Ep 55: Healing Physically, Financially, and Emotionally: Life Following A Catastrophic Injury

Welcome to the catastrophic comeback podcast with American Injury Lawyer Clark speaks, helping you find hope, purpose and joy after a catastrophic injury.

Hello, and welcome to another edition of catastrophic comeback. I am thrilled today to have Colin McClaren as our guest. Colin is a former client, and just a phenomenal human being. And I'm excited for you to meet him and hear about his story. Welcome, Colin. Thank you. So,

Colin,

this podcast

really was designed with you in mind. Right? Like, I will never forget going to your hospital room? In what 2018? Right.

Yep. 20 2017 2017.

And in a meeting with you there, and you had been through a just a unbelievably traumatic event.

So and, and I remember thinking, you were 23 at the time. So I remember thinking, how on earth is a 23 year old supposed to process all this? You know?

Yeah. And then, and then I saw you

process it over time, and do the things that you needed to do to rebuild your life. And I was always just blown away by that. So that's what this podcast is for, is to be there in that room with people and help them find a way to recover physically, financially and emotionally. And then also go on and rebuild their lives to where they have, you know, purpose, meaning joy and those types of things. Well, there's always going to be purpose meaning joy, whether you are in a wheelchair or not. Let me ask you this. Can you just tell us a little bit about your the accident, the injury and what what happened there? I was on the way to go pick up a backhoe in South Carolina. I had a 10 wheeled truck with a backhoe trailer in the back. And I was going down this whole country road and there's four cornfields no corn, and I saw his BMW coming from long ways away. And big chokes, you can't stop. You can't go fast. So I knew they weren't stopping. So I just brace for impact. And they hit me in the back, right tire back left tire, I'm sorry. And it flipped me. And it just snapped my back. I wouldn't bleed and drop or nothing.

And then two ladies

paid the ultimate price. But

I was lucky to be alive. And I mean, sure I was pending that trip for way too long. How long were you the Trump? About 50 minutes? Wow, what's next? Do you remember everything that happened? After that? I remember every single I didn't know we get knocked out at all. I remember every single thing. I didn't even have pain until they the jaws of life made my body straight. And that's when it like a light switch. Did you know The severity of your injuries then in there. As soon as I flipped over? I felt like a little tingling in my legs. And I slept my leg. And I was like I broke my back.

I instantly knew. Can you tell me about what a little bit about the recovery process that initial recovery process? Well, the first week I was in Myrtle Beach, it was just basically getting making sure the surgery was fine and everything.

And then workman's comp sent me to Shepherd Center in Atlanta. And that's when the actual recoveries actually started and what surgery was it they put pins and two rods and a bunch of

pins, basically. I don't know titanium screws that's probably designed to bring stability in your back. Yeah, it just replaced that one thing that broke shit. Where's the sheperson? That's in Atlanta, Georgia. What's your impression of that place? Is it a good facility? Yeah, there's it was really good facility. I liked everybody there. Nice. So I've been there several times to visit clients and that type of thing. And one thing I've always been impressed Is that

is that that's their focus. That's what they do. And they really are serious about trying to help people who have spinal injuries, make his completed recovery as possible and do whatever that what they wanted to do before they can they want to be able to do it afterwards. You're good here that told them I don't want

Don't do therapy much times and they don't get up. Let's back up a little bit. What was going on in your life before this accident? What was your life? Like? Where are you? What were you doing? What was your favorite family dynamic? What did you like to do every day? I was either well, before the accident, I was working mostly out of town, I would work Monday to Friday, out of town, whether it be Florence, South Carolina, Columbia, and I just come home on the weekends on either. If it was hunting season, I'd be hunting, fishing or skateboard. And you had a very active life, right? Yeah, I was there. I still can't stay in the house.

