SURVIVOR-Man OK after 6 nails are removed from head (ouch)

Fort Worth Star Telegram ^ | 05/06/2004 | AP

[jtminton]

LOS ANGELES - A construction worker who had six nails driven into his head in an accident with a high-powered nail gun is expected to make a full recovery, doctors said Wednesday.

Isidro Mejia made his first public appearance Wednesday since the April 19 accident that left him with 3 1/2-inch nails embedded in his face, neck and skull. He told reporters in Spanish from his wheelchair that he does not remember much about the accident but is grateful to be alive.

"And he told me this morning that he thought he was going to die. He was happy when he opened his eyes, and he saw that he's still with us," said Dr. Rafael Quinonez, a neurosurgeon who removed the nails at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center.

Mejia, 39, was atop an unfinished home when he fell from the roof onto a co-worker, who was using the nail gun on the second floor, Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Mark Newlands said.

The two men tried to grab each other to keep from falling, but both tumbled to the ground. At some point, the nail gun discharged and drove the nails into Mejia's head.

Three nails penetrated Mejia's brain, and one entered his spine below the base of his skull. Doctors said the nails barely missed his brainstem and spinal cord, preventing paralysis or death.

Mejia is walking with minimal assistance and speaks somewhat slowly because his brain's speech center was affected, but his progress has been "remarkable," Quinonez said. With rehabilitation therapy, he should fully recover.

"He is basically normal," Quinonez said.

Five nails were removed the same day and the sixth, in Mejia's face, was removed April 23 after swelling went down, the hospital said.

Authorities cleared the co-worker of any wrongdoing.

[jtminton]

Talk about your bad day at work. . .

[Xenalyte]

I will never complain about Lawyer Ego Syndrome ever again.

[Xenalyte]

BTW, them's some pretty amazing Mr. Ed front teeth, there.

[jtminton]

I was noticing his history of poor dental hygene. Look at all the fillings.

[Phantom Lord]

How did he fall from the roof? Wasn't he wearing a required saftey harness?

[Frank_Discussion]

I bet when he gets home from the hospital, he's gonna get a case of beer and get really hammered...

[Fierce Allegiance]

You nailed that one in the head!

[Bismarck]

That gives a whole new meaning to the term "getting nailed".

[Frank_Discussion]

Just my attempt at some piercing commentary.

[jtminton]

I know. This story is full of holes. . .

[The Good Doctor]

Wow, talk about a breech of patient confidentiality. If this guy/power of attorney didn't sign a release for his name and radiographs to be used, he's gonna own that hospital.

[70times7]

Yeah, yeah, you thought you were using your head. We get your point.

[Frank_Discussion]

Well, despite what you may have heard, this guy isn't know for his brains...

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Note to self:

When falling from roof DON'T grab onto the guy with the nail gun.

[KevinDavis]

Ouch... That had to hurt.

[ClearCase_guy]

Wish I had a nickel for every time this happened to me!

After a while, you get used to it.

[tracer]

I just hate it when that happens.....

[Quilla]

We use nail guns at my place of business. Many users would like to remove the safety device to make work a bit easier. I found an article about a fellow who was climbing up a ladder behind a coworker who was carrying such a safety-removed gun. His head bumped the end of the gun and a nail shot into the top of his head. He said in an interview later "I knew something was wrong when I couldn't get my cap off." This article is displayed prominently in our breakroom and all our gun have their safety feature engaged.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

On some nail guns there is a safety that must be pushed before the gun will fire. Was this piece of equipment in good shape?

In some parts of the country this would be considered "attempted suicide" or Arkanside.

This still looks like an attempted "hit" that failed. He might want to watch his back in the future.

[superiorslots]

I betcha he is going to sue the air nailer company because there was no warning/caution notices over the gun in Spanish.