Everyone’s definition of normal is a little bit different. Mine involves illness and injury. A man once told me that I seem to have some sort of a black cloud riding over me. Friends joke that if something was ever going to happen to someone, it would be me. I’m not quite sure what all of this means, but I do know that I’ve had a lot of strange things happen to me.
The current issue is that I discovered what looked like a spider bite on my leg a few weeks ago. It didn’t look bad, but it didn’t get better. About a week ago it turned into a raging infection and I went to the doctor. They ruled it a staph infection, numbed me up, and cut my leg open. The doctor took cultures of it to make sure it wasn’t something worse. I got called yesterday to let me know it was MRSA (an antibiotic resistant staph infection that can be deadly) and my first thought was…of course it’s MRSA. Why wouldn’t it be MRSA?
Honestly I’m not too worried about it. I’ll be taking care of myself and doing what the doctor tells me to do. God will see me through just like He always does. I just find it interesting.
It’s like the time I got bit by a Brown Recluse Spider…
…or how about when I had my ring finger almost completely severed.
Let’s not forget the time my two front bottom teeth were knocked out in a wood-chipping accident.
…or the time when I developed massive kidney stones and had to be taken to the E.R. – Collapsed lung, heart distress, and bloody sand for a week!
Oh, and that time I broke multiple fingers all at once.
…got bit by some insane caterpillar (yes…a freaking caterpillar) and had my hand almost explode.
Or when I had my throat swell almost completely shut in Honduras from inhaling poison ivy smoke.
…broke my nose a total of three times.
And there was that time I was jumping over a fire pit and I broke my tibia and fibula…
…the time I had an allergic reaction to ammoxicillin and I got leopard spots all over my entire body.
…the time I broke my big toe doing a perfect pirouette into a coffee table as I made fun of Allison for watching West Side Story.
Or how about that time I passed out behind the wheel, finding out later that I have what’s known as a shunt in my heart that can cause the occasional black-out.
…fell out of a tree when I was little and a piece of bark got lodged into my leg…resulting in surgery.
Ooh…and there’s that time that I got my face blasted in during a wicked game of dodgeball.
I can keep going if you’d like.
I’m just saying.
You know the old saying “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”.
Nice to meet you Incredible Hulk!
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Yikes take care of yourself Ryan. You have had quite a few accidents in your life.
Keeping you in my pryers
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Geez! Talk about 9 lives!!
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Praying for your quick and complete healing…
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This might be horrible, but my first thought was “maybe there’s a reason God’s only given you girls… so far.”
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Or that time that we were lifting a 300 pound radiator and it toppled and crushed your fingers but no one elses?
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I hope you get rid of the MRSA quickly… Just think:if all of that stuff didn’t happen to you, you wouldn’t have such interesting stories to tell.
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It’s a never ending adventure. Get well soon.
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Mom I think that was the severed finger story. Ryan, it’s my fault. I just said that you have been doing ok lately, I did forget about Honduras. Hopefully this was the end of your misfortunes.
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be very careful and wash your hands a lot! This does not go away that I know of. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
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Sounds to me like the Enemy is trying to shut you down. You must be doing something right! It also sounds like God has been faithful in keeping you from serious harm (He’s good that way). I will pray for your quick and total healing, as well as for continued protection in the future. You’ll probably need it
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Wow. You sure are accident-prone, aren’t you. Take care of yourself!
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Ohhhhhhhhhh how I can relate. But my dark-cloud ring seems to involve tragedies and death. o_O but my daughter seems to have the dark-cloud ring of injury and illness. i don’t get why some people get so much of it and others hardly anything. oh well. God is with us!!! i’ll be praying for you MRSA is no joke.
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Where in the world did you get that from? I hope you get better very soon and it doesn’t get worse!
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Geri took the words out of my mouth. We love you and will be praying for a speedy recovery.
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Holy cow, you are a walking accident! I hope you recover quickly so that you can enjoy your new little one!