What did you do? What was your family dynamic? Like, at the time, me and my,

my daughter's mother lived in

the house of my dad. So he was working on boats and stuff. And we were just living there for a little bit. Until I got saved up enough money to get us a house. And how old was your daughter at the time? She was probably two months. Okay. So during that week, at that at the hospital in Myrtle Beach, you know, what are some of the things that are going through your head when you're coming to terms with how your life has changed? I knew my life changed when I when I've slept Monday leg and

I knew my life has changed right then. And basically, I knew, right, then I had to take, do what I had to do to cuz I thought I mean, obviously, I didn't know if I was going to make it or not. And my daughter was the number one focus. So when you say you didn't know if you're going to make it or not, you thought at that moment that there's a reasonable chance you might die. There's diesel fuel dripping all over me and all kinds of stuff. What other questions or what other careers did you have in your mind? I'm just getting out of there, really? And then I have, I mean, obviously, am I ever gonna be able to walk again, and you know what I mean? I knew I wasn't going to be able to skateboard again. But I knew, I knew somehow, someway, I was going to found out a way to hunt, fish. Do the things that you enjoy.

What about that? So what about that week? Was there a period of time that it took to sort of process the new normal for you? Yeah, it's, I mean, there's a lot of there's, I gotta say, as all thing. Good, there's a lot of bad days, or I'd sit in the bed and cried all day, you know what I mean? Just thinking about crap, I can't do that.

When I was in a Shepherd Center, one of the doctors told me like, Get up, let's take a walk. And he walked me down the hallway. Or I was rolling, obviously, but and he's like, see that remark that

older, younger guy and ventilate, and he's like, he's gonna have to have some like this rest of his life. And he's like, you see how you get on this hallway?

And like, from then on, I was like, I ain't gonna complain. I know. I'm good. So what's the takeaway from that? The take is, is the takeaway is that it could have been worse, that we said that a couple inches could change your life forever. And the first thing that could have happen is you're lucky to be alive. Exactly. Yeah. So that's something that you mentioned to me that I thought was was interesting. Even talking to think even thinking about talking with you today. You know, I had lost sight of that, that's an important part of this story is just how blessed you are to be alive after something like that. Because I remember getting out of the helicopter and going into the recovery room, and they turned me on my son and I was out.

Small group in a hospital room. That's that's like,

lucky to be

out, or did. Did you just pass out from some other firms? IV? I think they are actually I really don't know. I remember going in there and they put me on a flatbed. And they turned me on my side. And that's the last thing I remember. Okay, so were there any other things? You know, what you talked about? During that, you know, there were some dark days? What were those dark days? Like? What were the what were your fears? What are your concerns? What were you thinking during those times? Basically down? You know what I mean? Like, I can't get up out of this hospital bed, and you know what I mean? And I'm stuck, you know, I'm saying, me thinking I'm gonna have to have somebody to help me the rest of my life, you know, me asking, because before the accident, I never really asked people for help with anything. You know what I mean? I'll try to do ever work for something, you know, but that's what I was thinking. I was gonna have to ask somebody. I hate that. I still hate it. So so you're just not

really a very independent person will step in and say, Wow, okay, can you talk to me about you mentioned the surgery?

Can you talk to me about what rehab was like rehabilitation was like, maybe at the at the hospital maybe at, at,

at the Shepherd Center, and wherever else you might have.

Yeah, rehabilitation hospital in Myrtle Beach, they were just really making sure that was stable enough to go to rehab and everything. So basically, the rehab really started at Shepherd Center. And how long was that process? I was at Shepherd Center for eight weeks. Right. Okay, and what does that what does that look like? What does that rehabilitation process look like? It's everything. I mean, they didn't even know I had a punctured lung until I got to Shepherd Center. So I had, they had to put a chest to him along and I couldn't lift over five pounds for, I think, like, three, four weeks. So four weeks out of the Meet weeks, I could get stronger, you know what I mean?

Other than that, it's just done, like, trying to make sure you get your upper body, it's just basically like them trying to work out every muscle that could possibly work still, so that you're trying to develop your upper body strength, so that you can do the things you need to do to be independent. And that's how you get around. And no one other people think it was that effective? Yeah, it was.

I still have the same stretching bands that I got from Chevron. So so they're helping you get stronger and learn techniques to be able to do things independently. So you don't have to depend on other people. That's

that's helped me a lot. Is it a continuous process? Do you continue to learn and develop and train and and get stronger?

