http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2009/02/06/towns/ellington/doc498c5383abe2f324011015.txt
ELLINGTON — The tree-cutter who fell out of a tree and landed himself in the hospital for three months is now at home and doing well, family members say.
“I am speechless,” says Leonard Blotniski, 51, of Stein Road, who fell 35 feet last October.
The fall happened when he was working in a tree on Mountain Street on the morning of Oct. 20. Blotniski fell while he was “in the process of repositioning himself in the tree, and in order to do that he had to disengage his safety gear to move up,” his sister Lorraine Behling says.
Blotniski suffered 13 broken bones, broken hips, crushed elbows, a cracked skull, pneumonia, punctured lungs, and a crushed spleen, among other injuries.
His medical bills were just as painful — hundreds of thousands of dollars, he says.
“I took a $6,000 helicopter ride and don’t even remember it,” Blotniski says of the Life Star that took him from Rockville General Hospital to Hartford Hospital.
Since his fall, friends and family have come together to raise money and send prayers to Blotniski.
A letter campaign spearheaded by friends John and Linda Risley of Tolland raised about $20,000, Behling says.
Members of the community sent him about 300 cards and thousands of prayers, Blotniski says.
“People touched my heart with their kindness and thoughtfulness,” he says.
When he first left the hospital, Blotniski stayed with his sister and her husband, Richard, in Ellington. Now he is slowly transitioning into his own home.
Blotniski’s children Jennifer, 18, and Shawn, 15, have been helping him make the transition.
With the assistance of a cane a friend made for him, Blotniski can get around and is starting to lead a normal life. Blotniski and his daughter recently took a trip to see the film “Marley & Me,” he says.
The proud owner of a loyal yellow Lab named Taffy, Blotniski is glad to be home to watch his new puppy, Summer, grow up.
“Many people thought I wouldn’t make it, including the doctors,” Blotniski says.
The road to recovery will be long, but Blotniski is ready. He goes to physical therapy a few times a week and is due back in the hospital for a hernia.
Blotniski doesn’t seem too worried, though he’s getting restless. While his body is a little tired and making a recovery, his mind is energetic and ready to move on, he says.
He is looking forward to getting back to work, but “I don’t think I’ll be climbing,” he says.
A trained arborist and graduate of the University of Connecticut, Blotniski has 27 years of expertise and looks forward to exploring other areas where his knowledge is needed.
“I can put my skills to good use somewhere,” he says.
Having spent several months in the hospital, Blotniski missed the holidays, but he knows he has many more.
“I can’t thank the people enough” for their generosity and kindness, he says.
ELLINGTON — The tree-cutter who fell out of a tree and landed himself in the hospital for three months is now at home and doing well, family members say.
“I am speechless,” says Leonard Blotniski, 51, of Stein Road, who fell 35 feet last October.
The fall happened when he was working in a tree on Mountain Street on the morning of Oct. 20. Blotniski fell while he was “in the process of repositioning himself in the tree, and in order to do that he had to disengage his safety gear to move up,” his sister Lorraine Behling says.
Blotniski suffered 13 broken bones, broken hips, crushed elbows, a cracked skull, pneumonia, punctured lungs, and a crushed spleen, among other injuries.
His medical bills were just as painful — hundreds of thousands of dollars, he says.
“I took a $6,000 helicopter ride and don’t even remember it,” Blotniski says of the Life Star that took him from Rockville General Hospital to Hartford Hospital.
Since his fall, friends and family have come together to raise money and send prayers to Blotniski.
A letter campaign spearheaded by friends John and Linda Risley of Tolland raised about $20,000, Behling says.
Members of the community sent him about 300 cards and thousands of prayers, Blotniski says.
“People touched my heart with their kindness and thoughtfulness,” he says.
When he first left the hospital, Blotniski stayed with his sister and her husband, Richard, in Ellington. Now he is slowly transitioning into his own home.
Blotniski’s children Jennifer, 18, and Shawn, 15, have been helping him make the transition.
With the assistance of a cane a friend made for him, Blotniski can get around and is starting to lead a normal life. Blotniski and his daughter recently took a trip to see the film “Marley & Me,” he says.
The proud owner of a loyal yellow Lab named Taffy, Blotniski is glad to be home to watch his new puppy, Summer, grow up.
“Many people thought I wouldn’t make it, including the doctors,” Blotniski says.
The road to recovery will be long, but Blotniski is ready. He goes to physical therapy a few times a week and is due back in the hospital for a hernia.
Blotniski doesn’t seem too worried, though he’s getting restless. While his body is a little tired and making a recovery, his mind is energetic and ready to move on, he says.
He is looking forward to getting back to work, but “I don’t think I’ll be climbing,” he says.
A trained arborist and graduate of the University of Connecticut, Blotniski has 27 years of expertise and looks forward to exploring other areas where his knowledge is needed.
“I can put my skills to good use somewhere,” he says.
Having spent several months in the hospital, Blotniski missed the holidays, but he knows he has many more.
“I can’t thank the people enough” for their generosity and kindness, he says.
