Michael T. Shaffer "Snake" auto accident on 10/07/08.

[blackballedsnake]

Hey there everyone!  I am doin' as good as I can...I hit an oak tree head-on in my F-150.  There was excess pea gravel on the bend and it was like being on ball bearings. I had no time to react, the truck slid...hit dead-on with the tree @ 40 mph!!  My injuries are very serious.  I have a badly broken right hip, fractured pelvis, broken RT wrist, and my left hand punched through the windshield to boot!  Check this out...I WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AND HAD AN AIRBAG!!! (some real extra protection there, eh?) Well, I hopefully will be back to full duty by the start of 2009. If ya would like to call me, my ICU phone # (412) 802- 3646.  I will be back to play in the game soon!  I have faith in God. (I should have died).  Whoa!    Peace to all of yinz out there doin' the do!    - Snake. 

[mlslstephens]

Snake,
Sorry to hear about the accident.  Keep the faith brother! 

Rest well, recover soon, know we are thinking and praying for you.

Mike

[Mike McFarlin]

Snake,
 Hang in there! Get well soon!  Spanky

[hezabear]

Mike hang in there and things will get better. God only knows what he has in store for you. Glad you did make it threw the wreck. will add you to my prayer list. Brad

[pappy]

My thoughts & prayers are with you! I know all too well how tought it can be where you are. Still recovering from my MC crash, but getting stronger everyday. Keep your eyes ahead & reach for the next rung on the ladder of recovery. Hope it all goes well, keep us posted!  Tom

[Radwraith]

Hey Snake:
Sorry to hear you're hurt! Hope you get better soon

Steve

[blackballedsnake]

Hey there everyone!! What's shakin'?  I am now zippin' around in a recline wheelchair...not motorized.  (Dammit!).  I should be headin' fer Rehab soon. (hopefully by 10/20/08.)  I pray that it all goes well.  My Dr. said that IF the repairs to my hip/pelvis fails to fix me...I'll need a full hip replacement!!  I sure hope not!  That would lay me up for 8 months or so!!!  Yikes! This is where FOLLOWING ORDERS TO A "T" GETS SERIOUS!  Thank you for your kind emails and posts. Karma to all of "yinz"!     - Snake. 

[SloGlo]

snake........ fallow da doktors oarders!  iffen ya kant due dat, den make nicey wit da nurses (especully dat ugli wons) caws yule bee sea yen dem a lot in yer few ture!

[blackballedsnake]

Hey everyone! I'm outta the ICU. I'm now at a rest facility in Worthington, Pa. Here's my address (for the next 3 mos.) - Michael T. Shaffer Room #58...c/o Sugar Creek Rest...120 Lakeside Drive...Worthington, PA 16262. My private ph.# has NOT been installed yet. The facility's ph.# is (724) 445-3000. They will get a temp. phone to my room to talk...INCOMING CALLS ONLY!  Well Y'know, I worked SSES Berwick for many outages...no one has contacted me from there at all yet! Major bummer...I thought of them as extended family. OUCH!  Thanks for all the words of encouragement! Karma to all of "yinz".     - Snake.                            P.S. - Just so everyone knows...NO ALCOHOL INVOLVED AT ALL...NOTHING!  (I didn't get any tickets, either!)

[mlslstephens]

Thanks for all the words of encouragement! Karma to all of "yinz".     - Snake.                            

Snake,
I'm giving out the K for ya to all those responding to you.  Get better man!

If you are ever down in TN, look me up.

[mlslstephens]

My thoughts & prayers are with you! I know all too well how tought it can be where you are. Still recovering from my MC crash, but getting stronger everyday. Keep your eyes ahead & reach for the next rung on the ladder of recovery. Hope it all goes well, keep us posted!  Tom

Pappy,
Long time since I've heard about your recovery.  Hope all is going well for you too.

Keep the faith and stay strong.

[blackballedsnake]

To NaVLI4...thanks fer yer yer kind werds. What's yer last name Mike! I am soo sorry that I am drawing a blank. It must be the Morphine/Dilaudid and the hydrocodone "cocktail".  Now I know how Elvis felt!  MMmm, I say hey they darlin' ah...howssabout makin' me a fried peanut butter an' banana sammich? Thank you...thank you very much.  Lord have mercy! (What a great man "the King" was!).  To Slo-Glo...Oh yea! eyez folloween ordeers to a "Tee". The noisez izz kinda cute...well, I must be da meds clowdin' me judgemint.  Thanks fer your concerns...Karma to both of "yinz".     - Snake. 

[Camella Black]

Snake, glad to hear of your move to new facility, it means major improvement so all this karma going your way must be working. Although I don't know you, I have followed your post on nukeworker for a number of years and well, a fellow nukeworker is ALWAYS considered family.

Hang in there and keep the posts coming, karma your way.

Camella Black

[mlslstephens]

To NaVLI4...thanks fer yer yer kind werds. What's yer last name Mike! I am soo sorry that I am drawing a blank. It must be the Morphine/Dilaudid and the hydrocodone "cocktail". 