Yeah, workmen's comp. They sent me back. They're probably like, four or six, eight months after I got out of it and went home. And I got to do like the robotic legs and stuff like that. And some stuff I didn't get to work out when I was initially there. Do you know much about the robotic legs? And if that's something that's likely to develop in your lifetime? Yeah, I'm sure the development a lot more, because when I was using them, they were big, old, bulky things, you know what I mean? Sure, but I mean, they still work.

And that's what I figured out, I could crawl there.

So I remember seeing videos of you making progress and being able to move your legs. And so

at that point in time, I wasn't terribly experienced with spinal injuries. And, and to me, that meant that you were making a recovery that was likely to go farther and farther and farther. And and what was what was that about? What can you tell me about what that process was like? Literally, one day, I was just sitting watching TV, and I was bored. And I was looking now legs, and I was trying to move and I saw, I saw it move a little bit. And I've sort of freaking out. And then from that day on, every time I sat down to do anything, like I'm sitting here, has moved my legs, you know what I mean? Just

just to do it, maybe get muscle stronger, maybe some nerves will start, you know what I'm saying here?

So, so did that develop to a point and then it stopped developing? Or is that some are still working on this? Yeah, I'm still working on it. I mean, I can walk with a walker from probably going to hear that name table over there. Wow. And is that a function directly of all the work that you put in? Wow, dark just told me I never walk again. So does that give you

motivation, motivation and courage? And?

Exactly. So do you think that there'll be technological advances that will make you be able to do some of those things again? Yeah, there's been a lot of stuff in like the stem cell stuff. I've just been whitening on. I mean, get all the kinks out and stuff like that. But

I'll be okay to try that. And I imagine that that that care is probably expensive. Is that correct? Yeah, it probably is, but I know they're probably doing like trials and stuff.

So I don't know. I mean, if if I keep working at it, I mean, I'm sure

I'll be able to I'll be able to walk in someday. It seems like that's an it's an exciting time to be alive because they are making such advances in technology and healthcare technology. There's a lot as there's a lot more stuff

Then when I was in the hospital thank you for joining us and we'll see you next time

Welcome to the catastrophic comeback podcast with American Injury Lawyer Clark speaks, helping you find hope, purpose and joy after a catastrophic injury.

Hello, and welcome to another edition of catastrophic comeback. I am thrilled today to have Colin McClaren as our guest. Colin is a former client, and just a phenomenal human being. And I'm excited for you to meet him and hear about his story. Welcome, Colin. Thank you. So,

Colin,

this podcast

really was designed with you in mind. Right? Like, I will never forget going to your hospital room? In what 2018? Right.

Yep. 20 2017 2017.

And in a meeting with you there, and you had been through a just a unbelievably traumatic event.

So and, and I remember thinking, you were 23 at the time. So I remember thinking, how on earth is a 23 year old supposed to process all this? You know?

Yeah. And then, and then I saw you

process it over time, and do the things that you needed to do to rebuild your life. And I was always just blown away by that. So that's what this podcast is for, is to be there in that room with people and help them find a way to recover physically, financially and emotionally. And then also go on and rebuild their lives to where they have, you know, purpose, meaning joy and those types of things. Well, there's always going to be purpose meaning joy, whether you are in a wheelchair or not. Let me ask you this. Can you just tell us a little bit about your the accident, the injury and what what happened there? I was on the way to go pick up a backhoe in South Carolina. I had a 10 wheeled truck with a backhoe trailer in the back. And I was going down this whole country road and there's four cornfields no corn, and I saw his BMW coming from long ways away. And big chokes, you can't stop. You can't go fast. So I knew they weren't stopping. So I just brace for impact. And they hit me in the back, right tire back left tire, I'm sorry. And it flipped me. And it just snapped my back. I wouldn't bleed and drop or nothing.

And then two ladies

paid the ultimate price. But

I was lucky to be alive. And I mean, sure I was pending that trip for way too long. How long were you the Trump? About 50 minutes? Wow, what's next? Do you remember everything that happened? After that? I remember every single I didn't know we get knocked out at all. I remember every single thing. I didn't even have pain until they the jaws of life made my body straight. And that's when it like a light switch. Did you know The severity of your injuries then in there. As soon as I flipped over? I felt like a little tingling in my legs. And I slept my leg. And I was like I broke my back.