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I feel like you are telling the story of my life.
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Well, no one can say you haven’t had an interesting life. Good luck with getting rid of the staph.
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Ryan, Bless your heart! I’ll be praying for your wellness… God has a reason for everything right?
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I met someone who had MRSA for months. It wasn’t responding to standard medical treatments, and she began looking into alternative treatments. She tried eating cottage cheese and flaxseed oil together daily (about 1/4 c. cottage cheese with 2-5 T. flaxseed oil twice a day)and it cured her MRSA infection. She went to a Hallelujah Acres meeting with me. BTW, that class was taught by a Health Minister who cured her own stage 4 (terminal)breast cancer with the HA diet over 9 years ago.
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Yikes!! I am sorry to hear this!! We will pray for a speedy recovery too
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Feel better! MRSA is nasty, but you know that. Of course you know that!
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Ewwww….my husband, daughter and I have all struggled with MRSA skin infections, too. They can be very difficult to treat, wash your hands, ALOT, especially with the new baby coming.
God bless!
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You have the scars to prove all these stories are true, right?! Just kiddin’ wow you have been through it!
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Wow!! Praying for you and your family!!! Hopefully you don’t pass on the accident/illness prone characteristic to your children!!
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That sounds horrible! I hope things get better for you and your family. My brother is the same way…very susceptible to anything that involves broken bones, bruises, cuts, scrapes and disease. I am sure you will rid yourself of the MRSA and become whole again. You and yours are in our prayers.
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Never make fun of West Side Story! But seriously, I hope you get better soon. We all have our share of accidents and ailments, but your list is way longer than mine. So if nothing else, you made me feel grateful today. Peace and health to you, my friend!
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Yowsers!! You know come to think of it…volleyball’s ALWAYS used to hit me in the head in gym class. Hmmm…
Take care of yourself dude!
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Is it so wrong to laugh at other people’s pain? Well if it is, I don’t want to be right. Okay, my moment of evilness is gone. Poor guy!
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My you do have quite the list of medical issues there don’t you!? Praying for a fast and healthy outcome! God Bless you and your family!!
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I’ll be praying Ryan! I know God is in control.
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Ryan, take care of yourself. You have never been one to relax and take it easy…right now it is important for you to slow down and concentrate on getting healthy.
p.s. your accident cloud covers those around you at times… i’m thinking of a time you managed to spin a top on my shoulder, which in turn grabbed my hair, spun up to my head,and got stuck there…so do us all a favor and invest in a bubble…
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Seriously, I was reading that and thinking that I have a twin out there. I feel the same exact way. If something bad is going to happen or someone is going to get an illness it is always me. My husband now just calls them “mishaps.” I often wonder why all this stuff happens to me……
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Holy crap! Do they know your name as soon as you go to the ER?
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and aren’t you only about 25??? I’ll keep praying Psalm 91 on your behalf, brother.
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Holy Moly – that’s quite an impressive list.
All I could think of as I read your post was the saying my mother always told/asked me: “God watches out for children and fools – which one are you?”
Hope you feel better soon
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I’m praying that you heal fully from this. I have to agree with Geri, you are doing some awesome things for God’s kingdom. The Enemy is trying to shut you down because you are doing lots of things right!
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Congratulations, you are the only person I’ve ever heard of with worse luck than my husband when it comes to hurting oneself. I am not saying this a good thing by any means. I work in the health industry and lemme tell you, this new news is not something I would wish on anybody. Take care of yourself. Do everything you are supposed to. Please!
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Suddenly I don’t feel so bad for my own little mishaps. Mehe. Sorry. Hope you are better soon.
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Gary’s daughter was diagonised with MRSA last year. there are treatments. It is scary and I’ll keep you in my prayers.
you are an accident waiting to happen!!!!