You aren't drawing a blank...we've never met.  However, I'm sure the "cocktails" are good. 

[Jack U. Loyd]

Wishing you a speedy recovery Mike........so much for auto safety ratings..........

 Schultzy

[Brett LaVigne]

Crap! I haven't been on here in a while and just read this. Hope you are feeling better Mike, good thing you weren't riding a 2 wheeler!!! I wish you a speedy recovery.

[slattmandu]

Glad to hear you 're OK Mike. I went through similiar in Winter of 92 at Kewaunee. Broken hip , broken tailbone and separated pubic bone. Take it slow it'll be a while before you are steady on your feet again. It took me 11 months and alot of physical therapy before I could go back out on the road again. Oh yeah and various prescriptions helped me on the road to recovery. Take care and have some patience during physical therapy.  Before you know it you'll be back to your normal routine.

[blackballedsnake]

Thanks to all of ya fer wishin' me a speedy recovery!  To Slatts, you really understand how it feels...and time involved to get back on track! Karma!  To Brett, I actually kinda wish I WAS on my 2 wheeler...I COULD HAVE LAID-ER DOWN BEFORE HITTIN' DA TREE!!  Only He knows what the outcome may have been, right? Anyhoo, I even had some time to think up a song lyric about the wreck...to the tune of "Hot Rod Lincoln"..."My truck slid off the corner, it's just my luck, slammed a big oak tree, ahhh...whut-tha-f#@$." I suppose a shot on "Idol" is next, eh?  Keep on doin' the do everyone!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too!  - Snake. 

[stownsend]

Hey Mike
Hope you do well the hip and all else. It's been over twenty I think.Peach 83 or maybe Beaver ?
Steve

[pappy]

Hope the recovery is going well & you can join us all again at the outages. It is tuff getting back. I am still doing therapy on my shoulder from the motorcycle crash. Looks like I'll be back next month. The forearm injury seems to be my only long term problem, other than a fear of seeing minivans from the side!

[Mike McFarlin]

Snake, you still kickin'?

[blackballedsnake]

Yep...but not as hard as I used to!  I haven't been on-line at all lately, sorry it took so long to reply.  I had a set-back with PT, so I'm unable to restart rehab until May 09!  Oh friggin' well.  So how you doin'?  - Snake. 

[Mike McFarlin]

Doing OK. Staying busy. Stay in touch and let us know how your doing from time to time..Spanky

[pappy]

Hey Snake! You make it back to rehab yet? Hope things are improving for you!

[blackballedsnake]

Hello everybody! Well, here's the latest on my recovery...my lower back, right hip, and right knee are hampering my rehab efforts. I saw a specialist last week, [after wasting 6+ months with the "other guy"] and he said that I have "strong indications" of a fractured patella (kneecap), damage to my L-4/L-5, and bone-to-bone contact I/S my pelvic-leg socket!!! Whoa, that can't be good...YA THINK?? I'll be gettin' some MRI's and CT scans this week to verify what was found last week. The "potential" outcome is this...lower back/knee surgery, and a hip replacement!! I sure hope not! Well, that's about it...be good to yourselves out there.   - Snake.

[Mike McFarlin]

Stay in touch and let us know how your doing from time to time..Spanky

Hang in there. Things have to get better!

[doctormoo]

hang in there snake
hip replacements aint that bad
alot of available women  nurses and patients ( patients around 70)
i just had my 2nd  one last year
1st 1 20 years ago
that titamium last a long time
i was hit head on by a 78 caprice in 88
and i believe radiation wont hurt it
if ya got any questions about the surgery let me know
i learned the hard way
iwas a contractor for a while
and spent 20 years at river bend
later kevin brow

[pappy]

Good luck! Keep us posted on your progress. I had a friend here in Ga that just did the hip replacement and was out dancing Saturday nite, 3 weeks after the surgery! Keep reaching for the next rung of the ladder, ask "what do I do next to get going again!"
I hope that things improve soon for you. I was very lucky, hope I can send some luck your way....

[blackballedsnake]

Thanks much fer the support...Karma to all "yinz" out there. I will know more soon enough. The doctor needs some time to decide the proper path to take. Catcha later!  - Snake. 

[blackballedsnake]

Greetings and salutations! How's everybody doin' out there? Well, anyhoo...here's the latest. I have an "open/non-union" fracture at the very top of my RT pelvic socket that was previously "undetected" on follow-up X-rays! [an MRI/CT scan found it] My RT patella (kneecap) has some damage that was "misinterpreted" as a congenital two-piece kneecap! [a birth defect] The lower back problems are basically pinched nerves in L-4/L-5, and "residuals" from my L-1 compression fracture in 1999. What does all this mean? IF I "fail" at rehabilitation (PT/OT) again, I'll be gettin' my hip replaced...no if's, and's, or but's about it!! I have a few non-surgical options as far as my knee is concerned. There is some good news...I'll be doin' my PT/OT at the Southside Sports Medicine Complex in 'da 'burgh! (I start on 8/7...so cross yer fingers and wish me luck!) This is the place where the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins go to get better! Hey, hey, that works for me!! (maybe I'll try to "schmooz" some tickets, etc.) That's all fer now. Keep it real out there!    - Snake.

