The Wright family has always pulled together and knows how to have a good laugh. Eight-year-old Landon remembers one day last year when he painted his dad Ken's right toenails pink as a practical joke, having caught him sleeping late in the afternoon.
That prank is no longer possible, since Ken's right leg was amputated after he was severely injured in an oilfield accident in October, and now he's in danger of losing his other leg.
The family has been shaken to the core by a string of bad luck, but not broken. This week as Ken is fitted with a prosthetic leg, Landon has already begun dreaming up a fresh batch of shenanigans.
ìWhen he's sleeping we can flick his toe without him knowing,î he said. ìIf he tries to give us trouble and chase us we can take his leg and go.î
Every family faces challenges, but the Wrights have had a tough slog the past few years. Ken was on death's doorstep in spring 2011 after he got methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) when at the Red Deer hospital with the H1N1 flu. He went into complete lung failure and was flown to the intensive care unit at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary.
ìThey gave him 20 per cent chance of survival,î said his wife Tammy. ìThe ICU doctor suggested I bring the kids in to say goodbye.î
She wasn't willing to break the news to their four sons quite yet, but they knew things were serious anyway.
ìAt first we thought he would get better soon,î said their oldest son Quinton, 15. ìBut as it progressed it was really scary.î
In the end Ken recovered and the family took off to B.C. for a much-needed vacation. When Ken headed back to work the family came with him, camping near the Edson field sites where he was doing completions for Roll'n Oilfield Industries Ltd.
The next summer the family spent more glorious days camping by a crystal clear spring-fed pond near a gravel pit perfect for quads and dirt bikes.
ìI was on my dirt bike,î said 11-year-old Jaidon. ìThere were trails in the bushes. The gravel pit had some big hills and rocky bumps.î
As natural gas prices rose into the fall work got busier and the number of drilling rigs in use doubled. In October the company had been cleaning up the mess left by a poorly executed frack job done by an oilfield services company, said Ken, the site toolpush, when disaster struck.
ìWhen they fracked the well they screwed up on the frack and left all the sand in the casing,î he said. ìWe were almost out with the drill bit.î
While snubbing the tubing out using a gas hose under 30 times the pressure of a household air compressor, the equipment failed, he said.
ìDuring that operation the hose came apart very close to where I was standing and just sent me flying,î he said, though he has no memory of the specific event anymore.
The hose shattered his legs and he landed hard on his elbow.
ìI was kinda sad because of what happened,î said Carter, 10, adding having his dad back from the hospital for Christmas was special. ìI was happy when he was able to come home.î
Meanwhile, the Wrights had a truck stolen, and banking information was taken while they were at the hospital. And things aren't looking good for Ken's other leg either.
ìHis left leg isn't healing well at all,î Tammy said. ìThe surgeon told him he's still not guaranteed to keep it.î
A fundraiser held Dec. 14 at the Fox and Hound featuring a silent auction and a performance by Electric Revival raised about $2,400 for the Wrights, and the family is grateful for all the support from the community.
ìThis kind of renewed our faith in the people,î Tammy said. ìWe had no idea that there's so many people in such a small town that cared.î
The challenges are just beginning for the Wrights. This week Ken will start putting weight on his brand new leg. But with the town behind them, they're looking forward to every little victory.
ìThis whole community is just wonderful,î Ken said. ìWe appreciate it so much.î
"At first we thought he would get better soon. But as it progressed it was really scary."Quinton Wright, oldest son
