Steel Rod + Cameron's Head = A Tetanus Shot

Sometimes accidents just happen and, a few weeks ago, I had a run in with such an incident. I was on work detail and we were digging holes for a fence to surround a rock wall. What you have to know about Missouri ground is that it's a compilation of rocks and clay mixed with just a hint of some sort of foreign substance that other States call "dirt". We were using post-diggers, shovels and 45lb steel rods to break up the dirt and make the holes for the fence posts.

Well, about three hours into the work, I jumped into the hole to dislodge some rocks with my hands and remove them. The next thing I knew I felt a sharp pang hit the back of my head and I jumped back reflexively. Stunned slightly and unsure of what just happened, I shook my head to clear away the throbbing feeling still stinging the back of my head. I was about to go back to moving the rocks when one of my teammates alarmingly said I was bleeding. I moved my hand to the back of my head and felt wetness. I brought it to the front of my face and was shocked to see it covered in blood.

My work detail leader and I quickly jumped into the truck and drove over to the main building across the lake to get some help. He radioed a fellow leader and asked him to come and bring the med kit and they also called the on-campus medic who, prior to enrolling in the training, was a paramedic. At this point, my head is just covered in blood because, as we all know, the head loves to bleed and has trouble clotting. Everyone cleaned me up, washed off most of the blood and got the wound to stop bleeding. Because the gouge was so deep, and it had been more than five years since my last tetanus, we made a trip to the health department to get a shot.


Of course, it was 4:30pm by this time because things usually happen on the weekend or after hours. Thankfully it was a Tuesday but we were cutting it close on time. We found out that, typically, the health department stops giving injections by 3pm unless they have a licensed personnel who can administer the shot. Thankfully, they did and I was able to get a tetanus! Good thing, too because I had thought my last tetanus was just before high school in 2006 but really it was in 1996 - almost two decades ago and way past the ten-year mark.

When I got home, I took a shower to really wash off the blood but that caused the wound to open again and start bleeding. After holding a paper towel to my head for over ten minutes and it still bleeding, Caitlin devised this makeshift bandage also known as a headband to wrap under my chin and hold the paper towel in place. It worked and I was able to comfortably eat the Macaroni and Cheese Caitlin made which is true comfort food.

It was an exciting day on work detail and quite memorable to say the least! Later, I learned what had fallen and hit me in the back of the head. One of those 45lb steel rods was accidentally knocked over and collided with my head. I can now literally say that I've spent both my sweat and blood while working on the Missionary Training Center grounds. However, let it be known that there were no tears! Honestly, it hardly hurt at all and startled me more than anything. But it makes for a good story! Plus, I got out of the way one of the many vaccines we'll need before going overseas and the best part about it was that it was FREE! Sometimes the Lord provides through suffering.

Thank you for your many prayers and support!

United in Christ,

Cameron and Caitlin

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