[Camella Black]

Greetings and salutations old friend. Glad to hear from you and looks like they finally have their act together. Good luck with the p.t. I know it can be stressful and painful from personal experience. Hope you score some tickets!

[blackballedsnake]

Hey everyone! what's shakin'? I decided to "unmask" the "Snake"...so to speak! I am doin' okay with PT so far...slow 'n steady, right? Anyhoo...I did meet Art Rooney Jr. @ therapy one day...I didn't have the heart to "beg" him for some Steeler tickets! (oh, well) Be good to yourselves out there!   - Mike "Snake" Shaffer.

[slattmandu]

How's that recovery/therapy process going? I talked to your Dad a while back. I think they came and gave a strippable coating presentation. We are still trying to convince folks here of the benefits vs cost. We'll see if it happens. Take cars Mike I hope you are feeling better!

[blackballedsnake]

Thanks much Slatts...I hear ya! I am kinda "bummed out" right now. I tried to do some weed whackin' with the trimmer over the weekend. I used to be able to do the whole yard, etc. in an hour or two. (1.2 acres worth) I did about half of the perimeter around the house!! I was in pain after only 20 minutes! What a let down...oh, well...baby steps, right? Severe injuries really SUCK!    - Snake.

[Jr8black3]

Black I don't know you, but if Slatts does it's cool with me....

[blackballedsnake]

Thanks Black...a "voucher" from an "old roady" like Slatts mean the world to me! Karma to "yinz" both.   - Snake.

[blackballedsnake]

Hi everyone! What's shakin' in yer tree?? I wanted to give yinza update...it's been damn near 9 months! WOW...were does the time go?! Well, I failed my third attempt at PT in late November. I saw my orthopaedic surgeon with the dread of getting a hip replacement...(that's what he said if I failed once more at PT/OT...yada, yada) Well, he "180-ed" his previous statement about what my options would be if I failed again. (no surprise there!) I told them...ahhh...to get 'bent"...yeah...let's stick to that. I went to UPMC's competition, and they are absolutely wonderful! The winter deep-freeze was brutal on me joints, etc. Now, I'm almost ready to be accepted into another PT/OT program to help condition my body for the type of work, and lifestyle I like to live! COOL...ABOUT #&%@ TIME, EH?! Keep it swingin' out there...hope to join all yinz soon.  - Michael T. "Snake" Shaffer.    (P.S.) - Does anybody out there have any "insider" info. on the Army Corp. of Engineers plans to remediate B&W/Numec's trenches in Parks TWP. in Armstrong County, PA? (that's a local job for me, AND a great way for me to get back in 'da biz, right?)

[blackballedsnake]

Hi everyone...AND you know who you are! I am almost ready to hit the ground runnin'. I should be released from my physician's care by the end of July to full duty without any restrictions!!. (freakin' awesome, right?) I am itchin' to get back in the game. (did I just say I wanna work!?) Anyhoo...I just thought I'd update all yinz. Have a good one!  - Snake.

[Mike McFarlin]

Best news I have heard today!!

[blackballedsnake]

Greetings and salutations! A little update for yinz all...if ya care to know. I was hoping to get in 'da game this fall. Well, no such luck. My doctor wants me to stay in PT/OT until late September...oh friggin' well. I need the "official" documents of medical release from care first, right? I am having a hard time getting interviews with "potential" employers...in ANY field. Why? It really doesn't look good (on a resume) when there's a nearly 2 year gap since you were last employed...then add the current state of the economy...yada, yada , yada. I will keep on keepin' on. Have a good fall season everyone, be safe, and with any luck...I'll be back for spring 2011.   - Michael T. Shaffer

[PAULTHEVOL]

Good luck and keep your head up.Things will get better.

[blackballedsnake]

Hello to everyone out there in 'da nukie biz, what's the good word lately? I just wanted to share some great news with all of "yinz" who care. My physical and occupational therapy sessions are FINALLY complete!! I have succeeded with flying colors. My doctor has given me the "green light" to return to the working world...100%...without ANY restrictions at all. Awesome!! It has been a very long, hard road back...it's been over two years since the accident. Now comes the reward. (I hope) I'm sure it's gonna be a real "pain in the arse" filling out all the paperwork to get back in the game again, but it is what it is, right? I am so damn eager to get my life back on track...I hope to see all of "yinz" at a plant or two this spring! Wish me luck. - Mike "Snake" Shaffer    P.S. - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all!  

[blackballedsnake]

Thanks much Sun Dog...karma to you!   - Snake

[pappy]

Great news! I know how hard it can be getting going again. I was very fortunate to be let back in my old position. I thought 6 months was a long time!