I am so sad. My uncle got caught in a PTO shaft.

[pandybat]

This is just horrible. My uncle and I are only two years apart and we are pretty close. He's only 35 yrs old.
He was working out in the field last night with another of my uncles and they were using a post hole digger. He had on a huge coat and got too close to the PTO shaft and it grabbed the corner of his coat and starting wrapping around the shaft. It completely ripped off his coat and all his shirts and was wrapped around his right wrist. It twisted and twisted him until he was wrapped around the shaft and his arm was completely twisted around and behind his back. He is a very tall stocky man like my husband and this had to be absolutely excruciating for him to be pulled around a very small shaft like that.
He screamed for my other uncle to turn it off and he did just in time. One more turn and it would have taken his arm off. My other uncle had to cut the clothes off of his wrist to get him off the shaft and his arm just dangled when he cut it loose. The doctor said it was a twisted fracture which is a break where the bones are twisted in half. He said it wouldn't have taken much more of a twist for those bones to have broken thru the muscle and skin and twisted his arm off. My gawd, I can't imagine going thru something like that. His whole body is in pain.
He is going to surgery this afternoon. I won't get to see him until sometime tomorrow. How awful this is for him. If you are a farmer or work around this type of equipment, please be careful and don't wear loose clothing when working around machinery that spins or turns. Thank God he was with my other uncle who was there to help him or who knows what worse could have happened. To top it all off, he has no insurance. What a thing to happen this time of year.....sheesh!
Say a prayer today for my uncle that the surgery goes well and he can get full use of his arm back. He is such a hard worker and not being able to fully use his arm again would be such a devastating thing for him.

[hawkinsd]

I will say a prayer for him right now. I am sure he will be fine. What a horrible accident. He was very lucky.

[GR8GIRLS]

Positive thoughts and prayers your way.........keep the faith!

[miriama59]

Oh, Sandy, how horrible. Please let us know how your uncle's surgery goes and we will all be thinking of him and you, too.

[ILoveElf]

Praying that he will be Ok.

[mayfly]

Oh Pandy Bat, this is so horrible! I felt like crying just from reading it. I am so thankful that your other Uncle was there. I prayed, and will pray.

Please let us know how he is.

[mama2calli]

God bless him...I hope he has an easy recovery! Will keep him in my prayers! Kath

[Mouse7088]

OMG Sandy...how HORRIFIC!!!!! I can't begin to imagine the pain or the fear your uncle must have suffered! PLEASE wish him well from all of us. We'll gladly keep him in our thoughts and prayers.

[buckeyemomma]

This is terrible...Thank God he wasn't by himself. I will keep him and you and your family in my prayers. Please keep us posted as to how he is.

[mommy2makayla]

Oh my!!! That is horrible! I will most definately have him and your family in my prayers and he goes through his surgery and recovery. I pray that he recovers quickly.

[dlabrie708]

Sandy, that is awful! Your poor uncle. I'm glad his arm didn't get ripped off. I can't even imagine how it must have been for him. I hope he recovers soon and regains full use of his arm.

Lori

[tkkmasky]

Many well wishes for your uncle. I grew up on a farm and remember many times when I foolishly would step over a PTO shaft, thinking now about how easily I could have gotten caught up in one makes me shudder.

Please keep us posted on his condition.

[sushiosushi]

sorry pandy.

[Tiggers Lady]

Oh Pandy - I am so very sorry.

Sending prayers, hugs and well wishes...

Keep us posted.

[jimandaun]

My prayers are with your family. Please keep us updated.

Andrea