The end of one chapter and the first day of........

Hallelujah,

Today we ended the tree saga. I hadn't spoke about it much before, but we had a lawsuit pending against the county. My wife was advised after the accident that she should consult a lawyer about our situation. Bob, as he will be called, came well recommended, she met with him, time went along, we both met with him after I got out of the hospital and he did some digging.. Ok, a lot of digging.

Depositions, investigations, medical records and a bunch more time passed. If you didn't remember I got hurt on Sept. 25, 2007.

They made a couple of offers, all below what we were asking, but offers none the less. We, our lawyer included hoped that they were beginning to realize that some mistakes were made. Bob told us more than once that we were not whiners and we told him that we would be patient. We weren't going anywhere I guess. Our arrangement said he didn't get any money until we did......

We even still have the tree limb in the barn.

Bob and his associates have racked their brains and told us that they could not come up with a way to force this to trail, even though he wanted to get us in front of a jury. In my mind there were some problems. Today, 2 1/2 years later I don't look like I got injured, and I probably never did. I guess it's hard to look like you have a brain injury unless it affecting everything else you do in life. Thank the good lord it didn't.......

I told my wife after I got out of the hospital I should have had a bandage around the top of my head so at least I looked injured. I don't remember anymore today than I did the week after the accident but my wife and sons have filled me in on most of the details and I have related most of them here for me to look back on later I guess.

So, were is all of this going.... Today, the 31st of March 2010, we received a small settlement from the counties insurance co. Less than we were asking, but more than we didn't have and some compensation for our lawyers time. And yes I'm glad it's DONE.

I don't appear to have any too large of lasting scars or problems I can't deal with. The emotional scars are there for all of us, myself, my wife and my kids. The accident, the situation, the time spent in the hospital give you a new outlook on life, friends, family and god. So take that into consideration the next time you are thinking about falling out of a tree onto your HEAD.

The trees are gone, there is a new fence and I'm alive, all good things. My motto today is "I'm happy to be here."

I would like to include a couple of peoples names that have done right by us through this whole ordeal. Bob, Dr. Loftus, Dr. Gross, Dr. Spinks, Dr. Bradshaw, the rehab. people at CRMC St. Joes and Upstate, Mercy flight, TFD, the Methodist church, and our friends and family.