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My 8 yr old daughter had a MRSA infection on her leg 2 summers ago. I was scared out of my mind. We kept a very close watch on it and were in constant contact with the doctor. Thankfully, she recovered and is perfectly fine. It can be a very serious infection, but can it can be beat. I’ll keep a good thought for you
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Wow. That’s quite a list. I’ll be praying for you.
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I think that yes, some of those things just happened to you because you’re a human, BUT, I think that the majority of those things happen to people like you because you’re doing things. Not sitting on the couch waiting, you’re doing. If you are out, say, camping, hiking, playing manly dodgeball, dancing in your living room…you are more at a risk of something happening – good and bad!
So, either you want all of these crazy things to stop, in which case you retire now and live a leisurely, careful life,
OR
You keep living an adventure, albeit often dangerous, and know that sometimes, painful stuff happens. It’s part of the journey.
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Ryan, I can only imagine what Allison does every time you walk out the door! I think it might be called being a klutz..but their good. I’ve been one all my life…like
stepping the broad head of an arrow, yeah, cut my foot, but I have strong feet thank goodness their like leather I swear!
stepping on a round toothpick that someone in my family didn’t throw in the garbage..believe me they do now. I had to go to the E.R.
breaking my wrist on a sidewalk. I swear my feet are my responsiblity but they don’t do what their told to.
cutting a finger with a knife, trip to the E.R.
The weirdest so far, just happened a couple of weeks ago. Mike (my hubby) was suppose to be at work at 3:30 A.M. He woke at 3:18 hollered and I woke to him and I jumping off the water bed (yes, the hippie generation) at the same time. You figure it out. 239 pounds compared to 110 pounds and my feet get tangled and I end up at the end of our bed my face slammed against the wood post. Guess what I’m sporting, a gorgeous shiner!
So your not alone…just live it!
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ha! you are funny…. I’m going to see if I can get you a frequent flyer card for University Hospital.
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Ryan, look at it this way. You’re not nearly close to what Job went through so keep the faith and keep on working and loving the Lord. Looks like He’s taken good care of you through all these trials that the enemy has thrown at you. Keep strong!
Praying for you,
Liz
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Amazing list…just amazing. Your wife must have nerves of steel and great trust!
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I have the same affliciton Ryan. My family calls me “Schlepprock”
I will be praying for you!
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Ummmmm, you REALLY need to slow down and take care of yourself. If you are sick, then you can’t be the best you can be for your family. This is nothing to take lightly — PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, be careful and rest. Don’t assume that everything will turn out okay. God helps those who help themselves. Has it crossed your mind (even a little bit) that this is God’s way of telling you to “take it easy”?????
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That is an impressive list and just goes to prove that God is watching over you!
My husband had a MRSA infection – totally treatable but just takes a bit more time and persistent treatment. Good luck!
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Um wait, how old are you? Is this even possible? Your a freak!!!
I guess it means you like to push your limits, in more ways then one. Good on ya, son!!
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Please take care of yourself!
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Oh my gosh! I am seriously shocked that someone, especially at your young age, can have gone through SO MUCH! Those pictures of your truck after your accident seriously were insane. God must have a huge plan for your life because you should have died many times!!
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You would not believe how much I can relate to you right now.
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There’s that saying that God never gives us more than we can handle. He must have gifted you with a high tolerance for pain.
Praying for a quick recovery!
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Both my mother and my sister have MRSA. Not fun. Remember, though, that whenever you go to the hospital you have to let them know that you have it.
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Wow. I have a brother who has had the black cloud syndrome most of his life. Not particularly with accidents per say, but just stuff in general, just bad luck. I call him Mr. Lucky. He’s going through it again. I feel very lucky I haven’t had too many bad things happen. Your list is quite impressive I must say.
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Feel better soon! I think God gives the challenges to the people who can handle it most…or maybe he gives them to those of us who need them them most…
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Take care of yourself. More prayers coming your way.
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Oi. All I can say is that your momma must have really tough knees from all the times she’s spent praying for you.
Take care of yourself!
