family phone calls

You know you dread it.  That call from someone in your family that brings bad news.

Sometimes it happens in the middle of the night, and you instantly know something is wrong.  That was the kind of call I got when my sister called to tell me my father was being transported by helicopter to a hospital,  just two Aprils ago.

But sometimes it comes during the day.  When my sister called me on Thursday around dinner time, I didn't think much of it, until she said "Well, we have had an interesting afternoon here.."

My sweet brother fell off a ladder at his construction site.  He is a self employed home builder, and was working on a cabin out in the woods by himself.  Fortunately he didn't get knocked out, and was able to find his phone, and call my parents.  A frantic drive ensued, with them not really knowing his full condition, he simply told them he had fallen off a ladder and smashed his face.  My dad pushed his truck, going nearly 100 miles an hour, to a remote spot on the way to Red Lake in northern Minnesota.

Twenty eight stitches later, Kelly has a broken nose, a cracked occipital bone, a broken jaw bone, and a cracked rib.  Based on circumstances, it could have been so much worse.  He fell 14 feet, and his face landed on a stump, which caused the most damage.  He could have knocked himself out, and been unable to call anyone, and would not have been found until hours later when he didn't come home.  He could have been paralyzed, and unable to move.  We are just so lucky in our family, as the only people who even knew the isolated spot he was working in were my dad and his son.

I can really feel his pain, as I had a bad facial wound 15 years ago, that required 23 stitches.  But I didn't break any bones, so I can't imagine the depth of his pain.  He is being sent to Fargo on Tuesday, for further testing, as they can do more than Bemidji can.  I talked to him Thursday evening, Kelly never complains but it was obvious he was in great pain.  He just said "Kris, it hurts.  It hurts a lot."  If only I could wave a magic wand and take his pain away, back to happier times!

My poor little brother.  Please send good healing thoughts northward.