Life’s unpredictability became starkly evident for a man in the US whose life changed dramatically in a freak accident. Engaged in helping a friend at his granite business, Mike Wolo of Massachusetts found himself in a harrowing situation in 2003. While handling heavy granite sheets, multiple sheets suddenly collapsed onto him, severely disfiguring his face and leaving him trapped.
Describing the ordeal, Mike recounted, “It was all sideways. My eye was down below my chin, my jaw ripped off and broke in three… They said the top of my head looked like a huge mushroom ready to explode out from the top of the granite.”
He was in critical condition, with reports indicating he stopped breathing for five minutes, leading many to believe he had perished. However, against the odds, he survived. Mike recalled a profound experience during the ordeal, where he briefly felt as though he was reconnecting with a deceased friend.
“I don’t remember anything from the point of impact. [Then] all of a sudden, there’s my friend in front of me. And he’s talking to me saying, ‘Hey, you’re not supposed to be here. You’re gonna be fine. If you get a chance, check-in and see if my family is OK. You’re gonna be OK. And then I wake up,” he shared.
Following the accident, Mike underwent extensive surgery in Boston, enduring the reconstruction of his face with 110 screws and 20 titanium plates. Despite facing physical and mental challenges post-surgery, including difficulties with mobility and emotional distress, his determination and the care he received helped him through.
Reflecting on his journey, Mike remarked, “Looking at myself in the mirror for the first time after the accident – what I would have given to have my old face back. But you know what? I had an amazing doctor and life’s good.”