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Pele
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 Nothing New I am Sure, but My Tale to Tell
Last year I was working a fair here in Western New York.
I did the first of *many* (in retrospect probably too many) installments of my fire show. The wind was moderate to low and blowing easterly all day. I paid attention, I gauged it and I did one of my fire breaths.
Actually, the plume itself was nice, good color and height.
However, the wind shifted at last moment and the aspirated fuel which had not ignited was blown right up my nose as I had stepped back and started to inhale.
My greatest analogy is when you see the guy get a full body punch/kick to the chest in a kung fu movie, that is what it felt like to me, coupled with a burning sensation. Shortness of breath was instantaneous, the vomitting began after I left the stage. Luckily, since it was early on opening day, there was only a few around to see it, so no one was terribly traumatized.
I went to the local hospital. They told me there was no damage and nothing wrong. I should have known that would be the reaction from a country hospital. I told them to keep me. Poison control told them to keep me for observations. They informed me that security was going to escort me out if I did not leave peacefully.
Needless to say I was back early the next day with a fever of 108 and illness abound. I woke up 3 weeks later in the intensive care unit at Strong Hospital in Rochester, with a tracheotomy (I still have a keloid scar) and a drainage tube going between my ribs through my back and directly into my right lung. It seems that no one really knew how to treat this accident, so they just gave me moist oxygen. This lack of treatment developed into Lipid Pnuemonia (a form of chemical pnuemonia) and Pancreatitis. I had to learn to breathe again properly, as my body was so accustomed to machines that it "forgot" to do so naturally.
And I had to learn to swallow again properly, to swallow hard enough to bypass my trachea.
I was released after a total of 5 weeks in the hospital. Then I embarked on several months of rigid recovery. I returned to very light small event/showcase performing in February, 7 months after my accident, and that was mostly sword/snake bellydance with fire eating/trailing and poi.
Anything more rigorous than that wiped me out.
I have taken the past year to develop my shows, heal and get back on my feet.
Now I am ready to stop doing small local shows and enter back into the world.
I wrote an article for two online info spots. If anyone is interested in reading it, I would be happy to post a link or email it to you.
Consequently, I would like to add as a side note, I am well informed of patient rights (they couldn't have made me leave the hospital), and I have the proper procedures for treating such things (and more) written out. I carry this with me to all shows.
And...I have not fire breathed since, mainly because I was told to give my lungs (and tracheotomy) one year to fully heal. That meant no scuba diving, no fire breathing and alot of respiratory exercises.
Kindest Regards,
Pele
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8/31/2003, 3:43 am
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David Straitjacket
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Re: Nothing New I am Sure, but My Tale to Tell
Hi
Hell, that is BAD! I hope you are all healed up now. I hate doing fire breathing, knowing the absurdly high potential for injury, and that story is going to make me hate it even more 
I think fire breathing is a bit like smoking. If you havn't already started, don't, and if you have you should really think about giving up 
Cheers
David Straitjacket
--- Take a look at my website at:
http://www.thefreakshow.co.uk
"When life hands you a lemon, throw it at someone!" Jerry 'The King' Lawler |
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9/1/2003, 2:12 am
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Pele
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Re: Nothing New I am Sure, but My Tale to Tell
David,
I am healing well, thank you. Conciderably well actually. My Dr.'s have given me the seal of approval to return to the performance force full time.
The residuals I am left with are:
I have 10% scar damage in the bottom of my left lung, but my lungs were actually in better than normal shape when I started (from years of vocal training) so this kind-of brings it down to normal.
Something most people don't think about when doing this type of performance is the vocal chords. The fuel went across my vocal chords before it got into my lungs. They sustained minor chemical burn damage which was enough to effect my range and pitch while singing. I can not sing like I used to and my speaking voice is not as strong as it once was. I am working on reconditioning my lungs and vocal chords, not to be as they once were because they are permanently changed, but to be the best that they can as they are now.
I learned that Tracheotomies actually take about a year to really fully heal. The scar that I have from it will require plastic surgery internally because it goes so deep. (Come to find out, I develope scar tissue easily. Who knew?  )
Externally the Trach scar is a Keliod (one of the thick, puffy scars) and I am thinking of getting it pierced. But over time it seems to be fading so I am still in debate over it.