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good luck with your healing, my friend. i’m in the same boat. i too had what looked like a spider bite on my shin turn into something really, really, REALLY nasty that i try to block out of my memory. right now i have a breakout of shingles on my forehead… i’m only 25. the weirdest crap happens to me too! i wish you a speedy recovery. life is challenging for us different ones.
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Wow…you are one hot mess. I mean that in the nicest way, of course.
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If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving probably not for you! goodness!! You must have more than one Guardian Angel!
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Prayers for you and the fam. I could joke, but I won’t – just happy with your ‘tude
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Dude. Seriously. Find a pastor or elder who works strongly in deliverence. Have it cut off. That’s just way too much to be coinsidence.
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I pray for a complete recovery!
My son and I got MRSA in our environment, and suffered through five bouts. Please, no matter how “green” you are, bleach, bleach, bleach and make everyone in the house use Hibaclens until it’s all gone and never, ever reuse a towel. (Sheesh…can you tell it scared me!)
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I didn’t get a chance to read thru the other comments; perhaps you are getting a lot of natural treatments or remedies; may I add one more?
Besides doing whatever your doctor tells you to do, I have read about using tea tree oil against MRSA. Apply it to the wound; but make sure you buy a good quality product. Also, growing up in rural Mexico, a lot of people knew about the power of garlic against any infection; it has been said it is more powerful than penicillin; my mother and grandmother used to take cloves (like a pill); or make a poultice and lay it against your wound.
I know it sounds crazy, but you have nothing to lose giving it a try.
May God bless you and guide you thru the healing process.
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I think you need a bubble!!!
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OH my word, Ryan…I will be praying for you!
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Wow…I would say be careful but I’m not sure that would help. Take care and wishing you all good thoughts at a speedy and “full” recovery.
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Remember John Travolta as “The Boy in the Bubble?” I’m thinking you might want to give it a try….I’m just sayin.
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We’re amoxicillin-alergic buddies!!!
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I got MRSA about 5 years ago and have dealt with it ever since. About 2 years ago, I had surgery on my lower back to remove a polynoidal cyst which I believe was caused by MRSA.
Its a tricky infection that can be very annoying. What I did to keep it away was everytime I got a small cut or anything, I would put rubbing alcohol on it. It hurt, but it kept the MRSA from getting in there and ruining things. Like you, I would get what looked like spider bites and they would end up getting real nasty and I would have to have them lanced. Not fun.
Im sure people who have had it have given you advice but I never re-used a razor or a towel. Those 2 things breed MRSA.
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I know words sometimes cannot really console when faced with such a thing but as Heather said…this can be managed and hope your leg heels up quickly and painlessly. I will keep you in my thoughts. And stay away from insane catapillars! :^)
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You have what my husband likes to call “lemonitis” – I have it too – it’s incurable – but God loves those of us with this “disease” extra special – so it makes it all worth it!!
Hope your leg gets better soon! PS – I made your Bloomin’ Bread from PW’s site last night and it really is the BEST bread EVER!! Thanks for the recipe!!! 
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Ryan, I’m sending your prayers and healing vibes.
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If it wasn’t for bad luck, I would think that I had no luck at all. I have had a fair share of bad things happen to me, but really it’s all in how you look at it. For me, getting hit in the leg with a javelin was pretty bad, but it wasn’t in a critical area like my knee. For you, sure, breaking your nose 3 times is awful, but at least is is something that is able to heal within a few weeks/months. It’s not something that will have a lasting affect on you. Sometimes I think it’s better to look at the bright side despite all the crap that comes our way.
I hope your infection heals quickly and that you have no lasting effects from it. My advice? Listen to your doctor and you should do fine. Get some rest too, that can’t hurt.
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Whahahahahaha! That list is just funny
And think how adored you’ll be by your grandkids, just cuz you can tell loco true-stories, hehehehe 
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Good luck, man.
