Dear Praying Friends and Supporters of the Robinsons,
On Sunday, December 24, 2000, Christmas Eve, we transported the people of Windward
Bible Church to the two nursing homes and the one hospital on Carriacou. We used our
mini-bus and Vista for the transportation.
At each place we sang Christmas Carols, presented an abbreviated version of our
Children’s Christmas program, and gave a brief message about the Divine gift of
everlasting life. We then presented them with plates that contained fruits and other
special treats, including a tract for which the people were very thankful. (Linda and one
young lady from our church did a beautiful job preparing the plates!) To top it off, at
least one older lady prayed with me to receive Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and
savior at the conclusion of one visit! PTL.
Our people were thrilled and blessed, and also a bit weary and hungry after the last
visit was over. Linda and I then took everyone to our home in Meldrum for fellowship and a
meal. While Linda and a couple of the Ladies were preparing the food, Linda discovered
that she did not have enough fruit drink. I got on my motorcycle and left for Windward to
get some. I was taking my time and being thankful for the good services the Lord had given
us.
As I remember it, about seven tenths of a mile from home a large cow suddenly bolted
out from behind some brush and stopped right in front of me! I braked hard, but I hit it
broadside near its rear going somewhere between twenty-five and thirty miles an hour! The
impact threw the bike and me forcefully to the ground and we (the bike and I) skidded some
thirty feet before I finally came to a painful halt. I had the air thoroughly knocked out
of me and was very frightened and asked the Lord to help me.
The bike was no longer running, but the ignition was on, gasoline was dripping out of
the tank, and exposed wires were hanging where the headlight had been! That made me really
want to get away from it, but I soon discovered that I was pinned under it, with one
engine cylinder resting on my left knee. I kicked and pushed the bike as hard as I could
until I got myself free and began to crawl away, but shooting pains and a quick look
indicated that I had likely broken my collarbone, my shoulder, or dislocated my left arm.
After I gave the rest of my body a quick looking over I did not see anything else damaged
except for a large abrasion on my left forearm. I managed to sit up and slowly drew my
knees up in front of me to catch my breath. Both legs initially looked okay—until I
tried to straighten them back out. The right leg worked perfectly, but it was obvious that
something on the left one was not right. It looked as though it was broken right below the
knee. That is when I realized that I was getting dizzy and feeling very faint. I lay back
down and continued to pray. After a minute or two different ones arrived and phoned Linda
and the hospital which immediately dispatched an ambulance.
In the hospital the pain really set in. I was evaluated, my leg was placed in a
temporary cast, and my arm in a sling. I was also told that I was going to have to go to
the Grenada mainland for x-rays, but could do so until Wednesday—three days
later—because nothing was running until then due to the holidays.
I was then allowed to go home, told to take ibuprofen, and rest (Like I was going to do
something else. But if I could I would have gotten in our car and looked for that cow to
have a rematch!). The ambulance took me back home and several men carried me in and helped
me to my bed where I groaned and prayed mostly until Wednesday.
Early Wednesday morning several men carried me back out to the ambulance, which took me
to the main jetty in Hillsborough, Carriacou’s only town business hub. After being
carried onto the Osprey, a nice sea ferry, the Lord then blessed Linda, Jeshua, and I with
an unusually smooth ride for this time of the year. Seventy-five minutes later we arrived
in St. Georges on the mainland of Grenada at 7:15 AM. I was then carried off the Osprey
and placed in another ambulance with Linda and Jeshua.
Amazingly, and by God’s grace I believe, before they closed the hatch a man stuck
his head and hand into the ambulance and I recognized him right away. He was a friend that
I had met on Carriacou several years ago. He lives and works in Minnesota, but built a
home on Carriacou and comes here a few times a year, particular when it gets cold (which
can be from August to May in Minnesota!) Now get this. When in Minnesota this man works as
an orthopedic surgeon, AND he specializes in KNEE REPAIR, and has been doing so for some
30 YEARS! (Doesn’t God just beat all!)
After greeting me he hastily told me to phone him on Carriacou where he would be for
two weeks. While on Carriacou he would also be providing orthopedic diagnosis and
treatment to the residents of Carriacou. He is a gracious and kind man who loves Carriacou
and the people here even more.