I would like to point out that had I obtained proper care that my injuries would not have been so severe. Most of my problems were that the fuel had time to sit untreated in my body, which caused tremendous issues. This caused the lungs to "blister" and fill with fluid, which they had a really hard time controlling. Bronchial dialators and moist oxygen with anti-biotics would have helped this tremendously. This lead to a spiked fever that the hospital battled with for 3 weeks, which hung around 108 most of the time. I was unconcious through this part (it is a really hard thing to take waking up and hearing that you missed 3 weeks of life), and was told I was kept on a cooling bed with fans and such. My stomach was never charcoal treated for fuel ingestion (though I took the caps myself right after the accident lest some get in my stomach) which lead to the Pancreatitis.
Had I have known the treatments and been able to tell the medical staff what to do, I would have been released within a few days. The actual ignorance of the medical staff injured me far more than the fuel (which did plenty on it's own I might add). This is why I carry a write up sheet with me about the treatments for the injuries I could incur, as a precautionary measure.
Also, I want to add that I was using Lamp Oil that day. Anything stronger (alcohol, white gas, etc) would've caused greater damage.
Kindest Regards,
Pele
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9/1/2003, 4:58 pm
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David Straitjacket
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Re: Nothing New I am Sure, but My Tale to Tell
Hi Pele
Glad to hear you are healing up. I have a similar dilemma with a back injury right now. I will never be able to do some things as well as I could do before the accident, but I am working on making sure everything is as strong and mobile as it can be. It all takes time.
I reposted your original message at the magic cafe as a warning to someone who was interested in starting out. Hope you don't mind. If you do I will be happy to delete the post. Its at:
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=43339&forum=23&3
Don't forget to request membership of the restricted area
Cheers
David Straitjacket
--- Take a look at my website at:
http://www.thefreakshow.co.uk
"When life hands you a lemon, throw it at someone!" Jerry 'The King' Lawler |
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9/1/2003, 5:17 pm
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sanscan
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Re: Nothing New I am Sure, but My Tale to Tell
Pele, I'd really like to post this (both) on Slim's DG. May I?
It might wise up some newbie.
Slim Price
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9/1/2003, 11:57 pm
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Pele
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Sharing and Respect
Please do, both of you, where ever you feel it could be useful. (Slim I sent you a PM in response to yours! )
For quite some time I was filled with fear that telling my tale would lower the respect that other performers have for me, and this, as most of you can imagine, is important to me. I found this to be an unfounded fear within the fire community, and so hoped that it would serve as a cautionary tale, especially to beginners. I really appreciate your helping me with this along the way!
May I ask your thoughts on this topic? Does the bringing of an accident to professional peers generate less respect for the performer? Or does it depend on factors such as responsibility taken to initially prevent such an accident, Type of accident (magnitude..stage fire vs. venue fire, personal injury to performer vs. injury to audience member), attitude about it, the subsequent handling of the accident?
I really would appreciate hearing what you have to say.
Kindest Regards and much Respect,
Pele
PS. David best of luck on your recovery. From what I understand of back injuries, it takes someone with quite a bit of courage and strength to face one down and I applaud you.
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9/2/2003, 1:15 am
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crispyx
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Re: Nothing New I am Sure, but My Tale to Tell
I don't see how performers would look down on the story of an accident. It's a good lesson for any performer that has never had an accident and doesn't think it will happen to them. We all have accidents, all of what we do is dangerouse, otherwise it wouldn't bring the thrill it does to an audience. Also this is a good thing for any people thinking of learning these arts to see first hand why the first thing they ever hear when asking for training is that they should not do it at all.
---
Momento Mori,
Crispy
www.crispyfamily.com
www.extremeperformers.com
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9/2/2003, 2:33 am
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Dannyboy
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Re: Nothing New I am Sure, but My Tale to Tell
Pele,
Would you be willing to post the info you have on the proper treatment of injuries? I think that write up sheet is a great idea.
Danny
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9/2/2003, 5:11 am
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Pele
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Re: Nothing New I am Sure, but My Tale to Tell
Sure, just give me a bit (getting my son settled in school the next couple of days) and where should I post it?
Kindest Regards,
Pele
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9/2/2003, 3:50 pm
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Dannyboy
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Re: Nothing New I am Sure, but My Tale to Tell
I would think a new topic here in the Cautionary tales forum would be appropriate. Maybe David could make that topic sticky so it stays at the top of the list.
Thanks Pele,
Danny
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9/2/2003, 5:39 pm
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