an active role in maintaining a circle of positive intention across the globe, while going deeper and heightening your own spirituality, join us on Tuesday, January 20.In addition to the group prayer visualization, there is the opportunity to pray for your own personal needs, as well. I'll be praying for Steve to astound his doctors and therapists with his speedy recovery, along with the needs other sowallers have mentioned here. Please join us.
Beach Fanatic
Sounds like he will do just fine BB. He sounds like a very determined and strong person. Prayers for a speedy recovery. Will you be feeding those cows? lol
Beach Fanatic
Oh, BB, I'm so sorry to hear about your brother!!! It sounds like he is a fighter so I am sure he will amaze his doctors and physical therapists. I'll be sending prayers your way.
Beach Fanatic
BB, just caught this thread and had no idea. Your bro will be in our prayers and please let us know if there is anything I can do. I will never forget the time you and Pete showed up at my home with the generator after one of the big hurricanes. If you need any of us up there please do not hesitate to call! Even just a shoulder!
Beach Fanatic
Here's hoping on a speedy recovery for your brother.
FunnChef - AlisonCooks.com
Love you, girl! Your brother sounds as amazing as you are! You need to bring him to SoWal for some heavy duty R&R ;-)
Can't wait to meet him
You need to bring him to SoWal for some heavy duty R&R ;-)Can't wait to meet him
SoWal Insider
Goodness what an ordeal for you all. Please let him know prayers are being said for him around the country. Hugs to you all.
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