I thanked him and the ambulance took us to St. Augustine Medical Center, a private
hospital in St. Pauls’. A bone specialist immediately introduced himself and
scheduled me for x-rays, which were taken a few minutes later. I saw the x-rays myself,
and my broken collarbone was apparent, but it looked like it was back in place. However, I
became troubled when I saw the one taken of my knee. It looked like it was going to take
some screws and surgery to correct (once an electro/mechanical technician, always one). I
had been hoping for a simple and clean fracture that would only take a cast and time to
repair. Also, there is no Cat-scan or MRI equipment in the country that enabled him to
check out my ligaments and tendons, that he also suspects has been damaged.
Later that day the surgeon came and confirmed my suspicions. My knee was going to
require some serious treatment to repair. Even though the surgeon was convinced he could
make the orthopedic repairs right in Grenada, he told me that going someplace that could
deal with possible complications was the best way to go. He told me to think it over.
A little later, as we waited for the time to leave for the sea shuttle, and after a
period of silent weeping, I phoned the knee specialist on Carriacou (from Minnesota
mentioned above). He told me to bring all my x-rays with me when we returned back to
Carriacou. He also told me that he would pay me a HOUSE CALL, look me over, and give me
his evaluation! God is wonderful beyond imagination!
The next morning, Thursday, the surgeon in Grenada put a more stable and permanent cast
on my leg, that evening we took a harrowing ride in the ambulance (that is another story
in itself) back to the Osprey. About 7:45 PM, Thursday night we were all back home and
seeking the Lord’s will and direction.
The next morning the surgeon from Minnesota came by just as he had said that he would.
He looked at the x-rays and examined me. He then told me that my collarbone was a
particularly bad break, but it looked like it would probably be fine. The knee; however,
he said was only for a surgeon with experience that takes a special interest in my type of
injury. It is going to take intense work to fix, and perhaps even a bone graph.
He then examined my left hip after I pointed out a sub surface bruise that had begun to
show up the morning before. I had pointed it out to the surgeon in Grenada who took a look
and said that it was nothing to be concerned about. But after this surgeon’s
examination revealed certain tender spots he promptly frowned, and pointed to it saying,
"You have a broken bone there also!" He quickly added that it needed to be
x-rayed, but because I had good range of motion without pain it appeared to be only a
small crack that would heal with no problem.
In conclusion, he said the knee must be cat-scanned, that I will require open surgery
two weeks (optimum) to three weeks (max) from the time of the accident. Repairs likely
include installing a plate, several screws, and possible ligament repair. I will also
likely require intense pain management for four to five days, my leg being in a cast for
six weeks and therapy for six weeks. At that point I should be at the point of putting my
weight back on my leg and walking without crutches. This will require a stay in the US of
three months minimum before we can return to Carriacou.
We are currently hoping to travel stateside sometime between the 3rd or 5th
of January. I also hope to have the surgery done by no later than the following week.
Linda and Jeshua have been very strong and ministering to me beyond measure during this
time. Linda has waited on me literally day and night to the point of even bathing me,
which I cannot do for myself in my current state. She has not complained even once, though
she almost feel on me once when she nearly feel asleep on her feet. J
Please pray for them both, especially for Linda, as this is also very hard for them.
Please pray for us in the following:
- Finalizing our plans to travel stateside ASAP.
- Financial provision for travel and medical treatment. (Our health coverage group will
only cover up to $5,000.00 for each illness or incident.)
- My enduring the trip to the US. (Currently I can set up for only a matter of minutes
before the pain becomes often intense to unbearable. (The 75-minute trip on the Osprey
back to Carriacou almost made me pass out at one point.) Please pray that my tissue damage
will heal to the point that that the pain would be minimal and need no pain medication
during the trip.
- Housing and transportation arrangements close to the facilities that will treat me.
- The right orthopedic surgeon and facilities to put me back together.
- For Linda and Jeshua as they literally wait on me hand and foot during this period of
time.
- For the folks of Windward Bible Church as they continue on in our absence. Pray that
they will not become disillusioned, discouraged, or doubting God because of what is
happening.
- For God to glorify Himself and have His perfect will with us as we trust Him through
this time.
Still looking up for Him,
Walter Robinson II
