When it rains......

Just when I thought that I was getting a handle on life, it throws another curve ball. Tuesday, my brother was at the lake with my nephew (his son-in-law). They were meeting the satellite man in an effort to try to get better tv reception. After adjusting the satellite signal we were at 70% reception. It was suggested that 90% reception was possible if a few limbs were removed from above the satellite. Brother Brooks and Chris decide to tackle this task by leaning a ladder on the roof of the cabin and against the tree. Chris takes chainsaw in hand, climbs ladder, and cuts first limb successfully. They should stop while they are ahead! OHHHHH No! They decide to go for the second limb. Brooks decides that Chris is not doing it right, and takes Chris's place on the ladder. The chainsaw gets wedged in the rather large limb (which Chris has tied on to so that he can control the drop of the limb). Brooks pulls/tugs on the saw: Chris pulls on the limb; the chainsaw and Brooks release at the same time. Brooks falls 13 feet off the ladder, hits his head and becomes unconscious. As he is rolling off the roof, Chris manages to save Brooks from a nasty fall to the ground and probably his death.
After Brooks is unresponsive for 5 minutes, Chris puts in a call to 911. Brooks sits up, stands up, sits back down, and climbs down the ladder. The EMT arrive and haul him to the Paris ER. This is when the infamous Drake Clan (Vandiver, Shearin, Gravenmier, Camper, Davis, Drake, Whitby, and Jackson) phone tree begins. Everyone that is able is mobilized to Paris, TN.
--The funny thing is that I left Milan after Jennifer/Anne and Kay/Butch did, but still arrived at the ER long before they did. I had to have passed them, but none of us remember the exchange of driving order. I heard the news, got in my car, and the next recollection that I had was the "Big Fish" welcoming me to Paris, Tn. WEIRD!!!!!!!
After many tests, xrays, and CT scan it was found that he had a brain bleed and they would be airlifting him to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. (He was quite excited to think about riding in the helicopter until it actually came time to do it. It was a rather tight squeeze and none of us could go with him).
The second wave of Drake Clan are mobilized. Diane, Carolyn, and Ruthie are now dispatched to Nashville to meet Brooks at Vandy. Sarah (Diane's daughter and student at Vandy) is notified so that she might meet Brooks and wait while the rest of us are enroute. Jennifer decides to go from Paris to Nashville. Chris has to return to Milan to get clothes for he and Jennifer. (He has a conference in Murfreesboro for the next few days.) Anne and I decide to travel back to Milan to await the news from Vandy. Kay and Butch go to the lake to finish securing the place since Brooks and Chris had to leave so abruptly.
The next morning wave number 3 (Kate, Amy, Beth, Kay, and Cathy) leave for Vandy. The four of us were going that day since Amy had an appointment with a rheumatologist to determine the source for many of her joint issues. Kay decided to go along as well. Wave 4 occurred with Anne and Josh (after having a minor procedure) arriving Wednesday afternoon. "The family reunion began at that point!"
Thanks to the Lord's protective arm around all of us, we all had very safe, uneventful trips to Nashville. After many hours of testing, it was determined that Brooks had 9 broken ribs, a diabetes spike, elevated blood pressure, a brain bleed, a hole in his lung, a contusion on his hip, and broken spine (burrs).
After 3 days at Vandy, he was able to leave, return to Milan, and go to my house to recover. As I told him, it serves him right for doing such a dumb thing (as lean a ladder on a roof against a tree) that I should be assigned as his at home nurse. "A ladder, roof, and chainsaw should never be used in the same context." We have so many wonderful, qualified nurses (5 in all) in our family, but he gets a household without one.
However, he is so much better. It will be a slow, painful process of healing, but we will push on.
The time in Vanderbilt was bittersweet. I had some time to go to the oncology department, but was unable to see his doctor and her nurse. I was able to travel those same halls that I had haunted for almost a year. Brooks was in the ER where we had spent the night on one occasion. It was a tough time awaiting Brooks' fate in those familiar surroundings. But, we made it and are now back at home.
God will continue to hold our lives in his hands, protect us, provide comfort where needed, and help our wounds to heal. Of this, I am most certain. Thank you, Lord for your faithfulness in this another of those trying speed bumps of life.

Love and peace,
Cathy