I instantly knew. Can you tell me about what a little bit about the recovery process that initial recovery process? Well, the first week I was in Myrtle Beach, it was just basically getting making sure the surgery was fine and everything.

And then workman's comp sent me to Shepherd Center in Atlanta. And that's when the actual recoveries actually started and what surgery was it they put pins and two rods and a bunch of

pins, basically. I don't know titanium screws that's probably designed to bring stability in your back. Yeah, it just replaced that one thing that broke shit. Where's the sheperson? That's in Atlanta, Georgia. What's your impression of that place? Is it a good facility? Yeah, there's it was really good facility. I liked everybody there. Nice. So I've been there several times to visit clients and that type of thing. And one thing I've always been impressed Is that

is that that's their focus. That's what they do. And they really are serious about trying to help people who have spinal injuries, make his completed recovery as possible and do whatever that what they wanted to do before they can they want to be able to do it afterwards. You're good here that told them I don't want

Don't do therapy much times and they don't get up. Let's back up a little bit. What was going on in your life before this accident? What was your life? Like? Where are you? What were you doing? What was your favorite family dynamic? What did you like to do every day? I was either well, before the accident, I was working mostly out of town, I would work Monday to Friday, out of town, whether it be Florence, South Carolina, Columbia, and I just come home on the weekends on either. If it was hunting season, I'd be hunting, fishing or skateboard. And you had a very active life, right? Yeah, I was there. I still can't stay in the house.

What did you do? What was your family dynamic? Like, at the time, me and my,

my daughter's mother lived in

the house of my dad. So he was working on boats and stuff. And we were just living there for a little bit. Until I got saved up enough money to get us a house. And how old was your daughter at the time? She was probably two months. Okay. So during that week, at that at the hospital in Myrtle Beach, you know, what are some of the things that are going through your head when you're coming to terms with how your life has changed? I knew my life changed when I when I've slept Monday leg and

I knew my life has changed right then. And basically, I knew, right, then I had to take, do what I had to do to cuz I thought I mean, obviously, I didn't know if I was going to make it or not. And my daughter was the number one focus. So when you say you didn't know if you're going to make it or not, you thought at that moment that there's a reasonable chance you might die. There's diesel fuel dripping all over me and all kinds of stuff. What other questions or what other careers did you have in your mind? I'm just getting out of there, really? And then I have, I mean, obviously, am I ever gonna be able to walk again, and you know what I mean? I knew I wasn't going to be able to skateboard again. But I knew, I knew somehow, someway, I was going to found out a way to hunt, fish. Do the things that you enjoy.

What about that? So what about that week? Was there a period of time that it took to sort of process the new normal for you? Yeah, it's, I mean, there's a lot of there's, I gotta say, as all thing. Good, there's a lot of bad days, or I'd sit in the bed and cried all day, you know what I mean? Just thinking about crap, I can't do that.

When I was in a Shepherd Center, one of the doctors told me like, Get up, let's take a walk. And he walked me down the hallway. Or I was rolling, obviously, but and he's like, see that remark that

older, younger guy and ventilate, and he's like, he's gonna have to have some like this rest of his life. And he's like, you see how you get on this hallway?

And like, from then on, I was like, I ain't gonna complain. I know. I'm good. So what's the takeaway from that? The take is, is the takeaway is that it could have been worse, that we said that a couple inches could change your life forever. And the first thing that could have happen is you're lucky to be alive. Exactly. Yeah. So that's something that you mentioned to me that I thought was was interesting. Even talking to think even thinking about talking with you today. You know, I had lost sight of that, that's an important part of this story is just how blessed you are to be alive after something like that. Because I remember getting out of the helicopter and going into the recovery room, and they turned me on my son and I was out.

