By STAN MADDUX
Indiana Correspondent THORNTOWN, Ind. — Lloyd Hayden, 72, hopes to return to farming after recently having both legs amputated to free him from a combine. He’s not sure yet how much he will be able to do on his 1,000 acres, considering he just started rehabilitation and it could be several months before he starts working with prosthetic limbs. ‘’The good Lord kept me alive for some reason. I don’t know why, but he did,’’ said Hayden. Hayden got caught in the combine Oct. 22, on his Boone County farm between Lafayette and Indianapolis. Lebanon Fire Chief Chuck Batts said Hayden drove out to the edge of the cornfield to remove shattercane before the fast-growing, crop-choking plant and its seeds could get into the machine. He stepped out of his truck and waved at his combine driver to let him know he was stepping into the field but the operator, somehow, didn’t notice him. “I thought he’d seen me. I don’t know how he could have missed me,” Hayden said. Both of his legs wound up past the spreader of the combine just short of the intake auger. Fortunately, Batts said the driver quickly turned off the machine before Hayden was drawn in further. Batts – who is also Hayden’s son-in-law – said he was having lunch with his wife at a local restaurant when he was quickly notified and responded to assist. He said tourniquets slowed the profuse bleeding and medics amputated both legs just below the knee to get Hayden out. He was caught in the machine for close to one hour because of step-by-step procedures such as stabilizing his condition and pain management required in such an extreme case. Batts has no doubt Hayden will return to work on his farm to some degree, by the time of spring planting. He described Hayden, a military veteran and former iron worker, as tough, giving and still in great shape physically. “The man works every day. He’s the youngest 72-year-old you would ever meet,” he said. In addition to corn, soybeans and wheat are grown on the farm, which also has some horses. Hayden, trying to get accustomed to using a wheelchair, said he’s not mad at the combine operator. If an accident had to occur, he’s thankful it was him who was hurt. “I’m glad it wasn’t him. He has four kids,” he said. During surgery, Batts said doctors had to amputate Hayden’s legs a few inches higher from where they were taken off in the field because of the damage. A GoFundMe page was set up online at www.gofundme.com/lloyd-hayden-farm-accident-help to raise money for Hayden, and $6,600 of a $10,000 goal had been pledged by just nine days after the accident. Hayden was admitted to a rehabilitation facility after spending eight days in the hospital. He said last week he felt a little weak, but still not bad, and his attitude is not to feel sorry for himself. “Other than that, that’s where I’m at,” he explained. |
