Published: May 08, 2008 10:20 am            

A helping hand

Community steps in to fulfill woman’s dream after her husband severs hand

By Brad Hicks / Staff Writer

It has been Trish Low’s dream to own her own day care center. She currently operates the Beautiful Beginnings day care from a building she and husband, Rob, who has been a volunteer with the West Knox Fire Department for more than 10 years, rent on 5th Street in Corbin.

Recently the Lows purchased a home on Kentucky 1232 and the the start of Trish’s dream was underway. They worked night and day, and, in just a month and a half, nearly completed the task of converting the home into a day care center they would own.

“When we weren’t at work, we were here,” Trish said.

Late Sunday night, however, it seemed as though her dream may have to be put on hold. Rob was working on some of the finishing touches at the center when disaster struck.

“It was just a freak accident,” Rob said. “I’m not sure exactly what happened.”

Rob was using a power saw to cut a piece of wood for a bookcase in the downstairs area of the day care center. He believes that the saw hit a knot in the wood, causing his arm to be pulled forward and into the spinning blade.

The teeth of the saw sliced through Low’s left wrist, cutting through the bone and leaving his hand attached to his arm by only a strand of flesh. Trish was upstairs working, but quickly rushed downstairs.

“I was upstairs,” she said. “I remember the scream.”

Despite the horrifying scene, Rob remained calm enough to recognize the severity of his injury and pinched the severed artery in his arm to impede the gushing blood.

“I pretty much figured I was gonna lose the hand, I just wanted to make sure I didn’t bleed to death,” he said. “It hurt like nothing I’d ever felt before.”

But Rob didn’t lose the hand. Within moments of entering the emergency room at Baptist Regional Medical Center, he was on a LifeNet helicopter, headed for Jewish Hospital in Louisville, where he underwent a six-hour surgery.

“I couldn’t have asked for better service from the hospitals,” Rob said. “I was just amazed by the whole ordeal. If it wasn’t for the speed, I wouldn’t have a hand now.”

Although he didn’t lose his hand, Rob has lost the use of his wrist. Bones in his hand had to be fused to his arm bones. Metal plates were implanted on both sides of his arm and his wrist will be permanently locked in a straight position, unable to bend. However, Rob’s recovery is already underway.

“Check this out,” he said as wiggled his fingers.

Doctors estimated it will take six months to a year with physical therapy before Rob will regain motor function in his hand and fingers. For now, his left arm will remain in a cast and sling. Because of the cast, his work on the new day care center has been put on hold.

The Lows have state inspectors coming in to ensure the new center is up to code before it is opened. They wanted to have the center up and running next week.

Members of the West Knox Fire Department heard about the situation and decided to step in and ensure the center was ready for the state inspectors. Tuesday night, they were at the center to finish up some of the loose ends, such as trim and window edging.

“It’s mostly just odds and ends that need done,” said West Knox Fire Department Lt. Anthony Horton. “Everybody’s just pitching in and trying to help. They’re trying to get this thing done. They’re trying to get it open.”

“We just came up tonight to lend him his left hand,” joked West Knox Fire Department Chief David Harris.

Fire department members jumped at the opportunity to help one of their own and have no doubt Rob would have done the same for any of them.

“It’s kind of a brotherhood thing,” said Charles Jackson with the West Knox Fire Department, “It’s a family.”

Also assisting were members of the Lows’ church, Grace on the Hill Methodist Church in Corbin. Rob said he is grateful for the outpouring of support he and his family have received.

“They’re absolutely making my wife’s dream of owning a day care,” he said. “This has been her dream to have her own day care. It just warms my heart to see this bunch of people. Your life is so busy, and there’s so much going on, you don’t have time to think about it but this shows what friendship truly is. It’s just the unselfishness, for them to give up a night they could spend with their families to come up and help me out. It gives me a warm feeling. The world’s not as bad as people think it is. People still care.”

But the incident Sunday night is still very fresh in the minds of the Lows. When helpers fired up the very same saw to cut trim, the events replayed in Trish’s mind.

“I don’t like the sound of that saw,” she said. “I don’t like the sound of it at all.”

However, Rob does not find blame with the machine.

“It’s not the saw’s fault,” he said.

The Lows are excited about the possibilities of a new day care center. Trish said there are already 30 children on the waiting list for the center’s opening. While the old center could serve 25 children, the new one can serve approximately 60. Rob said there is a need for the center’s expansion.

“We’ll be able to help a lot more families out,” he said. “There’s definitely such a demand. For some of these kids, the most stable thing they have is day care.”



Brad Hicks can be reached at bhicks@the

timestribune.com

        

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