Small group in a hospital room. That's that's like,

lucky to be

out, or did. Did you just pass out from some other firms? IV? I think they are actually I really don't know. I remember going in there and they put me on a flatbed. And they turned me on my side. And that's the last thing I remember. Okay, so were there any other things? You know, what you talked about? During that, you know, there were some dark days? What were those dark days? Like? What were the what were your fears? What are your concerns? What were you thinking during those times? Basically down? You know what I mean? Like, I can't get up out of this hospital bed, and you know what I mean? And I'm stuck, you know, I'm saying, me thinking I'm gonna have to have somebody to help me the rest of my life, you know, me asking, because before the accident, I never really asked people for help with anything. You know what I mean? I'll try to do ever work for something, you know, but that's what I was thinking. I was gonna have to ask somebody. I hate that. I still hate it. So so you're just not

really a very independent person will step in and say, Wow, okay, can you talk to me about you mentioned the surgery?

Can you talk to me about what rehab was like rehabilitation was like, maybe at the at the hospital maybe at, at,

at the Shepherd Center, and wherever else you might have.

Yeah, rehabilitation hospital in Myrtle Beach, they were just really making sure that was stable enough to go to rehab and everything. So basically, the rehab really started at Shepherd Center. And how long was that process? I was at Shepherd Center for eight weeks. Right. Okay, and what does that what does that look like? What does that rehabilitation process look like? It's everything. I mean, they didn't even know I had a punctured lung until I got to Shepherd Center. So I had, they had to put a chest to him along and I couldn't lift over five pounds for, I think, like, three, four weeks. So four weeks out of the Meet weeks, I could get stronger, you know what I mean?

Other than that, it's just done, like, trying to make sure you get your upper body, it's just basically like them trying to work out every muscle that could possibly work still, so that you're trying to develop your upper body strength, so that you can do the things you need to do to be independent. And that's how you get around. And no one other people think it was that effective? Yeah, it was.

I still have the same stretching bands that I got from Chevron. So so they're helping you get stronger and learn techniques to be able to do things independently. So you don't have to depend on other people. That's

that's helped me a lot. Is it a continuous process? Do you continue to learn and develop and train and and get stronger?

Yeah, workmen's comp. They sent me back. They're probably like, four or six, eight months after I got out of it and went home. And I got to do like the robotic legs and stuff like that. And some stuff I didn't get to work out when I was initially there. Do you know much about the robotic legs? And if that's something that's likely to develop in your lifetime? Yeah, I'm sure the development a lot more, because when I was using them, they were big, old, bulky things, you know what I mean? Sure, but I mean, they still work.

And that's what I figured out, I could crawl there.

So I remember seeing videos of you making progress and being able to move your legs. And so

at that point in time, I wasn't terribly experienced with spinal injuries. And, and to me, that meant that you were making a recovery that was likely to go farther and farther and farther. And and what was what was that about? What can you tell me about what that process was like? Literally, one day, I was just sitting watching TV, and I was bored. And I was looking now legs, and I was trying to move and I saw, I saw it move a little bit. And I've sort of freaking out. And then from that day on, every time I sat down to do anything, like I'm sitting here, has moved my legs, you know what I mean? Just

just to do it, maybe get muscle stronger, maybe some nerves will start, you know what I'm saying here?

So, so did that develop to a point and then it stopped developing? Or is that some are still working on this? Yeah, I'm still working on it. I mean, I can walk with a walker from probably going to hear that name table over there. Wow. And is that a function directly of all the work that you put in? Wow, dark just told me I never walk again. So does that give you

motivation, motivation and courage? And?

Exactly. So do you think that there'll be technological advances that will make you be able to do some of those things again? Yeah, there's been a lot of stuff in like the stem cell stuff. I've just been whitening on. I mean, get all the kinks out and stuff like that. But

I'll be okay to try that. And I imagine that that that care is probably expensive. Is that correct? Yeah, it probably is, but I know they're probably doing like trials and stuff.

So I don't know. I mean, if if I keep working at it, I mean, I'm sure

I'll be able to I'll be able to walk in someday. It seems like that's an it's an exciting time to be alive because they are making such advances in technology and healthcare technology. There's a lot as there's a lot more stuff

Then when I was in the hospital thank you for joining us and we'll see you next time