Scott Ellis, Rimbey’s newest town councillor, is recovering from a broken humerus, but is facing the unexpected challenge with a healthy dose of optimism and a whole lot of gratitude for the health care he has received.
Notwithstanding his wife happens to be Dr. Chris Ellis, he said he received excellent care from the time he fell six feet off a slippery ladder and landed on his arm on the ground on Aug. 14.
And even as he lay on the ground in obvious pain, perhaps at least thinking words which may have been even stronger than ‘ouch, that really, really hurt,’ he told co-workers not to call his wife.
“I was so adamant, I didn’t want anyone to call her,” he said.
When Ellis took the tumble off the ladder, co-worker Ryan Meenink, who was working on the other end of the scaffold, rushed to his rescue.
“It was raining and Ryan gave me his sweater and re-assured me there was nothing poking outside the skin,” he said. “He immobilized my arm and then held my arm when we rode to town in the ambulance to help cushion the bumps and not cause any more discomfort than I was already going through. To me, he was the real hero of the day.”
Someone did, however, call an ambulance as he was about 20 minutes out of town, and, before he knew it, the unfortunate Ellis was being looked after by “excellent nursing staff” at the Rimbey hospital.
“I was in a lot of pain and not the nicest of patients,” he said. “But the nursing staff was very understanding and just really, really great.”
X-rays revealed that the humerus had been broken and surgery, which involved attaching a plate with eight screws inside his arm, would be required.
Now, home from the Red Deer hospital, Ellis is recovering from his unfortunate fall and subsequent surgery. However, his plans to commute to Edmonton where he is continuing his education have been put on hold until he can safely drive again.
While staying in Edmonton, he is considering attending council through video conferencing and if that option doesn’t work, hiring a driver to bring him back for council.
He said doctors have told him he will be in a plaster splint until Sept. 6 and in a sling for some time after that.
Meanwhile, he is walking lots and following doctors’ orders as best he can.
“She (my wife) has been a great nurse,” he said with a chuckle.