Sudden Impact
The Extraordinary Journey of One Man's Personal Experiences When He Suddenly Becomes Disabled
by
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It was the morning of October 24th, 1991, and I arrived at work early, as I always did. I was a 45 year old Sales Engineer and Marketing Director, making a good living working for a large electronics company on the East Coast. When I went to put coffee on I noticed that there was a large trailer in the rear dock of the warehouse. Then a few minutes later my boss arrived, and asked me to go back and see if I could help start to unload the trailer until the warehouse personnel arrived. I said that I would and went back and opened the doors of the trailer with the truck driver, and the first thing I saw was that the truck was loaded to the tail. We were unable to use the hydraulic lift, so we had to use a large steel manual dock plate that weighed about four hundred pounds instead. At that moment my life changed forever. I went to lift one end of the dock plate, and my boss the other end. Then I felt a very sharp pain go down my back. I just thought I may have pulled a muscle. I then continued to drive the forklift onto the trailer and unloaded a few more skids. Then the pain hit me and I knew I really hurt myself. I stopped and went back to my office to try and sit down, but I was in the worse pain I have ever been in my whole life. I told my boss that there was something really wrong and I needed to go to the doctor. I called my wife and she called ahead to the doctor, and they told me to come in immediately. After I arrived, my doctor examined me, and said to go to the hospital for x-rays and treatment. At the hospital they took some x-rays, gave me some medication, and said to go home and to use ice and heat to keep the inflammation under control. My doctor called me back that evening and said the x-rays did not show much of anything, so try and stay home and continue with the medications, along with ice and heat. After several days passed, there was no change. In fact the pain got even worse. I then decided to see a chiropractor and think that was a mistake. I was never asked to take any further x-rays, nor did they request to see the ones that were taken at the hospital the day that I was injured, and they had no idea what was happening at this time. I was told that I most likely sprained my back, and I would need a few weeks of what they called "adjustments".
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About the Book
This book will give you an extraordinary look at what one man experienced during the prime of his life and at the peak of his career. In just a few moments, his life changed forever when he sustained a major back injury. He tells you his story, along with his experiences and the complex maze of procedures he was required to navigate through a work-related injury. The book details his long ordeal with his employer, insurance companies, and the medical establishment, as he searched for financial and medical help to sustain his family and improve his condition. It describes the many difficulties he and his family dealt with from when the injury took place to the present. He also describes the tremendous impact and devastation that becoming suddenly disabled can have on your life. Also described are his experiences with the dozens of doctors he has been treated by over the years, and all of the medical procedures he encountered. You will also hear about his many confrontations with insurance companies and what you need to be aware of when dealing with them. He will also tell you, in complete detail, all about the numerous changes in his life that he and his family had to make at the age of only 45. You will hear about the emotional impact that he experienced when he was faced with financial devastation and how his career as a productive Marketing Director went down the drain, leading him into a battle with major depression. Now almost eleven years after his injury, he believed it was necessary to speak out about his long and complex ordeal with doctors, insurance companies, and other organizations, with the hope that someone could benefit from what he has experienced. He truly believes that he is just one person speaking out among millions of silent voices, with stories just like his, each one equally as important, needing to be heard. This is a story that anyone who has ever been injured, or disabled, should read, including anyone who wants to simply stay informed about all the changes that are going on in our health care system and the insurance industry today.
About the Author
Sheila has been married to her husband Steven for over 32 years. She has two children, Heidi and Adam, and a dog, Mokie, who is Steve’s “little buddy,” and also his “best friend.” She has never written a book before, but she felt she had to tell Steve’s story. No one knows better than Sheila about what he has gone through, and how his injury affected his life and his family.
It was Sheila’s commitment to her husband Steven that his story be published. She knew how very difficult it would be for him to do it, because of his inability to concentrate or sit for long periods of time. She realized she could put his story into his own words, because she shared and felt all of the pain that he has gone through.
She also felt the need to tell his story, because of all the issues he was confronted with over the years. She knew how important it would be to tell others about his experiences dealing with his disability. She wanted to try and make it easier for other people to understand what he has experienced.
Sheila has stood by her husband through the many difficult times. She has never given up hope that someday they will be able to do some of the things that they had planned to do together.