Just Greg (not Joe The Plummer) , The unemployed and uninsured plumber from Virginia Beach, VA. On the 5 March I was trying to make some income by doing some handy work on a friends house . I cut two limbs that day and the second limb knocked me off a ladder (20 feet up) landing with feet in air and back towards the ground. My saving grace may have been the pine straw bed around the tree and some small bushes where I actually landed. I was quickly rushed to the emergency room . I had broke T11 , T14 in my back and cracked some ribs (3) which one of them punctured my lung. The first several days I spent in cardiac care unit because they were not sure if I had bruised my heart. They also were concerned that I had O2 bubbles around my throat area in a MRI . Because of this they needed to perform a test where I needed to be sat upright but could not until the brace for my unstable spine  arrived . Once the test were completed on the 5th day .Surgery was preformed on the very next day . The surgery took about 7 1/2 hours on the OR table facing down . They had to put a tube in my lung for fear of reinjuring or doing more damage. When I came to in ICU ,which I had to be told about . I had a ventilator machine assisting me breathing; a tube for the fluids in my stomach(that was threw one side of my nose , a tube for urinating, a tube for the chest, a tube for the blood from the surgery on the back and what they refer to as a PIC line where I had all food and Nutrition coming from . I was advised that the bags TPN cost $4,000 approx. I think I used 8-10 of them. Oh by the way I now have a Titanium Erector Set supporting my back (see photos 2,3,4). From what I understand just one of the 12 screws can cost any where from $1,000 to 2,000 apiece .  Cannot guess what the RODS cost. All in all Mar 5 2009 to Mar 20 2009 . Wild thoughts of what a ER, 4 days cardiac care unit ,operation, 60 hours ICU 10 days in a regular room and not even counting after care . $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Will update in future days . Greg no longer the plumber , Now just one of the Numbers trying to get Medicaid and Food stamps , TANF and other assistance.  I was only able to receive 2 physical therapy sessions until the paper work is approved. and maybe out of work for 12-18 months . If anybody has other thought or suggestions I am open to anything.