Matrixbird - 5/18/2023 22:08

In February of 22 I had 89% of my skin burnt off in a house fire trying to do the right thing. I did not return home for over 8 months. Every single day I endured unimaginable pain from extensive dressing changes and tiring therapy. This time last year I had no skin on my feet and couldn't take a single step without holding on to someone for dear life. In January of this year I decided to have my right hand amputated with the dream a prosthesis would allow me more function. Also my left hand is at about 10% function. Yesterday I finished planting my last field of beans. I planted right at 400 acres with the 20' great plains this spring. Next year I'll get my own operating loan and hopefully carry out nearly everything by myself. Side note: isn't it crazy a bank would back a 21 year old that is permanently disfigured???? Farming as well as life will never be the same. No more scaling the side of a combine or stir Ator. No more diving into the belly of some screwed up mess and crawling out greasy and victorious. No more sliding under a pickup to change oil or work on an exaust. That's all just a very small list of things I look back on with longing eyes. Going forward I'll have to make several adjustments and adaptations if I want to continue my family's legacy in farming. I know my health and strength are only going to get better with time. I'll make sure to share any major things I change that might help others with physical limitations or that might spike a regular folks intrest. I'm pretty proud of how far I've come from having the clothes burnt off me, to a 30% chance of living the first night, through over 40 surgeries, thousands of hours of therapy, and now planting around 92 million little seeds. I have a dark sense of humor so I encourage any crispy, no hands, or hook jokes if you feel so inclined. Thanks for reading this ramble, I know you guys are always pals about that serious stuff