NORTHFIELD — A Northfield man is making a steady recovery with an outpouring of support from the community after being seriously hurt at a railroad work site in Albany, N.Y.
Ken Hammond sustained critical injuries when a pick-up truck backed over him while he was working as an equipment operator on June 28.
He said he retained consciousness throughout the terrifying accident, and remembers his co-workers immediately jumping into action, potentially saving his life.
“They held pressure on my head and kept my neck still,” Hammond said. “They kept me right there until the EMTs arrived.”
He was airlifted to Albany Medical Center where he was treated for severe injuries. Hammond had a C2 vertebrae fracture and both of his legs were broken. His left leg broke in three different places and there was a double compound fracture in his right. He separated his left shoulder and broke four of his ribs, damaging his left lung. Fortunately, there was no other organ damage.
“I had never broken a bone in my life before now. I’d never been in a hospital. I usually avoid those places,” Hammond joked on Wednesday as he recovered at home.
He has been staying at home since July 31 but said he has needed to go back to Albany a few times for follow-up appointments.
“We went back on Tuesday for a checkup for both of my legs and my neck, which both are doing really well,” Hammond said. “Then we have to go back to get my ribs X-rayed.”
Now, his legs are both out of casts, and he said he’s making strong improvements. He has a boot on his left leg that he can put on and take off as needed, as well as a neck brace he needs to wear for several more weeks. Despite the extent of his injuries, Hammond only needed one surgery, for his leg.
His wife, Bridget, said doctors had just determined Tuesday he wouldn’t need any follow-up surgery, when originally doctors anticipated he would need up to a dozen procedures.
Since word got out about the accident, the Hammonds said the outpouring of community support has been incredible. Bridget Hammond noted they have received more than 200 cards in the mail sending well wishes. Just a few of the many ways people have helped include friends cooking their family dinner, mowing their lawn or installing ramps at their home, as Hammond is using a wheelchair to stay off his feet while he recovers.
“Everyone has been respectful about it. They want to be there and support in anyway they can,” Bridget Hammond said. “People have really come together.”
Back home as a family, the Hammonds said their two daughters, Olivia and Layla, have been helping out, even smoking a rack of ribs in the backyard under their dad’s guidance. They hope to squeeze in a family trip to the ocean, likely Kennebunk, Maine, before school comes around. Ken Hammond said he’s even eager to get back to work once he has made a full recovery.
Immediately following the accident, while Ken Hammond was at Albany Medical Center, the Northfield Elementary School was accepting donations for the family. Parents and students donated items that immediately helped them, such as food or gas gift cards to travel between Northfield and Albany.
Amy Hendricks, a friend of the Hammond family, is organizing a fundraiser barbecue for Saturday, Aug. 10, at the West Northfield playground on Route 142. The day will include a family-style barbecue with hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, side dishes, desserts and soft drinks. There will also be lawn games and raffles, which will include Red Sox and Patriots tickets. The event is BYOB (bring your own beverage).
A minimum donation of $12 is requested to cover the barbecue’s expenses. Contact Amy Hendricks at 413-775-2064 or Rob Hunter at 413-325-4041 for tickets and more information.