June 17th. Father's Day.
We were in the beautiful state of Missouri at the Lake of the Ozarks. We had just decided to extend our RV trip another two days because we were just having too much fun!
Bucket list. Everyone has one, right?
On my aunt's bucket list was to shoot a gun. She had met the right guy-Kevin. He grew up around guns and was more than happy to help her tick off an item on her list.
Freak accident (Faint of heart need no longer to read)
My aunt shoots the gun with help from her husband as Kevin stands back more than 30 feet observing. She hits the steel post holding the target and the bullet ricochets back into Kevin's thigh.
Real close to his femoral artery. But how close?
Pressure was applied and 911 was called. I was happily scrapbooking in my RV without having a clue something had gone wrong.
Kevin was taken to Jefferson City, MO to the hospital. My Aunt and Uncle came back to get me. They assured me he was fine and said he seemed to be the whole time. They were right. He was fine. He was texting me from the ambulance saying they were on their way to Wal-mart. He didn't want me to worry so he lied until my aunt and uncle reached me. My aunt watched the kids and my uncle took me back to Kevin. This is how I found him:
48 hours later our lives would take a turn that I wish no one would ever have to experience.
We decided to have one last dinner together at a lakeside restaurant. Kevin was very much up to it. We sat down and ogled over the menu. The food came and within two bites, Kevin said he was bleeding and need to change his bandage. Ever since he left the hospital, the bandages never really controlled the bleeding. We have even switched to maxi pads and diapers. I was concerned, but Kevin said it was just oozing. At the restaurant when he stood up and turned around, he had blood from his rear to his calves. I followed behind when I realized he needed help and I had the keys. I watched my husband of only 9 short years limp and bleed. He sat down in the car to put on a new bandage. As he lowered his pants I have never seen so much blood. It was bright red and EVERYWHERE! I thought this is NOT oozing and this is bad. I thought I would pass out, but I told myself that I had to remain in control and get him help. I looked him right in the eye and said, "Kevin, this is bad, and you need to be seen- let's go to an Urgent Care." He nodded. I got in the driver seat and entered hospital into the Garmin. I never had any intention of taking him to an Urgent Care. I just didn't want him to argue.
2.3 miles of hell.
I can't really remember those 2.3 miles. I know Kevin winced a lot because of the massive amount of pain he was in due to the pressure he had to hold to control the bleeding. I just focused on getting him help. He was alert enough to point out the Emergency Room sign. I sorta giggled at that. Urgent Care was never mentioned again.
As I pulled up to the hospital, this little old lady rushed out with a wheelchair as fast as her little old 80 year old legs could take her. He wanted a stretcher because he was much more comfortable laying down. I thought he would die before we ever got him in this place. But we did. In the wheelchair. I wanted to be with him, but I had to move the car. As soon as I got back in the car. I cried. I prayed. And I downright pleaded with God for Kevin's life.
I ran back in and was escorted to Kevin. It was like a murder scene. There was blood everywhere and 5-6 people around him. It was too much for me. For Kevin, it seemed normal. My brother later told me this is how pilots are wired. Kevin would not view this as an emergency until his last drop of blood was pouring out. They pulled me out to register him. I couldn't sit down and I couldn't remember my own cell phone number. Rocked to the core.
I left my kids, my wallet and my phone all at the restaurant. Of course, my Aunt and Uncle were with them, but I had no choice. And now the hospital wanted to know everything. All I wanted was to be back with Kevin. But more than that, I wanted to cry.
After crying to my mom, I went back to Kevin. A cardiovascular surgeon showed up and determined they needed an angiogram so they could see if his femoral artery was affected. No matter how they turned Kevin's leg around they could not see daylight between his artery and the bullet fragment. Here is what they glumly looked at:
They suggested surgery.
Now here we are in Podunkville where the Cardiovascular Surgeon is in plain clothes telling me my husband needs major surgery to live. We live in Houston where there is some of the best healthcare in the world. Both Kevin and I considered driving him back to have the surgery. The surgeon was against this and said if we were to do so then we needed to leave NOW. Well since it was 10:00 at night, I didn't see that as an option. I told Kevin he needed the surgery. He didn't argue.
Thank the Lord we had the surgery. As soon as they opened him up, it was determined the bullet fragment had lodged itself into his femoral artery wall. It went through about 25% of the artery. If it had gone all the way through it's no doubt he would have died. They were able to patch him up using a part of a cow heart (Yes, Kevin is part cow now) and he is expected to make a full recovery.
A full recovery, with a limp?
In the healing phases of surgery Kevin changed his gait. He turned his foot out and begin stepping with his toes. My mother suggested he go to a Houston doctor to establish a relationship before getting his staples out. Thank goodness we followed her advice. The Houston doctor said Kevin needed physical therapy or he may never walk the correct way again.
We are 17 days past this horrible ordeal. One surgery, two hospitals, three different doctors and a minor limp is just a summary of what Kevin has been through. Here is what his thigh looks like today:
He is still expected to make a full recovery although we both wonder if he will have a small limp as a result.
We joke that if you are going to shoot anyone, shoot Kevin. He is the most forgiving, persevering, strongest human I have ever met. Although he has questioned why God allowed this to happen, I have not seen him wallow in self pity or have one ounce of anger at my aunt. He knows it was a freak accident and I think he is starting to realize that maybe, just maybe, he is one lucky guy!
