Lets start this by saying I have used a angle grinder for years, for many different things, cutting metal sheet for birch boiling pans, sharpening mower blades, using it with a sanding disk, and cutting about every kind of material in the house. I even have a back up grinder just in case my trusty friend stops working.

A while back I mistakenly bought a 5 inch disk for my grinder… Its a 4.5 inch grinder. So, instead of driving the 30 min back into Menard’s to get the right size I just took off the safety guard to let the disk fit. This will come back to haunt me.

Part of the build process in the basement, is putting up 2 inch ridged foam insulation and a 2X4 wall to run electoral, plumbing and hold drywall. Last Sat. had to move some temporary plumbing and cutting off the metal pex cuffs seamed like the best and fastest way. And the right tool for the job… the Angle Grinder of course. The first couple were easy, then the extension cord disconnected while I was on ladder. Side note, I normally tie the two cords together as I hate when this happens… Well, I climbed down the ladder and got the extension cord and when back up the ladder. As I need both hands to plug the two cords together, I held the angle grinder between my legs.

As the two ends of the cords meet, the familiar whirl of the grinder started and a searing white hot pain immediately hit me. I knew I was in trouble, dropping the grinder and grabbing my right leg. I shot down the ladder and threw off my ear protection. I could feel the blood pumping beneath my pants as I struggled to get to my phone. Stacia and the boys had just left the house and I frantically called her. As my phone was connected to my ear protection I couldn’t hear her. I hung up and struggled to make it up the steps.

The only thing I could think of was getting in to the tub so not get blood all over the house. Luckily Stacia called back and I told her she had to come back I was in major trouble. While sitting in the tub waiting for her to come back I could see the blood pooling on my pants and I could still feel my pulse ejecting blood from my body. Stacia got back to the house and loaded me into our car. Off to the ER to see what the damage was.

Stacia sped through town, my hand was cramping from holding my leg as tight as I could and my brain thinking the worst (never going to run, ski or bike again). I got a nice wheel chair ride into the ER were they took my info and started asking me questions… I was trying to do the best I could but got super sweaty and must have turned white. The immediately wheeled me back and got my pants cut off. It was the first time I saw the cut…..

Yup it was bad, about eight inches long and unknown depth. They made a plan to get me cleaned up, x-rayed, to see the surgeon and then fixed. As the adrenaline wore off the pain increased quickly. I had to move from the bed to the x-ray table, ouch. The x-rays showed a bunch of crap that was lodged in the wound but I didn’t hit the bone. A big plus they told me. They finally got around to numbing the area with a local and putting in an I.V. with more pain meds. The surgeon came in and dug around a little and tested for numbness in my feet and lower legs. All seemed to be good so I wouldn’t need to go to the OR. He had to go put someone else back together but promised too be back asap.

After a little over an hour he got back in the room and got me ready for stitches. As the ER was busy, they brought in a ER tech, she looked new, the surgeon had her hold open my wound with spreaders as he had to clean it out and stitch up my muscle first. I could tell she was uncomfortable and after a few minutes she said she was feeling dizzy. I felt bad for her to have to hold my leg open. After a few internal muscle stitches and external stitches to both legs I was ready to go home. It was a long day but the surgeon said a few things that really put it in perspective: if I would have hit the major artery, I would have more than likely bled out at the house or on the way to the hospital. I could have cut tendons which take a long time to heal, and I could have hit nerves. If the disk would have been new/bigger I would have hit the bone. I was lucky… Lucky to have my wife, lucky to have the chance to recover, lucky to have friends and family to help with this entire process.

The recovery will talk a while and it will set my race training back but I will recover and I’m still here.

• Kit