Can you tell of more about the actual shot? How did it feel, were you in shock? Blood loss etc.
Sure.
How did it feel???
Mmmm....didnt feel anything. It actually took a couple seconds for my friend to start screaming before I realized what happened. Then I actually thought to myself ,"did what I think just happend really just happen?" Then I saw the blood. I didnt really feel anything until after I woke from surgery. The bullet severed the big nerve that runs down my leg so I still dont have any feeling below my knee.
My wife is a RN. She applied direct pressure. We attempted to apply pressure to the artery from behind my knee but that didnt work. I kicked my shoes off and took my pants off while I "myself" dialed 911. My friend was just running around screaming about how sorry he was.
Blood loss was estimated at 3-4 qts. Thats right, almost half my body's capacity. I was concious and aware of the amount of blood loss, and that is actually what made me the most worried. By the time the medics had a full throttle IV in EACH arm I had started to go dim (thats the best way I can explain it). But on the ambulance ride I began to regain full alertness. The one thing I do remember is how cold I was. Frigid cold. I kept telling them "im freezing" They put heating blankets on me in the ambu. anf that made me feel better too.
I had arterial bleeding from two holes in my body. Plus, I had just drank a Monster energy drink, Im sure that didnt help keep my heartrate down. I have good neighbors and they came and cleaned the mess in the house after I went to the hospital.
Heres my personal thoughts on survival in a situation like this:
Ive done four combat tours during this war on terror. In the back of my mind I always kinda knew I would get shot sooner or later, I could always just kinda feel it coming. For years I had played through different scenarios in my head of how I would react to being shot.
As soon as I realized Id been hit I said to myslef "Calm Down". Then I asked my self "does it hurt?" No, it didnt. So I told myself to just relax and apply basic first aid. I was telling myself "keep leg elevated, apply direct pressure, stay focused on being alert". I knew help was on the way.
I knew I was losing alot of blood so I told my friend to get me a bottle of water and I began trying to replinish fluids as quickly as I could. Come to find out that was a bad idea according to the medics that arrived, I still dont know why....
I still havent recieved my guns back from the PD yet. They said they have to send them to some lab in Florida. CLEO says they should be back any week now. I keep calling twice a week, they know Im waiting. The CLEO is actuall a fairly light hearted guy and assures me that I will get them back any time now. Im feel without a boubt that when they return from the lab I will get a call to come get them.