My mom just had MRSA and did the 3 week IV antibiotic treatment. She made it and she’s 73 so i’m sure you’ll make it.
Praying for you.
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How does Allison feel about all of these?! Maybe by that point she just starts rolling her eyes.
Hope that MRSA clears up.
This, coming from the girl who has never, ever broken a bone and only had to go to the emergency room once because my cat bit me.
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I have finally found someone who can top my youngest son at accidents etc. His latest was this summer and he is over 50.
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MRSA is a killer. I know someone who died from it. YOu need to take care of yourself, take this thing seriously. You want to get rid of it before the baby is born. You need to be healthy and not spread any germs to your family. love you Ryan.
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Keeping you guys in my prayers.
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Soooo sorry for the MRSA–can be a demon! Can’t ever say your life is boring. Heal fast–we’re praying for you! And, for your whole family–new baby coming!! Yah!
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Be careful with that one. My mom had MRSA in Jan. and had to have more than one surgery, as well as a very long and difficult recovery which included three times a week of the wound care people swabbing out the resulting two inch deep sore and cutting around it to prevent it from curling in. All of this without any deadening or pain medication. She’s much stronger than I am. Hers didn’t go away easily. She ended up with 5 places total. You’ll be in our prayers. Congrats on the new baby!
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Hey Ryan,
I had to chime in after reading some of the comments. I’m a nurse practitioner who has dealt with MRSA many times. As long as you are on the right antibiotic you will be fine. The community acquired stuff is bad but not deadly like the hospital acquired bug. Actually, they are the same bug but people who get it in the hospital are usually already compromised in some way which makes the bug a lot more dangerous.
Keep a close watch. If it doesn’t seem to be healing then get back to your doc. Wash everything in the hottest water you can and don’t share towels with the other people in your life.
You’ll be fine.
Blessings to you.
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Now you know why you have skin like leather! Be careful and take care of yourself. Praying for your healing.
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oh my sweet Ryan….
I do not mean to make light of your situation…..
But I, Like you, love the LORD…and in the last few years hAVe lost two, 2 sons, my husband lost his mind, and decided he wanted a divorce,AFTER 23 YEARS and my church basically folded….what does all this mean?
I have no clue, but this I know, “God is good, He is real, and He loves me”
and He loves you too!
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Sorry, you made me laugh–your accident accounts, not MRSA infection!!
–love your sense of humor about it all.
Obviously you are living a full life–and keeping your family and friends busy praying…like everytime you get out of bed in the morning. Wondering how many accounts your wife could share about you??
Take care of yourself–will keep you in prayers!
[A friend recently shared your blog address with me and this happens to be the first entry I've read.--I'll definitely be reading more. Thanks for sharing.]
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I had MRSA around this time last summer. I didn’t realize it until I was so far gone that it was traveling through my blood to different areas on my body. Thankfully, it never made it to my fatty tissue or organs! I was able to bounce back with a couple of rounds of antibiotics, but those completely wiped me out. I didn’t really feel at full strength again for about three months. One of the things we had to do was eradicate the MRSA from our home. I would recommend you ask your doctor about it if he hasn’t already suggested it. It involved basically hosing the house down with bleach, washing all bed linens and towels in hot water with bleach, taking diluted bleach baths and rubbing an antibiotic ointment in our noses and our dog and cat’s noses for a week. But it all worked out. I got better and all I have left is this nifty scar on my stomach to add to my own collection
I like to think my positive outlook helped too. My major infection site on my stomach had a hard, swollen area in the shape of the African continent. As I started to heal, I would call out to my husband “Africa is shrinking!” Congrats on the new baby and take care 
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Thanks for taking one for me… or I’m assuming thats what you’re doing as I have almost no stories to compare. You get the bad luck I get the boring luck, ok?
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saying a prayer for that leg, ok? God bless you!
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Please contact me regarding the MRSA issue. We just found out someone in our family has it. I would really like to talk to you about this asap…need advise.
Thank you so much.
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