This was written by Kristi Levatino, David Orges' fiance.
"Thursday, December 27th. My dad, brother, grandpa, and David were cutting down trees and dad was in the man lift. One of the huge limbs on the tree started to fall the wrong way (towards my dad) and he ducked under it, only for it to hit the edge of the man lift and threw him out from 35' in the air. He got knocked out in the process and fell flat on his back. He wasn't breathing and his eyes were wide open and glazed over. David got to him first. It was about a minute before he came to and the ambulance was on its way. As it stands now on Saturday night, December 29th, my dad has a broken back (2 completely crushed vertebrae and one broken one broken one), a broken rib, severed nerves leading to his left leg which make it weak, and two breaks on his leg and knee on his "good" right leg, a cut inside his mouth, scratches on his head and chin. Thursday night he had surgery on his back to get two metal rods put in and attached to a couple of good vertebrae. There were damaged nerves which got severed in the accident. The doctor says most people with this kind of injury don't walk again, but dad will be able to...he has a good right leg and an ok left one, just a little weak. The next day we found out his "good" leg is broken around the knee. Today, Saturday, he had another surgery. This time he got a brace that is on the exterior and screwed into his leg to hold his leg straight so that the swelling can go down. He will have this on for 7-10 days until swelling is under control. After that he will have another surgery to get plates and screws where the break is on his leg. Because of where the break is, he will not be able to put weight on his "good" leg for 3 months. Then he will be able to work on walking again. And build strength in his left leg. Please keep him and our family in your prayers. We sure could use them."
Thank you.